Wset Level 2 - Pinot Noir

Front 1

Describe the Pinot Noir grape and the resulting wines.

Back 1

black grape variety with thin skins; resulting wines youthful and fruity, usually light in color with low to medium levels of tannin

Front 2

Pinot Noir is a difficult variety for grape growers because it's fussy about where it's grown. T/F?

Back 2

True

Front 3

What climate does Pinot Noir prefer?

Back 3

moderate to cool

Front 4

How does a a hot climate affect Pinot Noir? Too cool?

Back 4

too hot - loses its delicate flavors and wines are excessively jammy
too cool - grapes will not ripen and wines have excessive vegetal flavors (cabbage, wet leaves).

Front 5

What are the flavors of a balanced Pinot Noir?

Back 5

red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, cherry) with vegetal and animal nuances (wet leaves, mushroom, gamey-meaty aromas)

Front 6

Commonly oak aged?

Back 6

Except for the very best wines from Burgundy, most Pinots are best consumed while they are youthful and fruity. It's common to age with oak, but vanilla and toast notes can easily overpower delicate flavors.

Front 7

What is the classic region for Pinot Noir?

Back 7

Burgundy (Bourgogne), France

Front 8

How do you describe a classic Bourgogne AC Pinot Noir?

Back 8

medium to high acid, light tannins, medium-bodied, with a balance of red-fruit and savory aromas.

Front 9

What are some individual Bourgogne villages, and what do they offer?

Back 9

Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Beaune, and Pommard;
generally offer more intensity, complexity, and length, especially those from Premier Cru vineyards within the villages

Front 10

What is a Grand Cru, and what does it offer?

Back 10

Grand Cru is a top-rated vineyard;
Grand Crus like Le Chambertin are the most powerful, long-lived, and complex Pinot Noir wines in the world; they sell at very high prices because of their quality and rarity

Front 11

What are the premium regions in France for Pinot Noir?

Back 11

Champagne (sparkling wine) and Burgundy's Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune

Front 12

What are the premium regions in Germany for Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder), and what is their climate?

Back 12

Pfalz and Baden;
cool climate

Front 13

What is the typical style of German Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder)?

Back 13

pronounced, perfumed red berry fruit and light tannins

Front 14

What are the premium regions in New Zealand for Pinot Noir?

Back 14

Champagne (sparkling wine)

Burgundy: Cote de nuits & Cote de Beaune

Front 15

What is the typical style of New Zealand Pinot Noirs?

Back 15

generally more full-bodied, with lower acidity and more intense fruit than wines from Burgundy.
Spicy notes often accompany red fruit flavors (cherry, strawberry).

Front 16

What are the premium regions in New Zealand for Pinot Noir?

Back 16

Martinborough and Central Otago on North Island;
Marlborough on South Island

Front 17

What are the premium regions in Australia for Pinot Noir?

Back 17

most Aussie regions are too hot, except Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria

Front 18

What are the premium regions in California for Pinot Noir?

Back 18

most of CA is too hot, except Carneros and cooler parts of Sonoma and Santa Barbara Counties

Front 19

Describe California Pinot Noir.

Back 19

tend to be full-bodied and intensely fruity;
some display pronounced animal and vegetal characteristics (leather, meat, wet leaves)

Front 20

What other U.S. state besides California produces high-quality Pinot Noir wines? What is its climate?

Back 20

Oregon; moderate climate

Front 21

What are the premium regions in Chile for Pinot Noir?What is the typical style?

Back 21

Casablanca and San Antonio;
intensely fruity, often with flavors of strawberry jam

Front 22

Is Pinot Noir generally blended?

Back 22

The finest still Pinot Noir wines are unblended. If blended, it's usually with Gamay.
Pinot Noir is used as component of many sparkling wines, including most Champagne.