Chapter 6 - Pinot Noir

Question 1

What are basic characteristics of Pinot Noir wines?

Answer 1

• Wines are fruity, refreshing, easy to drink when young

- Finest wines benefit from long maturation and develop complex flavours

Question 2

What is the colour of Pinot Noir wines?

Answer 2

• Pale to medium colour

Question 3

What is the palate/flavour of Pinot Noir wines?

Answer 3

• High acidity
• Low to medium tannins
• Red fruit flavors (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry)
• Changes from fresh to cooked fruit depending on the ripeness of the fruit
• Very good Pinot Noirs develop complex tertiary flavours (forest floor, mushroom)

Question 4

Characteristics and climate of Pinot Noir grape?

Answer 4

• Black grape with a thin skin
• Cool to moderate climate necessary
• If climate too warm, cooked flavours may come out
• Prone to rot and disease
• Difficult to produce even small quantities in difficult years

Question 5

How is Pinot Noir blended in a wine?

Answer 5

• Typically single-varietal wine

- Sparkling wines/champagne are exceptions

Question 6

How if Pinot Noir matured?

Answer 6

• Often matured in oak, but strong new-oak barrels can overwhelm flavours
• Older/larger barrels are often used that impart fewer flavours
• Most Pinot Noirs are supposed to be drunk when they are young

Question 7

What are the most important regions to grow Pinor Noir?

Answer 7

• Bourgogne,
• California
• Oregon
• Chile
• South Africa
• Australia
• New Zealand

Question 8

What are characteristics of suitable growing conditions in Burgundy?

Answer 8

• Moderate climate areas
• ## South- and south-east-facing sloped particularly well-suited

Question 9

What are the most famous areas in Burgundy for growing Pinot Noir called?

Answer 9

• Côte d’Or

- Northern half: Côte de Nuits, southern half: Côte de Baune

Question 10

What are characteristics of Bourgogne AOC wines?

Answer 10

• Light- to medium-bodied wines
• Low tannins
• High acidity
• Fresh red fruit flavours
• Due to demand even basic Bourgogne AOC command high prices

Question 11

What are characteristics of Bourgogne Village wines?

Answer 11

• Better situated
• More flavour intensity, complexity, length on the finish than Bourgogne AOC
• Most famous villages are in the Côte d’Or

Question 12

What are the most famous Bourgogne Village appellations?

Answer 12

• Côte de Nuits: Gevrey-Chambertin AOC, Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC
• Côte de Beaune AOC, Pommard AOC

Question 13

What are characteristics of Bourgogne Premier Cru/Grand Cru wines?

Answer 13

• Commonly found on slopes
• Extra sunlight and warmths
• Concentrated fruit flavours (strawberries, red cherries), subtle oak aromas (cloves, smoke), tertiary flavours (forest floor, mushroom)

Question 14

What are Pinot Noir growing regions in California?

Answer 14

• Most of California is too warm for Pinot Noir
• Northern California (Carneros - cooled by morning fog), Sonoma (cooled by Pacific Ocean), Santa Barbara County (cooled by see breezes)
• Ripe red-fruit flavours (strawberry, red cherry), notable oak flavours (vanilla)
• Finest wines can develop tertiary flavours (forest floor, mushroom)

Question 15

What are characteristics of Pinot Noir from Oregon?

Answer 15

• Cooler climate than California
• Complex, fred red-fruit flavours
• Subtle oak flavours (smoke, cloves)
• Can develop tertiary flavours (earth, mushroom)

Question 16

How does labelling work in Burgundy?

Answer 16

• Regional appellation (e.g. Bourgogne AOC, broadest appellation, whole of Burgundy)
• Village Appellation (e.g. Gevrey Chambertin)
• Premier Cru Vineyards (high-quality vineyards within villages are premier cru, e.g. Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques)
• Grand Cru Vineyards (Grapes grown in a handful of vineyards, e.g. Le Chambertin Grand Cru)

Question 17

Where is Pinot Noir in Chile grown?

Answer 17

• Coastal sub-region of Casablanca Valley (north of Santiago)

Question 18

What are characteristics of Pinot Noirs from Chile?

Answer 18

• Cooled by morning fogs and sea breezes
• Fruity flavours, cooked strawberries
• Good value for money

Question 19

What are characteristics of Pinot Noirs from South Africa?

Answer 19

• Grown in coolest coastal areas like Walker Bay

- Vibrant red-fruit flavours

Question 20

What are characteristics of Pinot Noirs from Australia?

Answer 20

• Only grown in a few climates that are not too warm
• Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula have cooling breezes from the Ocean
• Light and fragrant wines to riper wines with cooked red fruit flavours (red plum, strawberry) and medium tannins

Question 21

What are characteristics of Pinot Noirs from New Zealand?

Answer 21

• Premier black grape variety of New Zealand
• Martinborough and Marlborough produce some of the best Pinot Noirs
• Central Otago produces some of the ripest and most powerful Pinot Noirs. Medium to full-bodied wines with medium tannins and pronounced fruit flavours (strawberry, red cherry)

Question 22

What is Pinot Noir known for today?

Answer 22

• Small changes in vineyard location can lead to subtle changes in the wine (e.g. Burgundy)
• Ripe and very alcoholic wines from warm climates are often inexpensive and lack the quality of Pinot Noir from rather moderate climates