Best Pinot Noir Wines
Pinot Noir originated in the Burgundy region of France where the best Pinot Noir wines are still produced. Pinot Noir is, without a doubt, the most renowned red wine in the world. Pinot Noir is Burgundy’s most famous noble grape. Known and loved as “Red Burgundy” in much of the world, Pinot Noir is among the most elegant wines to come out of France. Pinot Noir is a red wine that is typically light to medium-bodied and fruit-forward. Originating from Burgundy, it holds a pleasant spot in the red-wine spectrum—not too dry, but not sweet. This is why it’s a favorite throughout the wine-drinking world. Today, Pinot Noir grapes are planted in regions around the world, including Oregon, California, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy.
Pinot Noir is very popular and highly regarded around the world. Some of this popularity and the somewhat higher price tag may be due to the difficulty associated with cultivating the grape and transforming this product into wine. The grape’s tendency to produce tightly packed clusters makes it susceptible to several viticultural problems involving rot that require persistent management. The leaves of pinot noir are generally smaller than those of Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah. The pinot vine is typically less vigorous and viable than either of these varieties. The grape cluster is small shaped like a pine cone. In the vineyard Pinot noir is sensitive to wind and frost, soil types and pruning techniques. The yield remains low to maintain the highest quality wine. Yeast strains from the variety of growing regions can produce markedly different wine characteristics. Its thin skin makes it susceptible to bunch rot and similar fungal diseases. The vines themselves are susceptible to powdery mildew, especially in Burgundy infection by leaf roll and fanleaf viruses cause significant vine health problems. These complications have given the grape a reputation for being difficult to grow. The thin skins and low levels of phenolic compounds lead to producing mostly low tannin medium-bodied and lightly colored wines. These wines are thus not necessarily good candidates for long term aging. Due to this variety of complications associated with growing Pinot Noir is produced in much smaller quantities than most other red wines which result in the customer paying a little more for a rare Pinot Noir, but very much worth every sip. Please let me know about your favorite Pinot Noir.
These are several producers in the $10 range that are worth checking out. Mark West, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Cupcake, and Mirrasou are among the best budget Pinots.
For more expensive options of the Best Pinot Noir wines, look for bottles from Domaine Faiveley of Burgundy or Craggy Range of New Zealand. As for American producers, you’ll love the Pinot Noir from greats like California’s Gary Farrell, Emeritus, and La Follette. Oregon has some top-ranking wines as well, from wineries like King Estate and Stoller.
There are many other key producers to look for. Within the Napa Valley, look to Bouchaine, Domaine Carneros, Etude, or Saintsbury. For Sonoma County wines of J Vineyards and Sebastiani or the Russian River Valley gem of MacMurray. Other California greats can be found from Cambria, Calera, David Family, and ForeFront by Pine Ridge. Oregon has many equally impressive Pinots.
Food Pairings
Pinot Noir offers a red-wine palate profile in a white-wine style providing a lighter-bodied fare, Pinots give it a step up for both red wine and white wine drinkers. Pinot Noir is well-suited to pair with a wide variety of traditional dishes, ethnic dishes, and classic cuisines. This versatility is due in large part to its consistent acidity, subtle and silky tannins, and lighter-bodied style. Pinot Noir pairings include beef, pork and poultry, cheese and chocolate, fish, lamb, mushrooms, fresh herbs, and wild game. Pinot Noir plays well with spicy seasonings as well as creamy sauces.
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Please try some of our fine Pinot Noir selections below or go to our main site for a complete listing of our fine beverages
Louis
Latour 1996 Domaine Latour Aloxe-Corton (Burgundy)
Concentrated black-cherry nose and very floral. Full, tannic, powerful Pinot Noir fruit; a classic ’96. Needs years, but lovely fruit lies under the structure. Hold this one while drinking the ’95 and ’97. (The “Domaine Latour” on the label means the grapes came from Latour’s home vineyard in Aloxe-Corton, where the Latour family resides.)
