Pinot Noir (PEA-no NWAHR)
One cannot write a wine blog and evade discussing one of the most talked about and trendy red wine grape varieties – Pinot Noir. This grape has received much buzz over the last few years, thanks mostly in part to the wine movie, Sideways. Pinot Noir has gained some of its popularity most likely because consumers appreciate the fact that that this grape can be very difficult to grow, but even more complicated to make good, quality wine from. Once made into wine, this grape tends to reflect the terroir* of the site in which it is grown, more so than other red grape varieties.
Pinot Noir has been around for a very long time, first being planted by the ancient Romans and then being made into wine around the first century AD. These days consumers can find Pinot Noir wines from numerous countries throughout the world including France, Austria, Italy, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand just to name a few. Some of the best Pinot Noirs can be found throughout regions in California as well such as the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County, and the famed Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara.
Pinot Noir is not always my first choice of wine to drink as I definitely have an ‘American palate’ when it comes to red wines and enjoy the rich, dark, and intensely flavorful varietals that generally are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz, and Grenache. Pinot Noir is much different than these as it is generally a lighter to medium bodied wine with cherry, raspberry, earthy, floral, violet, and spice aromas and flavors. I usually think I know what to expect with Pinot Noir and therefore it can be very dull. However, every once in awhile, I will encounter a Pinot Noir with exceptional depth, and beautifully concentrated fruit flavors with silky, lingering tannins and my curiosity with this mischievous grape returns.
Unfortunately, as a general rule of thumb, you generally get what you pay for with Pinot Noir. So it is definitely worth it to spend a few extra dollars when purchasing this wine to avoid disappointment. Because Pinot Noir doesn’t have the same structure as its darker red counterparts, a Pinot Noir will typically reach its peak in five to eight years past the vintage date.
The following are some great examples of Californian Pinot Noirs.
2006 MacMurray Ranch Central Coast Pinot Noir, $16.99
This wine is lighter red in color and had a modest nose of red cherries, vanilla, and lollies. However, the palate is a bit more distinct with more complex flavors of cigar smoke, coffee, and red cherry. I was most impressed with how well balanced this wine is and the lasting finish. And at $16.99 a bottle, it is a great value as well.
2004 WildHorse Central Coast Pinot Noir, $19.99
This deep purple-red wine has aromas of red berries, leather, and barnyard with concentrated flavors of spice, vanilla, leather, and tar. Nothing seems out of place and it finishes stronger than most.
2005 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, $20
This wine has the most interesting nose as there are a variety of aromas of sweet cherry, strawberry, and vanilla which lead into beautifully intense flavors of spice, vanilla, and red berries. This very well balanced Pinot Noir exhibits a soft, lingering finish.
www.cambriawine.com
2006 Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $27.99
The aromas and flavors of this wine are wonderfully concentrated with leather, earth, and vanilla on the nose and cherry, dark berries, tar, and a hint of sweet vanilla on the palate. This medium bodied, exceptionally well balanced wine’s plush, silky tannins lead you into a blissfully lengthy finish. You will have to pay a bit more for this one, but it won’t let you down.
www.freibrothers.com
*Terroir – The environment with which a grape variety is grown; a combination of the climate, soil, and topography to name a few factors that affect the quality and characteristics of grapes grown in a particular vineyard site.
Comments
One Response to “Pinot Noir (PEA-no NWAHR)”
Leave a Reply
Israeli wine…
Further down the scale, however, prospects are grim. Too much wine is being produced for too few buyers….