Pinot Noir

Question 1

What colour and intensity has Pinot Noir wine?

Answer 1

Normally pale to medium red

Question 2

What are common primary aromas of PN?

Answer 2

Red fruits such as strawberry, raspberry and red cherry. Ranging from fresh to cooked depending on ripeness/ growing region.

Question 3

What aromas might oak add?

Answer 3

Vanilla, cloves, smoke

Question 4

Which climate is best for growing PN

Answer 4

Cool to moderate to produce best quality grapes

Question 5

What colour and thickness is the skin of PN?

Answer 5

It is a black, thin skinned grape

Question 6

Which type of oak barrel is preferred for PN and why?

Answer 6

Large old barrels because they impart less oak flavours which might otherwise overwhelm the delicate flavours of the wine. The wine maker will try to achieve a balance of fruit and oak in the best PNs

Question 7

When should PN be drank?

Answer 7

Normally when young to enjoy the fruity flavours but the best can be aged.

Question 8

What tertiary flavours can develop in the bottle?

Answer 8

Forest floor and mushrooms after several years.

Question 9

Which region is regarded as the home of PN?

Answer 9

Burgundy in France.

Question 10

Can PN be grown successfully in warmer regions?

Answer 10

Yes provided there are moderating weather influences which cool the growing region eg sea breezes, fog, mist, altitude

Question 11

Why is Burgundy so well suited to PN.

Answer 11

The climate ranges from cool in the North to moderate in the South. It is best suited to the moderate areas where it can ripen fully.

Question 12

What makes the best sites for growing PN in Burgundy?

Answer 12

South- and South-east facing slopes that benefit from extra sunlight can produce concentrated and complex wines.

Question 13

Where are the best vineyards situated in Burgundy?

Answer 13

The Cote d’Or

Question 14

What are the two halves of Cote d’Or called?

Answer 14

The northern half is Cote de Nuits and the southern is Cotes de Beaune.

Question 15

What is the Regional Appellation of Burgundy?

Answer 15

Bourgogne AOC which covers the whole of Burgundy. Grapes can be used from any vineyard in Burgundy.

Question 16

What are the palate characteristics of a PN?

Answer 16

It is dry, low to medium tannins, high acidity and light to medium body with medium alcohol. Primary flavours of red fruit - strawberry, raspberry, red cherry. Seconday flavours from oak can add smoke and cloves and bottle-ageing can add mushroom and forest floor

Question 17

What is the next level of quality in Burgundy after Bourgogne AOC?

Answer 17

Village AOC which distinguishes specific villages which have higher quality wines because they have better situated vineyards. Grapes from a number of vineyards can be used. The wines will be more complex, have more intensity and length of finish than the regional AOC.

Question 18

What is the second highest quality level in Burgundy and why?

Answer 18

Premier Cru. These wines come from vineyards commonly found on South- and SE-facing slopes with extra sunlight and warmth producing concentrated fruit flavours.
Wine made from grapes of a single Premier Cru vineyard can include the vineyard name on the label.

Question 19

What is the highest quality level in Burgundy and why?

Answer 19

Grand Cru. These wines are made from grapes grown in a handful of the best vineyards, generally well situated plots of land that consistently produce grapes of outstanding quality. These are the rarest and most age-worthy wines of Burgundy and most expensive. The name of the vineyard will appear on the label.

Question 20

Name two famous villages for PN in the north of Cote d’Or?

Answer 20

Gevry Chambertin AOC and Nuits-St-Georges AOC

Question 21

Name two famous village AOC in the southern Cote d’Or?

Answer 21

Beaune AOC and Pommard AOC

Question 22

What might the flavours of Grand Cru and Premier Cru be?

Answer 22

Primary: Strawberries, red cherries
Secondary: Cloves, smoke
Tertiary: Forest floor, mushroom

Question 23

Can PN be grown outside of Burgundy?

Answer 23

Yes. There a number of successful regions across the world - California, Oregon, Chile, S. Africa, Australia, NZ

Question 24

Which areas of California can grow PN and why?

Answer 24

Most of Ca is too hot but there are 3 areas with moderating influences -
Carneros - cooled by morning fog from San Pablo Bay;
W Sonoma - cooled by Pacific Ocean breezes;
Sta. Barbera Co. - cooled by sea breezes.

Question 25

Why is Oregon well-suited to growing PN?

Answer 25

It has a northerly latitude and a mostly moderate climate

Question 26

Where in Chile is PN grown successfully? What is it’s wine style?

Answer 26

Casablanca Valley on the west coast is cooled by both sea breezes and morning fog from the Pacific Ocean. It produces very fruity PN which has cooked strawberry flavours.

Question 27

Where in S. Africa is PN grown?

Answer 27

Walker Bay which is cooled by southerly sea breezes.

Question 28

Where in Australia is PN grown?

Answer 28

The regions of Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula are cooled by Southern Ocean breezes unlike most Australian wine regions

Question 29

Which is the Premier black grape of NZ?

Answer 29

Pinot Noir

Question 30

Which areas are suitable in NZ for growing PN?

Answer 30

Marlborough and Martinborough have cool to moderate climates.
Central Otago is further south and the vineyards are protected by a ring of mountains from rain and sea breezes. The vines experience intensely sunny days and cool nights.

Question 31

How might one differentiate between a Burgundy PN, a Californian or Oregon PN?

Answer 31

The core fruit flavours will be similar, ie red fruits, in all cases. However the Californian PN will have riper fruit flavours due to the warmer growing conditions. Oregon and Burgundy will have fresher fruit flavours they come from cooler areas than California.