The Skinny on Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir wine is one of the most popular varieties of wine in the world. In my opinion, they can turn any white wine drinker into a red wine believer, and make the red wine drinkers question what types of wine they like best.

Like most wine grapes, the Pinot Noir originated in France. It has a light body, low tannins, and medium acidity, which make this a pleasant wine for all types of drinkers. Even though Pinot's are not my favorite, I do love the earthy taste you get. Another good thing about Pinot Noir is since they are low in Tannins, you do not have to let them age for a long time, and most can be consumed after purchasing a bottle. Many experts will say you will get flavors of cranberry, cherries, tobacco, leather, smoke, spice, and earth with this type of wine. For those of you who like a mellow, light, well rounded wine, the Pinot Noir is the pick for you.

For the Big Spenders:

Palliser Estate (2009) - $45 : This wine comes from Martinborough, New Zealand (http://www.palliser.co.nz/). It is a nice, light bodied wine, with a beautiful, dark, rich, red color. The bouquet is sweet on the nose, and smells somewhat like a bowl of fresh fruit. The taste is dark cherry, but it is a very smooth wine. This wine would go well on its own, or paired with lighter meals, such as lemon-chicken piccata.

For the Penny Pincher:
Santa Barbara Winery (2009) - $17: I've mentioned the Santa Barbara Winery in a post before, but had to bring to your attention their Pinot Noir. This grape is grown in the Central Coast of California, (http://sbwinery.com/wines.html). It has a light red color, and an earthy, semi-sweet bouquet. It has a cherry and earthy taste to it, and is very light, but also somewhat acidic. Again, this wine would go well on its own or paired with a light dish, such as salmon and couscous.