Pinot Noir

Pinot noir ("PEE-no NWAR") is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The na e ay a!so refer to wines prod"ced predo inant!y fro pinot noir grapes. The na e is derived fro the #rench words for "pine" and "$!ac%" a!!"ding to the varieta!s& tight!y c!"stered dar% p"rp!e pine cone shaped $"nches of fr"it. Pinot Noir is often descri$ed as $eing a "diffic"!t" grape' to grow' to dea! with in the winery' and to find tr"!y great e(a p!es of' $"t fans are passionate a$o"t this variety. History Pinot Noir is an ancient variety that ay $e on!y )-* generations re oved fro wi!d vines. +ince vines grew wi!d as far north as ,e!gi" in the days $efore phy!!o(era' it is possi$!e that Pinot represents an independent do estication of Vitis vinifera - it certain!y !oo%s different fro the vines of so"thern #rance' which ay represent -a"casian stoc% transported $y the ancient .ree%s. Ancient Ro ans %new this grape as /e!venacia 0inor and vinified it as ear!y as the first cent"ry A1. Recogni2ed wor!dwide as a great wine grape' pinot noir has any a!ias and is grown in A!geria' Argentina' A"stra!ia' A"stria (ca!!ed ,!a"$"rg"nder or +p3t$"rg"nder)' ,ra2i!' -anada' -roatia (,"rg"ndac)' -2echos!ova%ia' Eng!and' #rance' .er any (+p3t$"rg"nder)' .reece' /"ngary' 4ta!y (Pinot Nero)' 0e(ico' New 5ea!and' +wit2er!and (-!evner' $"t !a$e!ed "1o!e" when often $!ended with .a ay Noir)' and the 6nited +tates. The rep"tation that gets pinot noir so "ch attention' however' is owed to the wines of ,"rg"ndy (,o"rgogne)' #rance. #or ost of wine history' this two- i!e-wide' thirtyi!e-!ong stretch of hi!!s' ca!!ed the -7te d&8r ("+!ope of .o!d")' is the on!y region to achieve consistent s"ccess fro the pinot noir vine. The 9"a!ity of ,o"rgogne is d"e to a n" $er of factors. 4ts vineyards s!ope gent!y down toward the East' providing the vines with !ong s"n e(pos"re yet avoiding afternoon heat. The soi! there is very ca!careo"s (cha!%y: containing ca!ci" car$onate)' offering good drainage. We!!-drained soi!s have a higher average te perat"re' which assists ripening. Pinot noir see s to ref!ect ore prono"nced .o"t de Terroir' or f!avor of the soi!' than other $!ac% grape types' a%ing vineyard site se!ection a critica! factor. Production 1iffic"!ties p!ag"e pinot noir at every step' fro propagation to even its $ott!e-aging characteristics. .enetica!!y "nsta$!e' the parent vine ay prod"ce offspring that $ear fr"it that is nothing !i%e the parent&s in the si2e and shape of the $erry or c!"ster and wi!! fre9"ent!y even have different aro as' f!avors and !eve!s of prod"ctivity. There are ;< recogni2ed c!ones (genetic variants) of Pinot Noir in 1i=on' #rance. A pe!ographers esti ate there are as any as *>> to possi$!y )'>>> c!ones of pinot noir wor!dwide. ,y co parison' ca$ernet sa"vignon has on!y twe!ve identifia$!e c!ones.

