GRA PE GU I D E
UND ER THE SKIN
How to buy pinot noir Buyer and Master of Wine student Matthew Horsley gives us a guide to the best regions for pinot noir, one of the world’s most beguiling and charismatic grape varieties
Matthew Horsley Tricky to grow, difficult to understand and produced in the most marginal of climates; what is the allure of this delicious but enigmatic grape?
Pinot noir, the moody grape
T
he great Burgundy writer Clive Coates MW likens pinot to Bizet’s temperamental Carmen. Having never seen Carmen I’ll have to take his word for it. But what I do know is that pinot ripens early and hates the cold, both during winter and at flowering. A cold growing season and pinot struggles to ripen, giving mean-tasting and astringent wines; too warm and they lack structure and freshness. If yields are too high the wines are dilute and uninteresting; too low and you won’t be in business very long. Despite its idiosyncrasies however, no grape reflects its terroir better than pinot noir – neighbouring vineyards can produce distinctly different wines, often at drastically different prices. But perfect terroir does not a great pinot make, and it takes a skilled vigneron to unlock pinot’s charms.
What does pinot noir taste like? ‘Blockbuster’ is an adjective rarely used for pinot noir, its pleasure is in its sensual, seductive aromatics, ranging from cherries and redcurrants, to oriental spices, forest floor and mushroom as it ages. Its thin skins produce wines typically pale in colour and medium-bodied. But that’s not to say pinot doesn’t pack a punch. In the right place and in the right hands it can possess wonderful concentration and intensity of flavour with a structure that allows pinot to age magnificently. Great pinot can sing while young and old, a rarity among great red wines. 30 | SPRING 2021
The Pinot Essentials mixed case makes a delicious introduction to this charismatic grape
Where is it grown? Burgundy is pinot noir’s homeland, shining most brightly in the Côte d’Or. While the region is complicated, there are four tiers to keep in mind – Bourgogne (using grapes from across the Burgundy region), Villages (from a named village), premier cru (from a named premier cru vineyard), and grand cru wines (from a named grand cru vineyard). ‘So, a grand cru is better than a premier cru wine?’ Well… not exactly. ‘But Village wines are always cheaper than premier cru wines, right?’ Wrong. ‘So how do I know what to buy?’ Good questions… Burgundy is about the land, but most importantly it’s about the people. We recommend starting by tasting by producer, finding out whose wines you like and going from there. This is part of the appeal!
