PINOT NOIR

Pinot Noir is a noble red wine grape variety that is difficult to grow, but in the right place and under the right climatic conditions it can produce the most delicious in taste, richest and velvety smooth wines in the world. Pinot Noir is one of the classic grape varieties used in the production of Champagne, alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, but it is perhaps more famous for the truly great red wine grand crus of Burgundy.

Young Pinot Noir typically displays a fruity perfume of raspberries, strawberries or red cherries and because the grape is thin-skinned it usually has soft light tannins and is seldom deep in colour.

Great Pinot Noir is also made away from France in California, Oregon, Yarra Valley (Australia) and particularly the Wairarapa and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.

Recent times has seen the emergence of some very fine examples grown in the cool coastal climate of Chile, in particular the Leyda Valley.