Pinot Noir
Thin-skinned, difficult to grow, achingly beautiful when right — Pinot Noir is the grape perfectionists chase.
Key regions
- Burgundy
- Willamette Valley
- Central Otago
- Mornington Peninsula
Flavor profile
Aging potential
3–20+ years (Burgundy Grand Cru).
No grape is more sensitive to its site than Pinot Noir. In Burgundy, the difference between two adjacent rows of vines can mean the difference between a village wine and a grand cru. The best examples are haunting: red fruit shot through with forest floor, iron, and a silk-like texture no other variety matches. Outside Burgundy, Oregon's Willamette Valley and New Zealand's Central Otago produce their own compelling expressions, fruitier and more approachable young.
Food pairings
Tracking Pinot Noir in your cellar?
Log bottles by grape variety, add tasting notes, and watch your collection grow.
Open your cellar →