Pinot Noir

A true emblem of the Burgundy wine region, its birthplace, Pinot Noir is a very ancient grape variety. Its origins are thought to date back to the arrival of the Romans in Gaul. The Romans are said to have selected vines from the wild vines found in the forests to plant, thus creating the ancestor of Pinot Noir. This grape variety was first mentioned in writing under the name Pinot Noir or Plant Fin in 1375.

During the Middle Ages, the Cluniac monasteries contributed to improving the quality of Pinot Noir and to its spread throughout the Burgundy vineyards. In 1395, Philip II the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, banned the cultivation of Gamay, which was used at the time to produce wines for everyday consumption. He thus favoured Pinot Noir, which was far more refined and complex than other grape varieties. Over time, the cultivation of this grape spread to other regions of France, and then to other parts of Europe.

Crossed with other grape varieties as it spread, Pinot Noir is the origin of the large family of Noiriens. This variety has thus given rise to several derivatives, such as Gamay, Aligoté, Chardonnay and Melon de Bourgogne.

Pinot Noir vines have young green or yellow leaves, which gradually turn dark to very dark green over time. The leaves are divided into 3 or 5 lobes and have serrated edges. This grape variety is recognisable by its small, compact bunches. The tight shape of the bunches, reminiscent of a pine cone, is in fact where it gets its name.

Small and slightly oval or spherical, the berries are encased in a thin, delicate skin covered in bloom. They have an intense colour with hints of bluish-black or dark purple. This grape variety produces berries with sweet, colourless flesh. The maceration stage, during which the skins come into contact with the juice—which is colourless to begin with—gives it a beautiful red colour.

The source of some of the world’s finest wines, Pinot Noir remains nonetheless a capricious and demanding grape variety. Difficult to cultivate and fragile, this variety requires low yields to produce rich berries. It is also characterised by its low resistance to disease and grey mould. Relatively early-ripening, this grape variety possesses sufficient vigour to withstand severe cold. As it thrives best in a northern climate, Pinot Noir is rarely grown in terroirs with a warm climate. To preserve their acidity, richness and aromatic freshness, the berries must ripen slowly and gradually. Indeed, over-ripening impairs the expression of this grape variety. As for the soil, Pinot Noir particularly favours limestone soils.

Particularly sensitive to its terroir, Pinot Noir is distinguished by its ability to interpret it brilliantly, revealing all its nuances with accuracy and precision. Combined with the expertise of winemakers, this ability to capture the essence of the terroir gives rise to Pinot Noir wines of varied styles. Depending on its terroir of origin, this grape variety produces wines imbued with elegance and delicacy, or more dense and full-bodied wines.

Depending on the production area, Pinot Noir expresses more or less intense aromas of red fruits such as raspberry, strawberry or cherry. With age, this grape variety imparts nuances of kirsch, candied fruit, cinnamon and spicy notes to the wines. Over time, Pinot Noir also reveals animal, undergrowth and mushroom notes.

In the Burgundy wine region, the limestone soils give Pinot Noir a distinct minerality. In cooler climates, Pinot Noir retains the natural acidity of the grapes.

Pinot Noir can be used to produce a variety of wine styles. Although it is primarily used in still red wines, this red grape variety is also found in dry rosé wines, lending them aromatic depth. In various wine-growing regions, Pinot Noir is also used to produce sparkling white and rosé wines such as champagne or crémants. Finally, when vinified as a white wine, this grape variety can produce a white wine such as Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noirs.

Depending on the wine-growing region, Pinot Noir is vinified in different ways. When used to produce still wines, this grape variety is often vinified as a single-varietal wine.

As the region’s principal grape variety, Pinot Noir is the sole variety used in most Burgundy red wines. Thriving perfectly on the exceptional soil of this region, this variety perfectly expresses the distinctive characteristics of its native terroirs. Burgundy wines, however, have a few exceptions. This is the case with the red wines of the regional Coteaux Bourguignons AOC, in which Pinot Noir may be blended with the Gamay grape. In the Auxerrois region, the Irancy AOC produces a robust red wine made from this grape variety, sometimes blended with a local, rustic variety known as César. In Alsace, Pinot Noir is also used primarily as a single-varietal wine to produce dark red wines. Under the Sancerre and Menetou-Salon AOCs in the Loire Valley, Pinot Noir is also vinified on its own.

