Spotlight on Pinot Noir
“Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they're just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and... ancient on the planet.”- Paul Giamatti as “Miles”, Sideways.
I was reluctant to quote this movie… (because… well blah) but he’s got a point. This week we are talking about Pinot Noir!
There is so much love for wines made from Pinot Noir around the world, but what’s the lure? Well, they're finicky to grow and they have to be in a very specific climate, and their pallet is hard to match! In general, the Pinot Noir grapes have a thin skin, which makes them susceptible to breaking if there's a hailstorm, bursting if they are overwatered, sunburning if there's too much heat, and just straight up not growing if the climate isn't exactly to their needs. A tad bit dramatic, don’t you think? In fact, Pinot Noir requires a unique composition of soil, climate, and position from the equator. Because of all this, there is a big investment (or risk) to vintners, but their value is extremely rewarding if the wine is produced accurately and (most importantly) tasty. Consumers can usually expect bright cherry notes, some earthy notes, occasional soy, and some exciting examples of tertiary flavor profiles like leather and mushrooms. But not all Pinot's are the same! Especially if they are from different areas around the globe.
There are so many different regions of Pinot Noir to explore, a personal favorite and a great one to start off with is the Willamette Valley AVA in Oregon! A great example of a cooler climate where the grapes are in an ideal area for retaining acidity and surviving the throws of climate.
Another ideal wine to try would be the Stafford Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, a great go-to! Slight tertiary components of new leather in the flavor profile, along with tobacco and dried cherries. I’ve found this to pair well with most of the meals I’ve tried to make while going through this pandemic… well, I mean, it definitely makes everything taste better!
It would be a sin if I didn’t mention Division’s “UN” Pinot Noir. A beautiful wine made by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe. This Pinot totally shows their influences from their time learning viticulture in the Loire, Beaujolais, Burgundy and the Northern Rhone. 'Wild and brambly strawberry flavors and dark mineral layers' create a terrific wine experience!
One of the most well-known examples of high-end Pinot Noir would be the region that really started the love affair, Burgundy. Some of the most sought-after wines come from this region, and there's a good chance they’re made of this grape! It’s actually known as one of the “noble” varieties which were the only permitted grape varieties to grow in France for a long period of time. Henri Boillot 2018 Volnay 1er Cru 'Les Caillerets' Rouge is a refined Burgundy Pinot Noir that we think really encompasses the hundreds of years of winemaking that have been surrounding Pinot Noir. This wine is gentle- but spiced. There’s layering of soft tannins with strawberries, then aged leather notes to linger. The structure of this wine would suggest that enjoying it in a couple of years is best!
We definitely can’t forget Germany! Pinot Noir is one of the most exported grapes in Germany. Their cooler continental climate allows the grapes to ripen without being exposed to intense heat. Germany also has a ton of winemakers that are using environmentally conscious farming practices. Weingut Riedlin, Rot Spätburgunder Trocken is a younger style of wine which means that the grapes retained acidity and translated that into a fresher style of wine. Nutmeg and umami linger but the fresh acidity of Bing cherries still rounds the palate for this one.
On the opposite side of the equator, Casablanca Valley in Chile has been producing some delicate and freaking awesome Pinot Noirs from this region highlight the vast vineyard development of Chile and their ability to utilize their coastal influences and climate to grow a grape most thought would not do well there. They are much closer to the equator than most other vineyards that are notable for growing Pinot Noir in the world, while also being the newest region to seek.
While oftentimes Pinot Noir is seen as a high- end celebratory wine, there are tons of examples of casual drinking producers that we love to showcase in our store! Any of these are suitable examples to get a grip on what's to love with this grape! To top it off I didn’t even get to mention its vast plantings in champagne and how it's a major part of high-end Champagnes. A blog post for another time!