Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is the black grape of Burgundy France, it is produced all over the world and is the principle component in Champagne production. It is most commonly produced as a red wine, but did you know that it makes beautiful dry rosé, or that by removing the skins, it can be made into white wine as in the production of Champagne? Indeed Blanc de Noirs and vintage Champagne are made of Pinot Noir grapes with the skins separated off to prevent color extraction. Rosé is made by allowing a fraction of the color to seep into the juice and then separating the juice before it gets dark color.

Pinot Noir is most frequently a medium bodied red wine, that shows aromas of bing cherry, red berry, bright fruit, and relatively gentle oak manipulation. Often utilizing neutral barrels that impart softer color, texture, aroma, and flavor allows the fruit presence to stand alone. Styles do vary substantially. In the new world, I enjoy showing Pinot Noir from Oregon, New Zealand, and especially Mornington Peninsula in south Australia.

I just returned from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and was able to walk the Ribbon Ridge A.V.A. (American Viticultural Area) two miles of incredible Pinot Noir land. In the following months I would encourage my guests to try these Pinot Noirs from the producers that I met along the way.