Are you familiar with Pinot Noir , a red wine grape variety?
Have you heard of it before, but doesn't really get it?
Well, what kind of grape variety is it?
For such people, if you say that it is the grape variety used in the world's finest wine, " Romanée-Conti ," they will probably somehow understand that it is a "high-class variety."
Words used to describe wine made from Pinot Noir include "elegant," "sensual," "splendid," and "lovely. " There is no other variety of wine that can be praised with such beautiful words.
However, before you can get past its wonderful flavor, Pinot Noir is also known as a variety that is prone to disease and difficult to grow well.
It was once said that Pinot Noir only grows well in the Burgundy region of France. Nowadays, with advances in technology, Pinot Noir is widely cultivated around the world, but its character as a "difficult variety" remains unchanged.
Pinot Noir is New Zealand's number one producer of red wine grapes, and is highly regarded around the world for its high quality.
In terms of price, you can find great wines for around 2,000 yen, which is very reasonable. Compared to Burgundy, where prices are rising, this is a great deal and is very popular.
Pinot Noir is a red wine grape variety that is becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand. In this article, we will introduce you to its appeal.
A light variety with little astringency that evokes an elegant woman.
The Pinot Noir grape variety is often likened to a woman.
This wine is sure to please any wine lover, as it is a woman with the elegance of a European noblewoman.
However, not all Pinot Noir has this image of being an exclusive, unapproachable wine.
There are also some Pinot Noirs that are more casual in style, and these are perfect for beginners to enjoy casually.
This is because Pinot Noir is a variety that is less rich and bitter than red wines. I think there are many beginners who don't like rich and bitter wines. For those people, it's a good idea to start by trying Pinot Noir, which is characterized by its "gentle and not bitter" taste.
I had the image that red wine is bitter, so this may be a bit surprising!
Pinot Noir is a great wine for beginners.
Origin: Burgundy
The most well-known region for Pinot Noir is Burgundy , France.
Whereas Bordeaux wines are made from a blend of two or more grapes, Burgundy wines are typically made from a single variety.
Its flavor is delicate and fragrant, and is easily influenced by region and age, making it perhaps the best grape variety for enjoying the differences between wineries and production years.
Pinot Noir's aromatic characteristics
Pinot Noir's most distinctive feature is its gorgeous aroma, which continues to fascinate people from ancient times to the present day.
The characteristics of the aroma change between when the wine is young and when it has aged, so it is important to pay attention to the differences in aroma depending on the age.
When young, it has the aroma of red fruits such as cherries.
Younger Pinot Noirs are dominated by small red fruits.
Typical scents include raspberry, raspberry, blueberry, cherry, strawberry, black currant, rose, and violet.
There are also a lot of red fruits like those found on top of cakes and tarts.
When aged, it develops a sensual aroma.
As they age, they acquire a sensual, rich aroma.
Typical aromas include spices, leather, cinnamon, forest floor, truffles and dried leaves.
As it ages, it develops a deeper aroma. When I feel like drinking something slowly, I might try an aged sake.
Pinot Noir's appearance and flavor characteristics
Pinot Noir is one of the most difficult grape varieties to produce due to its thin skin, susceptibility to disease, and the fact that it requires a lot of effort to ferment.
It is difficult to generalize its characteristics because they are easily influenced by the region, but here we will introduce some of the most typical ones.
The color is light and elegant
When young, it has a pale ruby color and is transparent, but as it ages it becomes redder and develops an elegant hue.
Delicate and gentle taste
Its soft touch and gentle delicacy are its charms. The gentleness is more pronounced when young, but it becomes more rounded with age.
It has a high acidity and a dry impression, with a refreshing astringency.
The perfect climate for growing Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir prefers cool climates because it is a very early-ripening variety .
In hotter climates, the grapes stop ripening before they can develop their full potential.
Pinot Noir is a very delicate grape.
