
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.
- Bordeaux Red Blends139
- Cabernet Sauvignon100
- Syrah/Shiraz94
- Nebbiolo77
- Sangiovese57
- Pinot Noir47
- Tempranillo40
- Other Red Blends39
- Rhône Blends28
- Merlot22
- Malbec14
- Tuscan Blends11
- Grenache8
- Zinfandel6
- Cabernet Franc4
- Aglianico2
- Bonarda2
- Carmenere2
- Nero d'Avola2
- Petite Sirah2
- Barbera1
- Corvina1
- Mourvedre1
- Other Red Wine1
- Pinotage1
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Domaine des Lambrays Clos Des Lambrays 2004Pinot Noir from Morey-St-Denis, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- WS
- BH
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Archery Summit Premier Cuvee Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
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Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- RP
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Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Marlborough, New Zealand
- WS
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Kistler Vineyards Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- W&S
- WE
- WS
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Kosta Browne Amber Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Pisoni Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Central Coast, California
- RP
- WS
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Kosta Browne Koplen Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Kosta Browne Russian River Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2004Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- WS
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Ponzi Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
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Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Sanford Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
- WS
- WE
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Foxen Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from California
- WS
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Occidental Cuvee Catherine Occidental Station Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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WillaKenzie Estate Aliette Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- W&S
- WS
- RP
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Chehalem Corral Creek Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
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Sanford Sanford and Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- WS
- WE
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Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Ken Wright Cellars Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WE
- WS
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A to Z Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
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Argyle Nuthouse Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
- W&S
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Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir (375ML half-bottle) 2004Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
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Craggy Range Winery Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004Pinot Noir from Martinborough, New Zealand
- WS