Near!y every aff!iction %nown to affect vines is co on a ong pinot noir vineyards. A!tho"gh 9"ite to!erant of co!d c!i ates' it is partic"!ar!y s"scepti$!e to +pring frosts' $eca"se it is one of the ear!iest-!eafing varieties. The sharpshooter !eafhopper finds pinot noir a perfect host. This $"g carries Pierce&s 1isease' which can destroy an entire vineyard in as !itt!e as three years. ?eaf-ro!! vir"s is preva!ent in a! ost a!! pinot noir p!antings over ten years o!d. The pinot vines are not very vigoro"s and often !ac% ade9"ate !eaf cover to protect the fr"it fro $irds' which do "ch da age. Even if the grapes s"rvive the $irds' if not pic%ed pro pt!y at at"rity' the thin-s%inned and tender $erries shrive! and dry o"t rapid!y res"!ting in a raisiny aro a and ne"tra! f!avor. Pinot Noir is a!so one of the ore diffic"!t wines to fer ent. Part!y d"e to the presence of )@ a ino acids' which are nat"ra!!y $a!anced in this variety' Pinot Noir fer ents vio!ent!y' often "$oi!ing" "p and o"t of its container' speeding the process o"t of contro!. -o!or retention is a a=or pro$!e for the thin-s%inned $erries. Pinot is very prone to acetification (to t"rn into' or ca"se so ething to t"rn into' acetic acid or vinegar) and often !oses the so eti es pro ising aro as and f!avors it see s to disp!ay thro"gh fer entation and aging' as soon as it is $ott!ed. There is one co ponent in which Pinot Noir see s nat"ra!!y 9"ite rich' three to fo"r ti es higher co pared to other varieties' especia!!y when it is grown in coo!er and ore h" id c!i atesA resveratro! (an antio(idant present in any p!ants and p!ant prod"cts' especia!!y in red grape s%ins). Whi!e this ay not affect the aspects of sensory en=oy ent' it ay draw the attention of hea!th-conscio"s cons" ers. Pinot Noir shows so e pro ise and has a possi$!e f"t"re in the Wi!!a ette Va!!ey of 8regon' the 8%anagan Va!!ey of ,ritish -o!" $ia' and in New 5ea!and' a!tho"gh a!! ay prove to have growing seasons that are genera!!y too short and too h" id for consistent!y o"tstanding res"!ts. The pop"!ar i age persists that -a!ifornia Pinot Noir is a !ight' fr"ity wine of no conse9"ence' $"t -a!ifornia vintners over the past twenty years have $een i proving site and c!ona! se!ections' vitic"!t"ra! ethods' and vinification techni9"es to increase their record of s"ccess. The no inees for ,est +"pporting Appe!!ation in -a!ifornia Pinot Noir are "ch the sa e as for -hardonnayA +anta 0aria Va!!ey (+anta ,ar$ara -o"nty): R"ssian River Va!!ey (+ono a -o"nty): -arneros (in $oth +ono a and Napa -o"nties): Anderson Va!!ey (0endocino -o"nty): as we!! as the Pinnac!es (0onterey -o"nty) and' recent!y' +anta ?"cia /igh!ands (0onterey -o"nty). Pinot Noir is rare!y $!ended with other grapes' other than -ha pagne' $eca"se of its te pera enta! growth a$i!ity $"t is occasiona!!y is vinified as a rosB. 4t has igrated s"ccessf"!!y to coo!er c!i ates of the new wor!d' nota$!y the -arneros district of -a!ifornia' where it !oses the earthy ,"rg"ndian sta p $"t ac9"ires density and co!or' and !ess so to .er any where' as +p3t$"rg"nder' it is $are!y ore than a fresh rosB.

Flavor .reat Pinot Noir creates a !asting i pression on the pa!ate and in the e ory. 4ts aro a is often one of the ost co p!e( of a!! varieta!s and can $e intense with a ripe-grape or $!ac% cherry aro a' fre9"ent!y accented $y a prono"nced spiciness that s"ggests cinna on' sassafras' or int. Ripe to ato' "shroo ' and $arnyard are a!so co on descriptors for identifying Pinot Noir. 4t is f"!!-$odied and rich $"t not heavy' high in a!coho!' yet neither acidic nor tannic' with s"$stantia! f!avor despite its de!icacy. The ost appea!ing 9"a!ity of Pinot Noir ay $e its soft' ve!vety te(t"re. When right' it is !i%e !i9"id si!%' gent!y caressing the pa!ate. Pinot does not have the !ongevity in the $ott!e of the dar%er red wines and tends to reach its pea% at five to eight years past the vintage.

Typical Pinot Noir Smell and/or Flavor Descriptors

Varietal Aromas/Flavors:

Processing Bouquets/Flavors:

Fruit: cherry, strawberry, raspberry, ripe tomato

Terroir: mushroom, earth, barnyard, tru le, leather, meat

Floral: violet, rose petal

!a" #light$: vanilla, coconut, sweet wood

%pice: sassa ras, rosemary, cinnamon, caraway, peppermint

!a" #heavy$: oa", smo"e, toast, tar

&erbal: rhubarb, beet, oregano, green tomato, green tea, blac" olive

Bottle Age: cedar, cigar bo'

Food Pairing A!tho"gh Pinot Noir har oni2es we!! with a wide variety of foods' the $est atches to show off the de!icacy and te(t"re of Pinot Noir areA gri!!ed sa! on' a good c"t of p!ain roast $eef' or any dish that feat"res "shroo s as the ain f!avor e!e ent. -!assic #rench coo%ing has creations $ased on Pinot Noir' s"ch as -o9 a" Vin (chic%en coo%ed in red wine) ,oe"f ,o"rginon' and -asso"!et. 8ther ain dishes that atch we!! with Pinot Noir inc!"de roasted and $raised preparations of !a $' pheasant' and d"c%' as we!! as gri!!ed eaty fish' s"ch as sa! on' shar%' and swordfish. ,est are foods that are si p!e and rich. .o easy on the spices' so e of which ay as% the de!icate f!avors of pinot noir and genera!!y tend to accent"ate the hot taste of a!coho!. World's best wine 4n 8cto$er' *>>C' ,!air and Este!!e /"nt (,a!d /i!!s vineyard in New 5ea!and' who started a%ing wine witho"t any previo"s e(perience) $eat ;'C<> entries to win the -ha pion Red award in the 4nternationa! Wine -ha!!enge' the wor!d&s $iggest $!ind tasting. Their *>>D pinot noir has $een ="dged the $est red wine in the wor!d this year and