Designation
Domaine Latour Aloxe-Corton
Variety
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Burgundy, Burgundy, France
Ancien
2016 Toyon Farm Pinot Noir (Carneros)
This wine has a beautiful bouquet of smoky cherry, forest floor and tea aromas that follow through to the medium-bodied palate. A jolt of orange peel helps to highlight the lifted, integrated acidity that wraps around the robust body. 94 Points
Designation
Toyon Farm
Variety
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Carneros, Napa-Sonoma, California, US
Sojourn 2016 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)
Brawny yet bright in tangy orange peel, cranberry and strawberry, this well-made wine from a well-known and coveted site is impressive in its breadth and complexity. With thirst-quenching acidity it fills the palate with fruit, spice and oak in equal measure. 94 Points
Designation
Gap’s Crown Vineyard
Variety
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma, California, US
Joseph Phelps 2016 Quarter Moon Vineyard Estate Grown Pinot Noir (Sonoma
Coast)
Structured and lively in fresh acidity, this is an impressive wine from an impressive vintage, made from grapes grown in the foggy wilds of Freestone. Broad, baked fruit flavors of pomegranate, strawberry and orange peel give it additional brightness and length, complex within a soft-balanced frame of underlying delicacy. 94 Points
Designation
Quarter Moon Vineyard Estate Grown
Variety
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma, California, US
Dutton Estate 2016 La Familia Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
Earthy in exotic plum, apple skin, rose and lavender, this wine has pretty aromatics and a lasting complexity of forest and cardamom. Medium-bodied and balanced in approach, it’s lean and focused, with a lingering note of dried herb. 91 Points
Designation
La Familia Dutton Ranch
Variety
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, US
I’m always looking for good wines to have at home to welcome my guests for dinner, but know little about wine because honestly I also cannot apreciate it. Thank you for sharing this article, now I have a better understanding about what to get next time and make a good impression.
That was a detailed article on how the Pinot Noir is grown. I did not know that it was grown in small quantities due to difficulties in growing them. I have tasted the Latour a couple of times and really enjoyed it. Mostly I get to taste some rare varieties when I travel abroad. Do you know if Pinot Noir is available in Melbourne, If so under which brand. I will check it out when I am there next month.
Hi Srinivasan, Thank you for your comment. Pinot Noir is one of my favorite wines. You should find a good selection of different brands of Pinot Noir in Australia. Australia is a great producer and importer of many great wines
Hi Joe W
Thanks so much for sharing a good article to read that has helped me to know more about the best Pinot Noir Wines.
My boss is having a dinner for some clients and he told me to get some Pinot Noir wine bottles as one of the clients is a fan of it.
Your article helped me to know more about how the Pinot Noir wines are made and the characteristics of the these famous noble grapes from Burgundy.
After reading your article it will be easier for me to pick the right Pinot Noir for our clients dinner, and it will help me to know which wine to choose as today I know there are a few countries where these grapes grow.
As the dinner menu will be a variety of traditional Mexican dishes, I think this is the wine I will get for the dinner. I will take the name of two wines you share on your article to show them to my boss, I think he will be happy to know you helped me to make the right wine choice for the dinner.
Hey Joe W,
Very good review, Thanks a lot for such an amazing article about “Pinot Noir Wines”. you have some super valuable info on here that may be beneficial to a wide group of people. I like very much Pinot Noir Wines and I regularly drink products called “Joseph Phelps” and “Dutton Estate”. So I can say that these products are of very good quality. I think, a lot of people still don’t have a good idea about Pinot Noir Wines. So if they read your article, they will be benefits. That’s why I will share your article on various social media platforms. We would like to receive more informative articles from you in the future as well too.
Hi Smjtuhin, Thank you for your comment. I am currently working on reviews of many different types of wines or other beverages. Please go to my site to view them.
https://winetospiritscrown.com/
He would take a good look at the wine in the glass, especially around the rim of the glass. He would look at color and clarity. Therefore, always use clear glasses for tasting.White wines should have a shade of faded straw to a deep golden. White wines darken as they age. Red wines can be a shade of red cigar, and up to almost blue-purple plum. Over time, red wines begin to lose color, setting off more odors.They can watch the wine while the glass is on the table, or holding the glass in their hand. The background should be white.