Pinot Noir is also often used in blends for the production of sparkling wines. Under the Champagne AOC, it may be blended with Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Pinot Noir is one of the grape varieties used in the blends for crémants: Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant du Jura, Crémant de Loire and Crémant de Limoux.

Originating in Burgundy, Pinot Noir is now grown in other major wine-producing regions, both in France and abroad.

In France, most Pinot Noir vines are grown mainly in the north-east. This red grape variety is particularly prevalent in Burgundy. Its very name evokes exceptional appellations such as Nuits-Saint-Georges, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Pommard, Chambertin and Romanée-Conti.

Whilst Pinot Noir is a staple in Burgundy, it is equally so in Champagne. Indeed, it is the dominant grape variety in the Côte des Bar and the Montagne de Reims. Pinot Noir has also made its home in Alsace, where it is the only authorised red grape variety. This variety is the basis of the Alsace Pinot Noir AOC, the region’s sole red wine. Pinot Noir gives it a lovely character that is both fruity and full-bodied.

Pinot Noir is also found in the Centre-Loire region in the appellations of Sancerre, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly and Châteaumeillant. This grape variety is also grown in the Jura vineyards, where it is mainly used in blends.

An internationally renowned grape variety, Pinot Noir has won over other European countries, notably Germany. It is, in fact, the most widely grown red grape variety in this wine-producing country. Pinot Noir, or Spätburgunder in German, often produces a full-bodied, fruity wine, benefiting from a short period of ageing in oak. This variety is grown in various regions, mainly in Baden, Rheinhessen and the Palatinate.

Pinot Noir is also enjoying considerable success in America. Whilst it is grown alongside Chardonnay in California, particularly in the Sonoma Valley and Santa Barbara, this grape variety is most prevalent in Oregon. Nicknamed the ‘Burgundy of America’, this US state enjoys a cool climate that is ideal for Pinot Noir. The volcanic soils of this region lend it notes of red fruit, flowers and fresh herbs.

In Australia, the development of viticulture was spurred by European colonisation. Pinot Noir is grown mainly in parts of the state of Victoria, where the altitude and sea breezes help to create a cool climate. As for New Zealand, it is the only New World country producing wines capable of rivalling those of Burgundy. New Zealand Pinot Noir wines are less acidic, but more full-bodied and fruitier than Burgundy wines. These wines sometimes display spicy notes on the nose, blending harmoniously with the Pinot Noir’s palette of red fruits. In New Zealand, Pinot Noir vines are mainly grown in the Central Otago and Marlborough regions.

Pinot Noir cultivation has also been adopted in other wine-producing countries, notably Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Moldova.

A land of great wines, Burgundy is renowned for producing exceptional red wines made from Pinot Noir, which enjoy a worldwide reputation. This grape variety thrives particularly well in the region’s limestone soils, ranging from the Bajocian limestone with enotrichs in Gevrey-Chambertin to the Upper Jurassic limestone in Givry.

Although a challenging climate for most red grape varieties, Burgundy’s northern climate is ideal for Pinot Noir. The combination of this variety’s late and long growing cycle—almost exclusive to Burgundy red wines—and the local climate encourages a slow and gradual ripening of the grapes. This process is responsible for the aromatic richness and the finesse of the tannins that have made the prestigious red wines of Burgundy famous.

The Côte de Nuits region is a paradise for Pinot Noir. It is the source of most of Burgundy’s Grands Crus, such as Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Chapelle Chambertin, Clos Saint Denis, Clos de Vougeot, La Romanée, Romanée-Conti and Musigny. Great wines that inspire the dreams of red wine lovers worldwide! Pinot Noir also produces excellent wines under the Villages appellations, some of which are classified as Premier Cru, such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée and Vougeot.

The Hautes Côtes de Nuits, forming with those of Beaune a long plateau stretching from Dijon to the Maranges, are renowned for their powerful, characterful Pinot Noir wines. Full-bodied reds with a purple or ruby hue!

In the Côte Chalonnaise, Pinot Noir brings character and vigour to the red wines of Givry, Mercurey and Rully.

