Pinot Noir
Physical Characteristics
- Very old vine
- Show off terroir well
- Prefers cool weather, but needs lots of sun
- Thin skinned grape
- Also susceptible to Pierce's Disease
- Vines have short relative lifespan (40-45 years)
- Clonal selection in vineyard very important
Winemaker Choices
- Called Holy Grail of wine because of difficulty in making really good version
- Needs extra care to extract color and tannin without losing aromatics
- Aging occurs in older barrels
- Major component in sparkling wine production
Regions
- Burgandy
- Champagne
- Elsewhere in Europe
Italy
Switzerland
New World Regions
- Oregon
Planted with Burgundy clones
- California
Santa Barbara
- New Zealand
Styles
- Can be refreshing, aromatic or ageworthy
- Light red--considered to be a white wine in disguise
- Vintage is very important (weather as part of terroir)
- Nose:
Mushrooms
Earthy
- Palate:
Low to medium acid and tannin
Fruit, earth and savory components
Pairing Suggestions
- Very food friendly, better with light dishes
- Burgundian cuisine--coq au vin, beof bourguignon
- Oregon--pair with salmon
- Pair with simpler dishes as wine can be complex