it was the first ti e a vineyard o"tside #rance too% 1ecanter pinot noir over E)>. +o e of the Pinot Noir offered $y N-?A Pinot Noir C); C)*

aga2ine&s top pri2e for $est

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Antonin Rodet Pommard, ,"rg"ndy' #rance -herry f!avors coat the pa!ate and e!t into a si!%y finish !aced with hints of cocoa' vio!ets and orienta! spices. Argyle Reserve' Wi!!a ette Va!!ey' 8regon' 6+A This Pinot Noir has a sed"ctive rich' s"per dar% r"$y-vio!et co!or. The aro as ref!ect one&s e(pectations of a coo! year' dar% co!ored Pinot. Aro as !eap o"t the g!ass with $!ac% cherry' $!ac% cherry !eather' and cedar' cedar s o%e with a ripping portion of cinna on spice' finishing off with a de!icate hint of vio!et f!ower patch. Etude Carneros' -a!ifornia' 6+A With a rich and vivid h"e' the *>>D Estate $ott!ing offers inviting and e(pressive aro as of fr"it spice' red fr"its' inera!ity and a soft' earthy note. ,ea"tif"!!y str"ct"red' the pa!ate $"rsts with !ifted f!avors of $!ac% cherry' $!ac% p!" and perf" e. The !"sh fr"it co $ined with the $a%ing spice notes fro aging in #rench oa% $roadens the o"thfee! and gives this f"!! and rich wine definition and !ength. Jean rivot Clos !ougeot First rowt"' ,"rg"ndy' #rance Aro as of cherries and wi!d straw$erry: e!!ow and refined: ripe and s"cc"!ent f!avors with good acidity. #ing Estate, 8regon' 6+A Aro as of ripe cherry' pepper and toasty oa% !ead to a edi" $odied pa!ate of $!ac% fr"its' a id a fir fra ewor% of oa% and si!%y tannins. $aetitia Estate' Arroyo .rande Va!!ey' -a!ifornia' 6+A Estate Pinot Noir shows an e!egant i( of $!ac% cherry and p!" fr"it' !ayered with intense f!ora! notes and s"$t!e n"ances. ,a!anced and co p!e(' the !ayers revea! f!avors of $!ac%$erry' cran$erry' wi!d "shroo and d"sty earth. P!"sh and ve!vet te(t"red' this sty!ish Pinot ends witha !ong e ora$!e finish. $ouis Jadot %acc"us Reserve' #rance /ar onio"s and $a!anced' with a p!" p fr"itiness and si!%y te(t"re offset $y ro"nd' gent!e tannins in a wine of edi" $ody and e!egant str"ct"re. The fina! !ots are caref"!!y chosen' and' depending on the vintage' aged for a n" $er of onths in oa% cas%s to evo%e the c!ean' ripe red $erry f!avors and earthiness of the grape e!!owed $y a s"$t!e to"ch of wood. Robert &ondavi, Napa Va!!ey' -a!ifornia' 6+A #!avors of dar% spicy p!" s and $!ac% cherry' with decadent n"ances of cinna on and c!ove: !"sh te(t"re.

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Roessler Red $abel' +ono a -o"nty' -a!ifornia' 6+A This de!icio"s $!end of Pinot Noir fro severa! +ono a -o"nty vineyards e(hi$its c!assic aro atic 9"a!ities of R"ssian River Pinot a!ong with s"$t!e toasty oa% and earth tones. ?ayered tannins provide a so!id $ac%$one for co!a' forest f!oor' and !ight cherry f!avors' c"! inating in a s"pp!e finish. A!!ow it so e ti e to $reathe' and yo" wi!! find that the aro as e(p!ode with deep fr"it ro"nded o"t $y cinna on and choco!ate n"ances' whi!e a crea y' a! ost $"ttery richness e erges on the pa!ate and the fr"it deepens to dar% cherry and so e rasp$erry. 'c"ug, -arneros' -a!ifornia' 6+A Aro a of cherries' $erries and a hint of spicy new oa%: f!avors of $right cherry' c"rrant and straw$erry: spicy' s ooth te(t"re: e!egant finish. (oungberg Hill &c&innville Natas"a %loc)' 8regon' 6+A Natasha ,!oc% has a crisp te(t"re with !ight cinna on and spice "ndertones. 4t has attractive $!"e$erry' rasp$erry and p!" notes with a hint of cherry pie. The f!avors are deep and f!ow fro $eginning to end with a finish of fresh ="niper $erry. The tannins are fine grained' yet sti!! a !itt!e tight. 4t was aged for twe!ve onths in ne"tra! #rench oa% $arre!s to !et the fr"its 9"a!ities shine. ,est paired with sa! on' white eats and cheeses.

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