
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.
- Pinot Noir2427
- Cabernet Sauvignon1872
- Other Red Blends1841
- Bordeaux Red Blends1272
- Syrah/Shiraz1217
- Merlot661
- Sangiovese620
- Nebbiolo602
- Rhône Blends587
- Tempranillo554
- Zinfandel523
- Other Red Wine411
- Malbec294
- Cabernet Franc188
- Petite Sirah168
- Grenache159
- Barbera153
- Tuscan Blends103
- Gamay73
- Carmenere64
- Mourvedre61
- Pinotage57
- Montepulciano53
- Nero d'Avola48
- Dolcetto47
- Primitivo47
- Aglianico45
- Blaufrankisch26
- Petit Verdot24
- Mencia24
- Sagrantino22
- Negroamaro19
- Lagrein14
- Refosco14
- Carignan13
- Bonarda12
- St. Laurent9
- Touriga Nacional8
- Zweigelt8
- Teroldego7
- Corvina4
- Xinomavro4
- Pinot Meunier3
- Tannat3
- Alicante Bouschet3
- Valdiguie2
- Gaglioppo2
- Grignolino2
- Nerello Mascalese2
- Lambrusco1
- Agiorgitiko1
- Bobal1
- Trousseau1
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Olivier Bernstein Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2008Pinot Noir from Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
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Kistler Vineyards Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvee Elisabeth Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Kosta Browne Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Anthill Farms Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
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Melville Terraces Estate Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
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Kosta Browne Russian River Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- CG
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Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Sea Smoke Cellars Southing Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- WS
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Hanzell Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
- WE
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DeLoach Russian River Estate Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WE
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Cloudline Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
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Aubert UV Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- RP
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Sea Smoke Cellars Botella Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
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King Estate Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Clos de Vougeot 2008Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Benziger Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
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Domaine Drouhin Oregon Laurene Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- TP
- BH
- RP
- WS
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Migration Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (375ML half-bottle) 2008Pinot Noir from North Coast, California
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Undone Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Germany
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Williams Selyem Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from California
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Gloria Ferrer Carneros Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Carneros, California
- WE
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Rhys Vineyards Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz Mountains, California
- RP
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Aubert Reuling Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Sea Smoke Cellars Southing Pinot Noir (1.5L Magnum) 2008Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
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Kistler Vineyards Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir 2008Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP