Pinot Noir Flashcards
What are the style expected from Pinot Noir in Germany ?
Climate: Cool
Style: Dry, light bodied, with medium to high acidity and low tannins. The wines can be aged in oak.
Flavours: Pronounced, perfumed red currant, raspberry and strawberry fruit. The wines aged in oak have toasty, vanilla flavours.
The main areas are the southern regions of the Pfalz and Baden. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.
What are the style expected from Pinot Noir in France ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium body, with medium to high acidity and medium levels of tannins. The wines are aged in new oak barrels.
Flavours: Red fruit character of strawberry, raspberry and cherry and developing nuances of mushroom and gamey-meaty aromas with age. Aromas of toast and vanilla are evident from the oak.
Burgundy is the classic home for Pinot Noir and the very best wines come from Grand Cru vineyard sites such as Le Chambertin. These are the most powerful, long-lived and complex Pinot Noir wines in the world, selling in the premium price category because of their quality and rarity.
What are the style expected from Pinot Noir in California ?
Climate: Moderate (influenced by the proximity to the ocean)
Style
Dry, medium/full bodied with medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours
Intensely fruity with flavours of red cherry and strawberry. Some wines display pronounced leather, meat and wet leaf characteristics as they age.
The best examples are found in the cooler vineyards of Carneros, Sonoma and Santa Barbara. The wines are priced up to the premium price category.
What are the style expected from Pinot Noir in Chile ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium to full bodied, with medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Intensely fruity with flavours of strawberry jam and hints of vanilla.
Casablanca is the region that produces fruity, easy drinking Pinot Noir. The wines can range in price up to high price.
What are the style expected from Pinot Noir in South Africa ?
Climate: Moderate (influenced by the proximity to the ocean)
Style: Dry, medium bodied, with medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Redcurrant, cranberry and red cherry flavours support the vanilla and cedar from the oak. The wines age well developing vegetal, wet leaves and gamey flavours.
Walker Bay is known for its Burgundian style Pinot Noir and these wines can fetch up to premium prices.
What are the style expected from Pinot Noir in Australia ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium body, with low to medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Delicate fragrant aromas of red fruit flavours of strawberry, plum and red cherry with aromas of vanilla and toast.
Most Australian regions are too hot for Pinot Noir but the cooler sites of Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula regions in Victoria benefit from the cooling effects of ocean breezes or altitude and can produce premium quality wines. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.
What are the style expected from Pinot Noir in New Zealand ?
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium bodied, with medium acidity and medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours: Intense red fruit flavours of cherry and strawberry with some spicy notes of cinnamon and vanilla.
Central Otago makes the ripest most intense New Zealand Pinot Noirs. It is also grown in Marlborough where a lighter style is made. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.
What are the key facts of Pinot Noir ?
- Needs cool to moderate climate
- Is a thin skin variety with low level of tannins and light colour
- Mostly best consumed when young and fruity
