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Pinot Noir. Physical characteristics. Very old vine Lots of mutations Shows off terroir well Prefers soils with lots of calcium (limestone) Prefers cool weather, but needs lots of sun. Physical characteristics . Thin skinned grape Susceptible to rot Also susceptible to Pierce’s Disease
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Physical characteristics • Very old vine • Lots of mutations • Shows off terroir well • Prefers soils with lots of calcium (limestone) • Prefers cool weather, but needs lots of sun
Physical characteristics • Thin skinned grape • Susceptible to rot • Also susceptible to Pierce’s Disease • Vines have short relative lifespan (40-45 years) • Clonal selection in vineyard very important
Winemaker choices • Called Holy Grail of wine because of difficulty in making really good version • Needs extra care to extract color and tannin without losing aromatics • Aging occurs in older barrels • Major component in sparkling wine production
Regions • Burgundy • Cote de Nuits has the best terroir and best versions • Champagne • For sparkling wine production • Elsewhere in Europe • Germany • Italy • Switzerland
New World regions • Oregon • Willamette valley in particular • Planted with Burgundy clones • California • Carneros • Santa Barbara • New Zealand
Styles • Can be refreshing, aromatic or ageworthy • Light red – considered to be a white wine in disguise • Vintage is very important (weather as part of terroir)
Styles • Nose: • Red berries • Mushrooms • Earthy • Palate: • Low extraction • Low to medium acid and tannin • Fruit, earth and savory components
Pairing suggestions • Very food friendly, better with light dishes • Burgundian cuisine – coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon • Oregon – pair with salmon • Pair with simpler dishes as wine can be complex