THE CURIOUS QUAFFER
NEW WORLD PINOT
This month we take a look at a wine , a grape , that is often referred to as ‘ the most highly prized wine in the world ’ - Pinot noir ! It is a wine that , I guess , some of us love . It is a wine that , I guess , some of us don ’ t love . There are others , I suspect , who don ’ t know whether they love it or not .
I have friends who have repeatedly told me that they are not a fan , only to change their mind after tasting what I had poured into their glass . Of course , like any wine , there is the good , the bad and the ugly when it comes to Pinot noir . As with any wine the challenge is to weed out the bad and the ugly , and find the good . When you do carry out this exercise , as I have over the years , you will not only find the good , but also the outstanding when it comes to Pinot noir . The truth is - don ’ t be put off if you have had a bad experience with Pinot noir in the past . I am sure we have all experienced the odd bad bottle or two of Pinot noir at some stage during our lives ? The reality is that there are some real treasures out there .
Pinot noir is a thin skinned , pale , delicate and scented grape that can be temperamental and is one of the , if not the , most difficult grape variety to grow with any degree of success . It is a grape that is not fond of too much heat . As a result we tend to find it grown in many of the cooler climates , often coastal , dotted around the world . However , as it is so thin skinned , it doesn ’ t like too much rain either ; so finding the right home for it is not easy . Yet when grown successfully , and the wine makers get it right , there is nothing quite like it . You can get one of the most wonderfully rich and velvety smooth wines anywhere on the planet . A wine that is wonderfully perfumed and fragrant . A wine that is full of red berry and fruit flavours ( often strawberry , raspberry and cherry ) and a wine that , with ageing , can become silky smooth and wonderfully complex .
As I suspect most people know , the Pinot noir grape is the classic grape that produces the great red wines of Burgundy ( its spiritual home ) and also forms an important ingredient in many champagnes and other sparkling wines . But this month I want to take you beyond Burgundy and to some of the other regions of the new world which are producing world class Pinots . Over a number of years I have been actively seeking out , collecting and tasting some outstanding examples of Pinot noir from a variety of wine producing regions around the globe . So , this month , I want to take you to the States of Oregon and California in the USA , to South Africa , to Australia and lastly , but by no means least , to New Zealand .
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir ( 2017 ) – this wine comes from the Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley on the Cape South Coast in South Africa . It is one of the Cape ’ s very best Pinot noirs . It is refined , ripe , delicious and elegant . It is bright and vibrant to the naked eye . On the nose you get a rich aroma of plums and strawberry , together with a hint of earth . On the palate you get a juicy , almost fleshy , wine with strawberry , cherry and a hint of spice to the fore . This is great stuff for a wine that retails at around the £ 25 a bottle price .
Storm ‘ Ignis ’ Pinot Noir ( 2017 ) – again from the Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley , on the Cape South Coast in South Africa , comes this great , smooth , fresh Pinot noir . Ignis is an organically farmed , pebbly , vineyard . This is an impressive wine that exudes deep cherry , strawberry , rosehip and mineral tones . Described as ‘ Burgundy in style but with New World flair ’ this is really great stuff . It is an exceptional , nuanced , floral and almost silky wine that will set you back somewhere in the region of £ 40 / 42 a bottle .
Byron Estate ‘ Nielson Vineyard ’ Pinot Noir ( 2014 ) – from the Santa Maria Valley in California . Seductive , ripe fruit , beautifully proportioned and wonderfully tasty . Aromas of red / wild fruit . Cherry , raspberry , cranberry , strawberry , plum – a bit of all sorts . Vanilla , a hint of spice and a touch of earth come through too . Stunning and beautiful . Again a wine I have served to many people over the years , indeed have persuaded others to buy , with rave reviews . Again , depending on vintage , this wine will set you back about £ 35 - 40 a bottle .
Au Bon Climat Santa maria Valley Pinot Noir ( 2018 ) – another fabulous wine from the Santa Maria Valley . This comes from the world famous Au Bon Climat stable and is a wonderfully aromatic and structured wine . It is a fragrant , almost soft , juicy and ripe Pinot noir that is gentle on your palette . Red berry fruits and sweet spice combine with hints of red plums and cherries . A lovely wine at round the £ 25 a bottle mark .
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