Pinot Noir, France
Pinot Noir is a red grape that is one of the most challenging to grow in any part of the world. Due to its thin skin and tight bunches, it is susceptible to both mould and disease. However, when it is successful, it produces some of the most amazing wines in the world. Although its home is Burgundy, it has emerged as a popular variety in Australia. Representing only 1% of grapes crushed, it has built a high profile with a number of world-class, distinctly Australian wines being produced. The greatest examples coming from the cool climates of the Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and the Yarra Valley.
Pinot Noir performs well on the deepish limestone based subsoils that are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or. However, yields need to be kept in check. Pinot Noir's concentration and varietal characters disappear rapidly if yields are excessive. Some of the best and most expensive wines in the world are still found in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir also plays a key role in Champagne, being blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. In the US, Oregon and Washington state are producing outstanding wines. In New Zealand, great Pinot Noirs are crafted in Martinborough and in Central Otago, New Zealand's only true continental climate.
The thin skins of Pinot Noir mean the wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However, the best wines have grippy tannins, fragrance and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, but as it matures, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouthfeel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey nuances emerging.
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More-so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Pinot Noir performs well on the deepish limestone based subsoils that are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or. However, yields need to be kept in check. Pinot Noir's concentration and varietal characters disappear rapidly if yields are excessive. Some of the best and most expensive wines in the world are still found in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir also plays a key role in Champagne, being blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. In the US, Oregon and Washington state are producing outstanding wines. In New Zealand, great Pinot Noirs are crafted in Martinborough and in Central Otago, New Zealand's only true continental climate.
The thin skins of Pinot Noir mean the wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However, the best wines have grippy tannins, fragrance and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, but as it matures, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouthfeel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey nuances emerging.
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More-so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
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Le Chat Noir is a range of modern French wines created by Vincent Charleux. Aromas of strawberries, blackberries and spiced plums, with a hint of dried roses. The palate is light-medium bodied, with bright red berries, a touch of savouriness, ... Learn MoreLE CHAT NOIR PINOT NOIR 2018$17.00 Per itemOut of stock -
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The nose displays raspberry and cherry aromas with a hint of fresh herbs. A light-medium bodied palate, with ripe fruit flavours of red currant, cherry and strawberry fruits. Some hints of baking spices and subtle oak in the background. To ... Learn MoreBERTAINE ET FILS PINOT NOIR 2017$17.99 Per itemOut of stock -
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Very elegant organic Pinot Noir in the Burgundian style. Red fruits meet pretty rose aromas and hints of earthy spices. Full of freshness, elegance & finesse, this wine is long, balanced and exhibits real Pinot Noir typicity - red cherry fruit ... Learn MoreDOMAINE DE LA METAIRIE PINOT NOIR 2017$26.99 Per itemOut of stock -
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There has been a sorting table at the family winery since 2008, after which the grapes are destemmed but not crushed. The grapes are given a short cool maceration, then fermented with more pumping over than punching down, with the juice ... Learn MoreDOMAINE AF GROS BOURGOGNE HAUTES COTES DE NUITS 2016$69.99 Per itemOut of stock -