In cooler climates, the grapes grow slowly, allowing the sugar content to develop and resulting in a fantastic Pinot Noir.
Enjoy a wide range of pairings, from beef to fish sashimi.
Now that you know about Pinot Noir, it's time to try it.
There are many ways to enjoy it, but here we will give you some simple tips so that even beginners can enjoy it.
Pairing (drinks and food)
One of the ways to enhance your wine enjoyment is to pair it with food.
Pinot Noir has a very light flavor, so it is best to bring food with it that has a softer flavor rather than something rich.
For Western food, we recommend duck, chicken, lamb, and seared beef.
If you're looking for Japanese food, it goes well with yakitori, duck nanban, and braised pork, so be sure to give it a try.
If you're going to drink, try using a Burgundy glass.
If you have tried a few Pinot Noirs and would like to appreciate the wine even more, we recommend purchasing Burgundy glasses.
Burgundy glasses are made for enjoying the aromatic Pinot Noir of Burgundy.
The bottom of the glass is wide and the mouth is small and concave, which allows the aroma to spread within the glass, allowing you to taste every detail of the aroma.
The original home is Burgundy, France. Other places of origin besides New Zealand
Because of its finicky nature, Pinot Noir was once thought to be capable of only being grown in the Burgundy region of France.
However, today the area is spreading around the world.
Here we will introduce some famous Pinot Noir producing regions outside of New Zealand.
Burgundy, France
The home of Pinot Noir.
Only a limited number of producers, including DRC (Domagne Romanée-Conti), which produces Romanée-Conti, own the vineyards and produce the wine. Many high-quality wines are produced here, making it a holy land.
Oregon, USA
Oregon is one of the four major wine producing states in the United States, along with California, New York and Washington.
The climate there is similar to that of Burgundy, which allows it to produce high quality yet affordable Pinot Noir.
Tasmania, Australia
Wine is mainly produced in Tasmania (an island), the southernmost state of Australia, taking advantage of the rugged terrain and cool climate.
In New Zealand, it has rich fruitiness, is elegant and fresh.
New Zealand Pinot Noir is characterised by its fruitiness.
This new style of wine, which retains its noble elements while also incorporating a fresh side, is gaining recognition around the world.
Pinot Noir is the second largest grape variety in New Zealand, accounting for 6.7% of the total grape production in 2022, after Sauvignon Blanc.
Central Otago
When it comes to Pinot Noir in New Zealand, Central Otago is the place that comes to mind.
It is the only region in New Zealand with a semi-continental climate and is said to be the southernmost wine producing region in the world .
Being so far south, it's bound to be cold, but surprisingly, Central Otago is well suited to growing Pinot Noir, producing wines with robust fruit flavours.
The Pinot Noir produced in this blessed land is comparable to that of Burgundy.
Marlborough Region
Marlborough is New Zealand's number one producing region for Pinot Noir.
The climate here is slightly warmer than Central Otago, and many wines with fuller flavours are produced here.
Martinborough
Martinborough is a small grape growing region in the Wairarapa region of the North Island.
While other parts of the North Island are dominated by warm climate grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, Martinborough is an exception as it is the North Island's best growing region for Pinot Noir.
Although it is a very small area, the climate and soil here are said to be very similar to that of Burgundy, and its high quality is recognized throughout the world.
It is also a pioneering region famous for producing Pinot Noir, and the Pinot Noir produced here is highly prized and difficult to obtain.
summary
Pinot Noir, also known as the "Lady of Burgundy," is known as a very elegant wine.
In addition, New Zealand Pinot Noir is rich in fruitiness, and its excellent wines have captivated Pinot Noir fans around the world.
It also has the characteristic of being less astringent than typical of red wine, so it is a variety that we would recommend to beginners who are just starting to drink wine.
Another appealing feature is that the characteristics of wine change dramatically depending on the region and the year the grapes were produced. We encourage you to try wines from various regions and enjoy the differences.
