What is Pinot Noir? A must-see for beginners! 3 basic information and

What is Pinot Noir? A must-see for beginners! 3 basic information and recommended wines

When choosing red wine, don't you often see wine labeled as "Pinot Noir"? Pinot Noir is a grape variety representative of the Burgundy region. There are so many grape varieties that it can be difficult to remember them. However, if you remember some of the most popular wines, choosing wine will be a lot more fun! By learning about the characteristics of grapes, you will be able to choose wine that suits your tastes and mood. This time we will be talking about Pinot Noir, one of the most representative grape varieties for red wine. We would like to introduce basic information and recommended wines. Check out the characteristics of Pinot Noir, which is loved all over the world, and use it to choose red wine!

Basic information about Pinot Noir! Three points for wine beginners to remember

First, let's check out some basic information about Pinot Noir. There are three points about Pinot Noir that wine beginners should remember first. Basic information about Pinot Noir! ``3 points'' for wine beginners to remember

Grape varieties representing Burgundy
elegant red wine
Romanée-Conti, the world's most expensive wine

I'll explain each one in a little more detail.

Basics of Pinot Noir ① Grape varieties representing Burgundy

Pinot Noir is Burgundy's signature grape variety. Burgundy is France's leading winery region. Throughout its long history, it has produced many famous wines such as Romanée-Conti and Chablis. Speaking of Burgundy's ``red wine'', it is Pinot Noir. For example, in order to call yourself an "AOC Burgundy Red Wine", the wine must be made from 100% Pinot Noir.

Basics of Pinot Noir ② Elegant red wine

The wine made from Pinot Noir is an elegant red wine. Although white, sparkling wine, and rosé are occasionally made, the most famous wine is red. First of all, I think it's a good idea to remember that Pinot Noir is an elegant red wine. Why is Pinot Noir an "elegant red wine"? ・Gorgeous scent - Mild acidity ・Smooth tannins This is because of the ``taste'' and ``aroma'' characteristics of Pinot Noir red wine. A gorgeous aroma with gentle acidity and tannins. It has come to be known as ``elegant red wine'' due to its elegant taste, aroma, and texture. Pinot Noir grapes have thin skins, so they produce wine with less bitterness and lower tannins. When you eat grape skins, they have a bitter taste. Red wine is brewed with the skins, so wines made from grapes with thinner skins are less astringent. The color of the wine is a pale ruby red. Young Pinot Noir wines are fresh with aromas of fresh berries such as strawberries and cherries. On the other hand, Pinot Noir wines that have been aged for a long time have a silky and smooth texture. The complexity of aroma and taste increases. Both young, fruity wines and long-aged, smooth and fragrant wines have elegant aromas and tastes. Please enjoy the various faces of elegant Pinot Noir.

Romanée-Conti, the world's most expensive wine

Speaking of Pinot Noir, remember Romanée-Conti, the world's most expensive wine. ``Romanée-Conti'' is also one of the wines made from Pinot Noir grapes. Even if you have never tried Romanée-Conti, you have heard of the name! Isn't there a lot of people? No matter what I say, I am one of them. Romanée-Conti is the name of a special vineyard (Grand Cru) of Pinot Noir grapes located in the village of Romanée in Vosne, Burgundy. Only red wine made from this field can be called ``Romanée-Conti.'' Romanée-Conti, which is said to be the ``world's most expensive wine,'' costs more than 1 million yen per bottle! If it's a good vintage, it can cost 2 to 3 million yen. Moreover, prices are increasing every year. Why is it being sold at such a high price? ・Good quality ・Low production quantity ・Many people buy it as an investment. Probably for such reasons. In addition to the high quality that we are particular about, the number of production and the number of investors also affect the price. Only around 6,000 bottles of Romanée-Conti are produced each year. Since there are too many people who want to buy the product compared to the number of units produced, the price is rapidly rising. The price of Romanée-Conti is increasing year by year, and some people are even buying it as an investment. Of course, the main premise is that the quality is excellent, but the rarity of Romanée-Conti also combined to create such an expensive wine.