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Jean-Manuel Jacquinot obtained a degree in Oenology at the esteemed University of Reims. After this he became trainee oenologist at the world famous house of Veuve Clicquot. Today, Jean-Manuel has over 20 years of experience in making Champagne, is a Member ... Learn MoreCHAMPAGNE JACQUINOT 'CUVEE' BLANC DE NOIRS NV$99.99 Per item -
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There has been a sorting table at the family winery since 2008, after which the grapes are destemmed but not crushed. The grapes are given a short cool maceration, then fermented with more pumping over than punching down, with the juice ... Learn MoreDOMAINE AF GROS VOSNE ROMANEE 'AUX REAS' 2018$119.42 Per item -
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Gautherot's first cuvee is Fidele, a Blanc de Noirs (100% Pinot Noir). With red and blue fruit notes and a fresh, mineral close with a lick of crushed herbs and anise. Pulpy textured and juicy. Gautherot describes this as, "A dangerous ... Learn MoreVOUETTE & SORBEE FIDELE CHAMPAGNE R12$127.00 Per item -
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The Brut Nature Rosé is a cuvée which will delight lovers of freshness, minerality and purity. On the nose, very evocative of strawberry and raspberry with a floral note of rose petals. The palate recalls red fruits and is ... Learn MoreCHAMPAGNE TATTINGER CUVEE PRESTIGE ROSE NV$142.99 Per itemOut of stock -
Burgundy's best 'new' winemaker. Neal Martin has written on Benjamin Leroux: “… [He] certainly has the gift of touch that seems to elevate everything from village crus to grand crus.” ... Learn MoreBENJAMIN LEROUX VOLNAY 2017$145.00 Per itemOut of stock -
Brothers David and Nicolas Rossignol run this 100% Organic and Biodynamically farmed Domaine located in the very heart of Gevrey Chambertin. Very early to the Sustainable farming movement, all the family's vineyards, located in some of the most impressive vineyards in ... Learn MoreDOMAINE ROSSIGNOL-TRAPET BEAUNE 1ER CRU "TEURONS" 2017$149.00 Per itemOut of stock -
This is one of the finest Burgundy estates, where the wine-making involves minimal interventions. It is run by Jean-Marc Blain and his wife Claudine, the daughter of Jacques Gagnard-Delagrange. The family owns some of the village’s greatest hillsides. New ... Learn MoreDOMAINE BLAIN-GAGNARD VOLNAY "CHAMPANS" 1ER CRU 2016$160.00 Per itemOut of stock -
A rosé de saignée is made by directly macerating Pinot Noir. This method of vinification is more demanding and requires grapes with an excellent degree of maturity. Base year is 2013 and the disgorgement date is Jan 2016. A very bright ... Learn More -
Domaine Henri Richard is located in Gevrey on the D974 a little south of Domaine Trapet. It is a fourth generation family estate owned by Margeret and Jean Bastien and their children Sarah and Richard – with Sarah Bastien and Guillaume ... Learn MoreDOMAINE HENRI RICHARD GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN "LES TUILERIES" 2016$164.00 Per itemOut of stock -
Founded in 1731 in Beaune by Michel Bouchard, Bouchard Père & Fils, is one of the oldest wine estates in Burgundy, perpetuating tradition for nearly 3 centuries and 9 generations. In 1775, Joseph Bouchard acquired his first vineyards in Volnay in the famous “Les ... Learn MoreDOMAINE BOUCHARD PERE ET FILS VOLNAY TAILLEPIEDS 1ER CRU 2016$169.99 Per itemOut of stock -
Domaine Henri Richard is located in Gevrey on the D974 a little south of Domaine Trapet. It is a fourth generation family estate owned by Margeret and Jean Bastien and their children Sarah and Richard – with Sarah Bastien and Guillaume ... Learn More -
There has been a sorting table at the family winery since 2008, after which the grapes are destemmed but not crushed. The grapes are given a short cool maceration, then fermented with more pumping over than punching down, with the juice ... Learn More -
18/20 Jancis Robinson Beautiful rich, fragrant nose of berries and brioche. Full and round on the palate, with a lovely nuttiness, spice and tangy acidity. Possesses gorgeous warmth ... impossible to resist. Wild yeasts only. The blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. ... Learn MoreEGLY OURIET CHAMPAGNE BRUT TRADITION 'GRAND CRU' NV$185.00 Per item -
Élevage: 16 months in oak (33% new; the rest one year old). Located on the Vougeot side, a touch further down from the Vosne-Romanée 1er cru ‘Les Suchots’, this 33-year-old vineyard is on a shallow and gravelly clay and limestone soil. ... Learn MoreJEAN TARDY VOSNE-ROMANÉE ‘VIGNEUX’ 2017$189.00 Per item -
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