
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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Roserock by Drouhin Oregon Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- RP
- WE
- WW
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Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- RP
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Hirsch San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- JS
- RP
- W&S
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Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WW
- WE
- WS
- CG
- JD
- W&S
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Wayfarer Wayfarer Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- JS
- WE
- RP
- WS
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Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- W&S
- JD
- WE
- RP
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Wayfarer The Traveler Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- JD
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Domaine Drouhin Oregon Laurene Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- RP
- WE
- WS
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Pierre Gelin Fixin Les Hervelets Premier Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Fixin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
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Hartford Court Land's Edge Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- JD
- RP
- WS
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Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- RP
- WE
- WS
- W&S
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Xavier Monnot Beaune Les Cent Vignes Premier Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- W&S
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune Greves Premier Cru Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus 2017Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- BH
- RP
- JS
- W&S
- WS
- WW
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Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- JD
- RP
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Penner-Ash Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- D
- JS
- WW
- WS
- RP
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Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir (375ML half-bottle) 2017Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- RP
- WS
- WE
- W&S
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Nielson Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
- RP
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Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Flagey-Echezeaux, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- WS
- BH
- RP
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Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- RP
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Williams Selyem Precious Mountain Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- V
- RP
- WS
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Sanford Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
- WE
- JD
- RP
- WS
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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Serpentieres Premier Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Savigny-les-Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes 2017Pinot Noir from Savigny-les-Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WW
- RP
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Soter Vineyards Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- WS
- RP
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Siduri Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, Mendocino, California
- JD
- WW
- RP