For those who want to know more! Recommended wines from “Pinot Noir around the world”

I want to know more about Pinot Noir! For the elderly, we will introduce recommended regions and wines from Pinot Noir around the world. Among the many grape varieties, Pinot Noir is the most difficult to cultivate. In the past, it was said that it could only be made in Burgundy. However, thanks to advances in technology and the efforts of producers, Pinot Noir is now being produced in various places around the world. We would like to introduce three representative producing regions and recommended wines for Pinot Noir, the queen of wines that is loved all over the world.

Recommended ① Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France

Pinot Noir comes from Burgundy, France. Pinot Noir is produced all over the world, but we recommend trying Pinot Noir from Burgundy first. Burgundy is a famous winemaking region that everyone who loves wine knows about. This wine is made under the strict regulations of the French Wine Law, so you can be sure of its quality. There are four ``classifications'' of Burgundy wine. The higher the class, the stricter the regulations and the higher the quality of the wine, the higher the price. By the way, if you arrange the four ratings in descending order of luxury, ・Grand Cru (special grade fields) ・Premier Cru (1st grade field) ・Things with the name of the village ・Things with regional names It becomes. In Burgundy, grapes are graded according to the vineyard where they are grown. If you order a bit of expensive Burgundy wine at a restaurant, your budget will go up, so we recommend drinking it at home first! Introducing one recommended wine from Burgundy's Pinot Noir that is easy to drink at home. Chateau de SANTENAY/Bourgogne Cote d'Or Clos Philippe le Hardi [2017 Vintage] 750ml Red Chateau de SANTENAY/Bourgogne Cote d'Or Clos Philippe le Hardi ¥2,510 (tax included) [blogcard url=https://www.winenation.jp/view/item/000000004635] A Pinot Noir red wine produced in the Côte d'Or region of Burgundy. Smooth and full of fruit. Enjoy the aromatic and elegant Pinot Noir quality.

Recommended ② “New Zealand” Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir was said to be difficult to cultivate and could only be produced in Burgundy. New Zealand was the first country outside of France to successfully cultivate Pinot Noir. Northern New Zealand has a climate and soil similar to Burgundy. That is why it has grown as a famous Pinot Noir brewing area. Among New Zealand's Pinot Noirs, we recommend wines from Martinborough, a region with a climate and soil similar to Burgundy. It also has an excellent reputation among wine lovers. Martinborough Vineyard/Martinborough Te Terra Pinot Noir [2017 Vintage] 750ml Red Wine ¥2,860 ¥2,840 (tax included) [blogcard url=https://www.winenation.jp/view/item/000000003132] A gorgeous aroma of ripe cherries and raspberries. The taste is soft and fruity.

Recommended ③ Pinot Noir from Oregon, USA

The final recommendation is Pinot Noir from Oregon, one of America's most famous brewing regions. Oregon, located at the same latitude as Burgundy in France, has a cool climate similar to Burgundy. High-quality wine is produced in the cool climate favored by Pinot Noir. Even in Oregon, Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley is especially delicious! It has a reputation. When choosing wine from Oregon, be sure to choose one with “Willamette Valley” written on the label! The wine I will be introducing this time is Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley. Johan Vineyards/Estate Pinot Noir [2016 Vintage] 750ml Red Wine ¥4,100 (tax included) [blogcard url=https://www.winenation.jp/view/item/000000002362] A soft and delicate Pinot Noir. Smooth tannins with fruit flavors of cherry and raspberry. Enjoy a sophisticated and elegant aroma and taste.

Summary: Queen of red wines: “Elegant Pinot Noir”

This time, we introduced basic information and recommended wines about Pinot Noir, which was born in Burgundy. Basic information about Pinot Noir! 3 points ・Grape varieties representing Burgundy ・Elegant red wine ・Romanée-Conti, the world's most expensive wine Pinot Noir from around the world! Recommended wine ・Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France ・Pinot Noir from New Zealand ・Pinot Noir from Oregon, USA Pinot Noir wine has less tannins and is soft and elegant, making it easy to drink even for red wine beginners. We recommend pairing it with Burgundy's local dish ``beef stew in red wine'' or creamy cheese such as ``Hokkaido Camembert''! Prepare some meat, cheese and Pinot Noir for an elegant and delicious weekend.

What is Pinot Noir? A must-see for beginners! 3 basic information and recommended wines