Pinot Noir also thrives on the well-drained, limestone-rich hillside soils of the Côte de Beaune region. This grape variety produces wines with a character that varies according to the terroir. The region’s best-known appellations include the Pommard AOC, which offers colourful, firm and powerful Pinot Noirs. The Volnay AOC also produces exceptional red wines. These wines are often considered the finest, most elegant and delicate in the Côte de Beaune.

In the Auxerrois region, Pinot Noir thrives in the predominantly limestone terroir of the Irancy AOC, where it produces robust red wines with excellent structure.

As France’s northernmost wine-growing region, Champagne also offers a chance to discover another side to Pinot Noir. Covering around 40% of the Champagne vineyards, this grape variety lends body, structure and power to Champagne wines.

As well as lending a vinous character to Champagne, Pinot Noir imparts delicate and refined aromas of red and black fruits to these sparkling wines. This grape variety also develops notes of yellow and white-fleshed fruits, citrus, floral hints and, at times, spicy nuances. In great vintages, the vinous character of Pinot Noir is a guarantee of the wines’ high ageing potential. Vinified on its own or in combination with Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir can also simply be used in a blend with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.

It is as a single-varietal wine that Pinot Noir truly comes into its own, and this is the best way to savour it and discover all its characteristics. Offering wines with a multitude of personalities, Pinot Noir pairs well with a wide range of dishes. With its delicate texture and fruity aromas, this noble Burgundy grape variety enhances the tender flesh of white meats and poultry such as chicken, rabbit chasseur or braised pork loin. These elegantly vinified wines also pair perfectly with slow-cooked meats such as lamb navarin or veal sauté. Pinot Noirs with low tannin levels also pair harmoniously with grilled meats, bringing out the smoky flavour of barbecued meat.

Wines with more pronounced tannins, on the other hand, are the perfect companions for rare red meats, especially when young. Later on, these Pinot Noirs pair wonderfully with meats served with a wine sauce or fine game birds.

Although always delicate and elegant, some Pinot Noir red wines are more full-bodied. Younger, more full-bodied Pinot Noir wines pair well with offal and flavourful red meats. As they age, these wines create a perfect pairing with more delicate dishes such as sweetbreads. Aged Pinot Noirs, which develop aromas of candied fruit, leather and forest floor, can accompany game that is not too strong in flavour.

To fully appreciate the flavour profile of a Pinot Noir wine, certain serving guidelines should be followed.

The serving temperature for Pinot Noir depends on the type of wine. To reveal their full flavour potential, red wines made from this grape variety should be served at room temperature, ideally between 12°C and 16°C. When vinified as a single-varietal rosé, Pinot Noir is best enjoyed between 10°C and 12°C.

When it comes to red wine, Pinot Noir is best served in a Burgundy glass. With its more rounded bowl, this type of glass makes it easy to swirl the wine to release its bouquet. Its relatively narrow opening helps to concentrate the aromas and minimises the aeration of the Pinot Noir, allowing the fruit to come through fully.

The ageing potential of Pinot Noir depends mainly on its terroir of origin and the quality of the vines, but also on the type of ageing. When aged in stainless steel vats, this grape variety releases light, fruity notes. This type of wine is best enjoyed within 3 to 5 years of its vintage. In contrast, wines made from old vines grown in a high-quality terroir and aged in oak barrels can be kept for 20 years, or even longer.

Pinpointing exactly which best Pinot Noir wines to choose is no easy task, as it depends above all on personal taste. When selecting a wine made from this grape variety, various criteria must be taken into account: the region of origin, the type of wine (red, rosé or sparkling) and its profile (fruity, spicy, floral, mineral, full-bodied or supple). The choice of a Pinot Noir wine may depend on whether you plan to drink it straight away or keep it in the cellar, as well as on the occasion for which it is intended. Budget is also a factor to consider.

The price of a bottle of Pinot Noir varies considerably depending on a number of factors: the wine-growing region, the appellation, the estate, the vintage, any awards the wine has received, and even the bottle size. At Vinatis, Pinot Noir wines are available at prices ranging from £10 to over £1,200. There’s something to suit every budget!

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