Tasting Silky Pinot Noir from Niagara, New Zealand and France
by Natalie under Video Blog: Wine Tasting Club 
Views: 14483
Pinot noir is my all-time favourite red wine for many reasons: it’s packed with flavour but not heavy in alcohol or oak. It’s also extremely versatile with food… think turkey dinner especially. That’s part of the reason why there’s so much fuss around this grape, aside from the boost it received from the movie Sideways several years ago. Here are a few more reasons, plus the difference in pinot noir from Niagara, New Zealand and Burgundy, France…
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Inniskillin Wines Pinot Noir 2009, Niagara
Loaded with rich cherry-berry flavour delivered on a satin texture with medium- to full-bodied weight. A blackberry-infused finish makes this wine go down slippery fast. Food matches: salmon carpaccio, grilled tuna and sea bass, wild mushroom risotto, bee and past marinara.
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87/100
$14.95 |
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Stoneleigh Pinot Noir 2008, New Zealand
Love it! Vibrant, ripe cherries dance across your palate. Lovely silky texture with medium body, yet juicy and mouth-watering for food. Doesn't get much better than this, especially at this price point.
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89/100
$19.95 |
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Louis Latour Pinot Noir 2008
A mouth-watering wine with pleasantly tart cherries and redcurrants. Love the seam of acidity in this wine and it's balance. This is not fruit-forward, but it is a wine to enjoy over the course of an evening. Very versatile with food because it's not heavy or alcoholic. I often buy this one as my house wine.
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88/100
$18.95 |
14 Comments
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Monty
Pinot Noir! Ah well Natalie you have to know which one of the wines that I’m going to support
I couldn’t keep GrapesOnIce going for long if it was anything but the Inniskillin.
Having grown up in the Niagara Region, and having spent 4 summers (’92-’95) working on vineyards in the Vineland/Niagara-On-The-Lake regions, I can completely associate with the Bing cherry aroma and acidity of the Pinot Noir.
I agree with what you said about being able to enjoy PN over the course of the evening without keeping the Tylenol beside the couch.
Monty
gary
Love the prices of these Pinots. All under $29, You can’t go wrong.
Dennis
Pinot Noir is such a temperamental grape.
In the right hands, and from the right terroir, it can be sublime.
But…it can also be insipid.
Unfortunately, the sublime ones usually cost a bunch, especially in Burgundy.
However, one does not have to spend as much as most people think.
There are values in certain less-heralded villages in Burgundy, like Savigny-Les-Beaune and Mercurey.
For me, this is no finer wine than Pinot Noir.
Cheers.
Natalie
agree wholeheartedly guys!
TJ Dean
Wow… I am absolutely impressed with these presentation. Great information packages with light, entertaining dialogue and good music accompaniment. And Pinot Noir is a wonderful wine to have on hand; now I have a few more to try. Keep up these great blogs!!
Natalie
Thanks TJ! I’m thrilled that you like the new show… tune in every week
Tim
Natalie
I’m pleased to see you praising the virtues of the finest grape in the world. I’m partial to Burgundies but I agree that other cool climates can excel as well.
But please stop perpetuating this myth that Burgundies are expensive! Sure, there are some incredibly expensive ones. But I live in Burgundy and drink superb Pinots every day that cost 8 to 15 €. And if you compare the price of Grand Cru Burgundies with those of Bordeaux, there’s no contest.
Your importation and distribution system is expensive!
Cheers
Tim
Tyler
Pinot Noir – The wine that you will learn to love!
wineandgoodfood
Great video Natalie…would love to try some Pinot Noirs from Canada!
Mac Savvy Taste
Dang! Three Pinots you like, under $20?!?
Zowie! (Where’s the Print button…?)
Pinots can be wonderful because they can be paradoxically light yet flavorful, with long finishes. Thanks for the tips!
Natalie
Yes Mac, there is a Pinot Noir Santa Claus … Pinots can be good under $20
Harry
Great video! Excellent recommendations of affordable wines and interesting pairings. Would love to get just a touch (not too much) more wine geek insight on how the regions differ and why. I get the ‘cherry-berry’ and acidity… but what makes NZ vs. Niagara vs. France distinctly different and how can I tell them apart in future tastings.
Harry
Just getting into pinot so perfect timing with this video.
I appreciate your themed tastings (eg. specific varietal, specific region, etc.). Most blogs/review are all over the map which makes it hard to learn/compare.
keep it up!
Natalie
Thanks Harry, will do!