
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 Noir228
- Cabernet Sauvignon142
- Rhône Blends59
- Other Red Blends49
- Bordeaux Red Blends34
- Syrah/Shiraz32
- Zinfandel27
- Malbec26
- Sangiovese23
- Merlot23
- Tempranillo18
- Gamay12
- Grenache12
- Barbera8
- Tuscan Blends6
- Cabernet Franc4
- Carmenere4
- Mourvedre4
- Nebbiolo4
- Petite Sirah4
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- Other Red Wine3
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- Mencia3
- Nerello Mascalese2
- Bonarda1
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- Dolcetto1
- Negroamaro1
- Pinotage1
- Tannat1
- Touriga Nacional1
- Blaufrankisch1
- Gaglioppo1
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Hahn SLH Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Central Coast, California
- TP
- WE
- D
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Smoking Loon Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Chile
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Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanee 2018Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
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Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- JD
- WE
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Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- JD
- RP
- WS
- JS
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Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- JD
- WW
- RP
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La Crema Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
- WE
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Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JD
- JS
- WS
- RP
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La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- TP
- WE
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Kosta Browne Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
- JD
- WW
- RP
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Martin Ray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- JS
- WW
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanee Au Cros Parantoux Premier Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
- BH
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EnRoute Winery Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- WW
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Richebourg Grand Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
- RP
- D
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 2018Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- V
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Reserve Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- WW
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SeaGlass Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
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Chloe Monterey County Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Monterey, Central Coast, California
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Pike Road Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- TP
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Erath Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Oregon
- RP
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Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Rouge 2018Pinot Noir from Mercurey, Cote Chalonnaise, Burgundy, France
- WW
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Belle Glos Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Central Coast, California
- WE
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Elk Cove Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- TP
- WE
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Frederic Esmonin Bourgogne Les Genevrieres Rouge 2018Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
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Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WW
- RP