Wine is a classy and social drink obtained from fermented grapes which makes it one of the healthiest alcoholic drinks. This beverage has been one of the most favoured drinks by people for thousands of years mainly because of its distinguished taste and diversity. You can choose from the large selection of red wines, out of which Pinot Noir is one of the most popular wines from this wine variety.
This wine is made from black-skinned grapes from the Vitis Vinifera species that thrive best in cooler climates. Pinot Noir is one of France’s oldest grapes that was cultivated a century ago by the Cistercian monks in Burgundy. These days, Pinot Noir is praised for its finesse and age-worthiness, especially when coming from some famous vineyards in Burgundy. Since the grape species for making this wine are quite difficult to grow, Pinot Noir is among the most expensive wines in the world.
What Makes It So Popular?
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Pinot Noir is romanticised by wine enthusiasts and its popularity is due to its tastiness and flavour. It has a complex flavour palate and a smooth body. Considering the difficulty of growing the grapes and the wine's higher price, Pinot wine is considered to be a special type of wine that should be reserved for special occasions. So, if you’re a fan of reds, don’t forget to pamper yourself with a bottle of this tasty and aromatic Pinot wine for some special occasion.
Origin
As we already mentioned, it’s believed that this exquisite wine comes from Burgundy, France which is the home of the best single-varietal wines in the whole world. Aside from France, these grapes can also be found in some parts of Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and in some parts of the United States like New York, California and Oregon.
Taste
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Pinot Noir is a dry red wine with a light to medium body, it has bright acidity, silky tannins and alcohol that ranges somewhere between 12 – 15% ABV (alcohol by volume). Practice shows that the best Pinot Noir flavour is more complex with raspberry, cherry, mushroom, forest floor and vanilla hints. And, if aged in French oak, it can also obtain a baking spice taste. The taste of the wine can also vary on the climate and on the winemaker’s style.
It’s said that warmer climates produce riper and fuller-bodied Pinot Noir with higher alcohol content while cooler climates produce more delicate and light-bodied Pinot Noir. Some winemakers who want to create a fuller and more textured wine, usually age the wine in 100% new French oak, giving it a completely different taste.
Alcohol Content
As we already mentioned, the alcohol content of this wine can range from 12 – 15% depending on the wine region and the climate. For instance, if coming from cooler regions like France and Germany, the wine can have 12 – 13.5% ABV, and if coming from warmer regions like Australia and California, the alcohol content can range from 13.5 – 15%.
Serving Temperature
Pinot Noir should be served at 13 - 18 °C whereas lighter wines should be served cooler, while the fuller-bodied wines should be served warmer. If you open the bottle and don’t finish it, you can keep it in the refrigerator. Just make sure to change the cork because that way the wine will stay fresh for up to 3 days. If kept open more than this, the wine will start to oxidise.
Food Pairings
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Because of the wine’s bright acidity, fruit flavour and elegant style, it's said that Pinot Noir will go perfectly with lighter red meats like duck and lamb, but also with white meat like chicken, turkey and pork. Given the fact that it can be paired with lighter meat, it’s said that Pinot Noir can also go great with salmon. The only types of foods that don’t go well with Pinot Noir are the ones that are too dense and rich in flavour.
Given the fact that Pinot Noir is a red type of wine, this means that’s high in antioxidants and low in sugar which makes it great for anyone who’s health conscious. When in the search for the right type of Pinot Noir from the Australian region, it’s said that wines coming from Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Pemberton are one of the best regions for making this exquisite red wine. Ideally, you should buy Pinot Noir from specialised wine stores that are stocked with wines coming from different regions. That way, you’ll be able to taste and distinguish the particular wine’s diversity in taste and flavour from one region to another and pick the one that’ll best meet your personal taste. The price of this tasty red wine will mainly depend on the wine region and year of production.
