SÉLECTION PINOT NOIR

Ranked among the top 10 most planted grape varieties in France and the world, Pinot Noir is a grape variety you must know! As the essential red grape of the greatest wines of Burgundy—often with inaccessible prices—Pinot Noir continues to captivate wine lovers. Follow our guide and discover everything you need to know about Pinot Noir through its history, aromatic characteristics, and the wines it produces. You’ll also find tips in this article on creating the best food and wine pairings with Pinot Noir-based wines.

Description and Origins of This Grape Variety

Pinot Noir is one of the oldest grape varieties. As the emblematic red grape of great Burgundy wines, Pinot Noir was reintroduced to the region by Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, in 1395. He banned the cultivation of Gamay on his lands, considering it of lower quality. While Pinot Noir is inseparable from Burgundy, it has also made its way to other regions of France, such as Champagne, the Loire, Alsace, Jura, Savoie, and even more southern vineyards in Languedoc. Its finesse and complex red fruit aromas have made it a grape cultivated and appreciated worldwide.

Aromatic Characteristics

Often vinified as a single varietal, Pinot Noir is a versatile grape that expresses itself differently depending on the terroir and winery. We can distinguish four styles of wines made from different Pinot Noirs:

• Pinot Noir as Red Wine in Cool Climates:
  Appearance: Light ruby red color
  Nose: Notes of cherry, strawberry, rose, spices, smoke, forest floor
  Palate: Fresh, long, with silky tannins

• Pinot Noir as Red Wine in Warm Climates:
  Appearance: Deeper garnet red color
  Nose: Jammy red fruit aromas (strawberry, cherry), coffee
  Palate: Round and warm

• Pinot Noir as Rosé Wine:
  Appearance: Pale pink color
  Nose: Aromatic with red fruits and flowers
  Palate: Light and flavorful

• Pinot Noir in Champagne and Sparkling Wines:
  Appearance: Clear golden yellow color
  Nose: Aromas of mirabelle plum, honey, spices
  Palate: Powerful and vinous

Key Terroirs Where It Is Grown in France

As we have seen, Pinot Noir is a red grape inseparable from Burgundy, but it has spread to many vineyards across France. While it thrives in cool and northern climates like Jura, Alsace, or the Loire, it produces richer and rounder red wines in Mediterranean climates. Its ideal terroir is usually found on limestone soils rich in minerals, very present in Burgundy. The best region for producing long-aging Pinot Noir wines is mainly located in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.

Best Food and Wine Pairings with Pinot Noir

Here are our tips for successful food and wine pairings with Pinot Noir from the best appellations in France:

• If you plan to enjoy foie gras or smoked salmon toasts during the holidays or for a special occasion, opt for a bottle of 100% Pinot Noir Blanc de Noirs from a Champagne estate. Its aromas of mirabelle plum, ripe apple, dried fruits, and its finely smoky finish will beautifully accompany your appetizers.

• For dishes like coq au vin or beef bourguignon, nothing pairs better than a bottle of red Burgundy wine from an AOC Pommard or AOC Pernand-Vergelesses estate. With a complex nose of red fruits (cherry, blackcurrant), spices, and mocha, and a powerful palate with silky tannins, these cuvées will elevate all your meat-based dishes in sauce.

• To accompany guinea fowl ballotine or roast chicken, try a Loire Pinot Noir with a bottle from an AOC Sancerre red estate. Its ample, light palate and fruity, floral notes will perfectly complement all your poultry-based recipes.

Looking to deepen your knowledge by trying a new cuvée based on Pinot Noir? At Avenue des Vins, each bottle is carefully selected and available for home delivery directly from the estate or château of your choice. Whether you choose a bottle of Pinot Noir wine from Burgundy or other regions of France, discover our wines at the best price delivered to your doorstep!