
Pinot Noir
Learn about Pinot Noir — taste profile, popular regions and more ...
One of the most finicky yet rewarding grapes to grow, Pinot Noir is a labor of love for many. However, the greatest red wines of Burgundy prove that it is unquestionably worth the effort. In fact, it is the only red variety permitted in Burgundy. Highly reflective of its terroir, Pinot Noir prefers calcareous soils and a cool climate, requires low yields to achieve high quality and demands a lot of attention in the vineyard and winery. It retains even more glory as an important component of Champagne as well as on its own in France’s Loire Valley and Alsace regions. This sensational grape enjoys immense international success, most notably growing in Oregon, California and New Zealand with smaller amounts in Chile, Germany (as Spätburgunder) and Italy (as Pinot Nero).
Tasting Notes for Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a dry red wine, typically diominated by red fruit—strawberry, raspberry and cherry with some heftier styles showing black plum and more delicate styles of Pinot giving citrus qualities. It is relatively pale in color with soft tannins and a lively acidity. With age Pinot Noir can develop hauntingly alluring characteristics of fresh earth, savory spice and dried fruit.
Perfect Food Pairings for Pinot Noir
Pinot’s healthy acidity cuts through the oiliness of salmon or texture of tuna but its mild mannered tannins give it enough structure to pair with all sorts of poultry: chicken, quail and especially duck. As the namesake wine of Boeuf Bourguignon, Pinot Noir has proven it isn’t afraid of beef. California examples work splendidly well with barbecue and Pinot Noir is also vegetarian-friendly—most notably with any dish that features mushrooms.
Sommelier Secrets for Pinot Noir
For administrative purposes, the region of Beaujolais is often included in Burgundy. But it is extremely different in terms of topography, soil and climate, and the important red grape here is ultimately Gamay, not Pinot Noir. Truth be told, there is a tiny amount of Gamay sprinkled around the outlying parts of Burgundy (mainly in Maconnais) but it isn’t allowed with any great significance and certainly not in any Village or Cru level wines. So "red Burgundy" still necessarily refers to Pinot noir.
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Chanson Pere & Fils Beaune Clos des Feves Premier Cru Monopole 2011Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- BH
- WS
- W&S
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Williams Selyem Olivet Lane Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Sonoma County, California
- WE
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Williams Selyem Hirsch Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- TP
- W&S
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Williams Selyem Bucher Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WE
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Williams Selyem Terra de Promissio Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- W&S
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Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands Premier Cru Monopole 2011Pinot Noir from Mercurey, Cote Chalonnaise, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Calera Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- RP
- WE
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Williams Selyem Burt Williams Morning Dew Ranch Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, Mendocino, California
- WE
- W&S
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Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru (1.5L Magnum) 2011Pinot Noir from Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
- WE
- WS
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Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru 2011Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- BH
- WS
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Le Corton Grand Cru 2011Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- BH
- W&S
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Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2011Pinot Noir from Flagey-Echezeaux, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
- WS
- WE
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Williams Selyem Precious Mountain Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WE
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Williams Selyem Weir Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from North Coast, California
- WE
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Jean-Claude Boisset Chambolle Musigny Les Charmes Premier Cru 2011Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Carrick Unravelled Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand
- WE
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Calera Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Mt. Harlan, Central Coast, California
- WE
- RP
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Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2011Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- BH
- WE
- RP
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Forrest Estate John Forrest Collection Waitaki Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from New Zealand
- RP
- WE
- WW
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Bouchard Aine & Fils Fixin La Maziere 2011Pinot Noir from Fixin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Shea West Hill Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WE
- WS
- RP
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Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- WS
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvee Carnot Premier Cru 2011Pinot Noir from Volnay, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- BH
- WS
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Bouchard Aine & Fils Clos de la Roche 2011Pinot Noir from Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- W&S
- WE
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Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011Pinot Noir from Carneros, California
- WE
- W&S