Pinot Noir is a fussy grape. It needs the right conditions and the appropriate care in the vineyard to really flourish, and when it does, you may not come across a better red wine. The world’s top wine critics view Riesling as the best white grape. The black skinned Pinot Noir is considered the best red wine grape.

Like Riesling, Pinot Noir has an incredible knack for taking on the flavours of the land in which it was grown. “Terroir” would be the term used by wine buffs. It’s a French word, best translated as ‘a sense of place’.

For wine drinkers that don’t take wine talk too seriously, Pinot Noir is generally very easy drinking, light, fruity and most are to be drank young, although some premium versions have great ageing potential (like those from Burgundy). Due to the fact that it is not the easiest grape to grow, low supply equates to a slightly higher price in comparison to the likes of Cabernet Sauvignon.

It’s thin skins result in wines that are light in colour with low to medium levels of tannin. Regions that are too hot produce wines that can be a little ‘jammy’, and in those that are too cool, the grapes may not fully ripen. When the balance is struck, Pinot Noir will display red fruits (strawberry, cherry and raspberry), with vegetal and animal nuances (wet leaves, mushrooms, gamey-meaty aromas).

For French Pinot Noir, the classic region is Burgundy (Bourgogne), where some of the best reds in the world can be found. Look out for the individual villages: Gevry-Chambertain AC, Nuit-Saint-Georges AC, Beaune AC and Pommard AC. New Zealand is also producing world-class Pinot, which tends to be fuller in body with lower acidity and more intense fruit flavours. Other countries to note for good Pinot Noir include Australia, USA (California & Oregan) and Chile. Romania is known for some exceptional inexpensive Pinot.

In our humble opinion (and that of our loyal customers), the best Pinot Noir available in Ireland for under €10 is the V Pinot Noir. For other tasty options, check out Fonty’s Pool from Western Australia, Bilancia, from New Zealand’s North Island, and our Organic Domaine du Chateau d’Eau Pinot Noir from the Languedoc. For something special from Burgundy, our Beaune-Greves will drink well until 2025.