
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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Domaine Dujac Echezeaux Grand Cru 1994Pinot Noir from Flagey-Echezeaux, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
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Henry Estate Barrel Select Pinot Noir 1994Pinot Noir from Umpqua Valley, Oregon
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Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir 1994Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Joseph Drouhin Pernand Vergelesses 1994Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
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Antonin Rodet Chateau de Rully Rouge 1994Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
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Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin Estournelles Saint-Jacques Premier Cru 1994Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
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Banfi Belnero Pinot Nero 1994Pinot Noir from Tuscany, Italy
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Kistler Vineyards Camp Meeting Ridge Pinot Noir 1994Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Clos de Vougeot 1994Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- WS
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Joseph Drouhin Charmes Chambertin 1994Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
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Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Pinot Noir 1994Pinot Noir from Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Kistler Vineyards Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir 1994Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- RP
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Kistler Vineyards Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir 1994Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
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Au Bon Climat Isabelle Pinot Noir 1994Pinot Noir from California
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Joseph Drouhin Beaune Greves Premier Cru 1994Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
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Vincent Girardin Santenay La Maladiere Premier Cru 1994Pinot Noir from Santenay, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France