PINOT NOIR

Profile

⚫ black variety

👁️ light to medium colour

💧 medium to high acidity

🌳 low to medium tannins

🥃 medium alcohol

💪 light to medium body

🚀 light to medium intensity

🍇 primary aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, blackberry

🌶️ secondary aromas of vanilla, toast, clove

⌛ tertiary aromas of mushroom, leather

Key production areas

🇫🇷 France: Champagne, Burgundy, Alsace

🇮🇹 Italy: Lombardy, Aosta Valley, Trentino Alto Adige

🇩🇪 Germany: Baden, Ahr, Pfalz, Rheingau

🇪🇸 Spain: Catalonia

🇺🇸 USA: California, Oregon

🇨🇱 Chile: Aconcagua, Southern

🇳🇿 New Zealand: Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, Central Otago

🇦🇺 Australia: Tasmania, Victoria

🇿🇦 South Africa: Cape South Coast

🇬🇧 UK

🇨🇭 Switzerland

🇸🇮 Slovenia

Insights

Being early ripening, it thrives in cool climate, that will enable to preserve its delicate aromas (it can otherwise become quite jammy in too hot areas).

There are so much styles produced, from light and fruity style, to fuller body and more concentrated. The latter, often matured in oak barrels, has the structure and complexity to age for decades. Pinot noir is also one of the major grape variety used in traditional method sparkling wines, bringing body and red fruit flavours.

Wines usually reach premium to super-premium prices. First, because pinot noir can be difficult (and therefore costly) to grow, being a sensitive grape variety (to spring frosts and diseases). Second, because it is very popular among consumers.

Favourite cuvee

🇫🇷 Domaine Ballorin, Morey-Saint-Denis Trés Girard