The most beautiful and elegant red variety cannot be anything other than the Pinot Noir! This popular noble variety finds it origin in French Burgundy, more specifically in the Côte de Nuits, where the best (and most expensive) Pinot Noir in the world is made. The grape is rather sensitive to many diseases, which makes it very hard to cultivate. Within France we do find plantings of the grape in Champagne, where it is one of the grapes used for the Champagne blend. Apart from that we find it in the Loire Valley, like in Sancerre or Touraine. More fruity Pinots are coming from the Pays d’Oc in the south.
Germany calls the grape Spätburgunder and will add more spices to the aromas. In Italy the grape is called Pinot Nero and will display the same level of elegance as the one from Burgundy.
High quality Pinot Noir is coming from the cooler regions of Central Otago and Marlborough in New-Zealand. Natural acidity can be retained, and more herbaceous notes will be displayed. You can find similar Pinot Noir coming from Tasmania, Australia.
Other regions to look out for in the new world are Casablanca Valley in Chile and Oregon in the US.
Pinot Noir works best as a monocépage (single blend). Along with Cinsault, it parents the grape of Pinotage, the only native grape from South- Africa.
Aromas
The aromas make you think of autumn with earthy notes of forest floor, clove, and mushroom. But also, fresh red fruit like cranberries, red raspberry, and pomegranate. Spices and herbaceous notes compliment the minerality and find a perfect balance with a touch of oak.
Wine type
Earthy herbaceous red wine
Colour
Light granate red
Food matching
Due to its lower number of tannins Pinot Noir goes perfectly with lighter white meat such as veal or pork or poultry. However, due to the herbaceous and spicy notes Pinot Noir will go beautiful with different types of game as well. The match made in heaven is duck breast.
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