​

 Pinot Noirs from around the world, Sept 21, 2023, John Hemsley

​

John Hemsley has been a long serving member of the former IBM wine society and has an extensive knowledge of wines, grapes, producers, retailers in fact most aspects of the wine industry.  He is a great man to share a glass or two with.

​

He set out to answer some questions:

​

• WHY ARE WE TOLD PINOT NOIR IS SUCH A DIFFICULT A GRAPE?
   

• WHERE ARE THE BEST PINOT NOIR GRAPES GROWN?
   

• WHAT STYLES OF WINES ARE MADE FROM PINOT NOIR?
   

• DOES IT CHANGE CHARACTER AROUND THE WORLD?
   

• AND, IF SO, WHY?

​

Pinot Noir (from tightly bunched black grapes resembling pine cones) thrives in cooler climates.

in Europe: Burgundy, Champagne, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Romania.  In the new world: Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, NZ South Island – Otago, in the Americas, Oregon and Patagonia.

​

We tasted 10 examples of Pinot Noir wines, two sparkling, 7 still reds and one dessert, all delicious and subtly different expressions of the same grape.

​

1. Bird in Hand (fizz)    Adelaide Hills                    South Australia                               £16.49  

2. Romania                     Cramele Recas                   Recas                                                 £7.99            

3. Chile                            Valle Frio                            Maule Valley                                    £9.25    

4. USA                              Lemelson                           Willamette Valley, Oregon           £20.50

5. France                         Les Robardelles                Volnay, Cote D’Or                           £45.00

6. Burgundy (fizz)         Blanc de Noirs                  Cotes des Bar, Champagne          £26.99  

7. Australia                     Wakefield Wines              Adelaide Hills, South Australia £16.00

8. New Zealand             Craggy Range                    Martinborough                               £23.00

9. Wild Earth                  Central Otago NZ                                                                         £23.00  

10. Argentina                   Saurus tardio (sweet)     Patagonia                                          £51.50
    
    John’s suggested good value Pinots from the high street
    
     

• Paparuda E. S, Cramele Recas             Romania                            £7.50                    Tanners

• PN, Valle Frio Wines                              Chile                                    £9.25                    Stone V & S

• Errazuriz Cuvee Aconcagua PN           Chile                                    £11.00                  Tesco    

• Bird in Hand, NV Sparkling Rose         Australia                             £16.49                  Waitrose

• Marisco, King’s Wrath PN                     Marlborough, NZ            £15.99                  Majestic

• Incanta PN                                                Romania                            £7.99                    Majestic

• Matetic, Estela PN,                                 Casablanca Valley, Chile £12.00                  M&S

• Parker Station Santa Barbara PN        USA                                     £14.95                  Wine Soc.

• The Society's Chilean PN                      Leyda, Chile                      £8.95                    Wine Soc.

• Wakefield PN Estate Label                   Australia                             £18.00                  Wineyard, Farnham
   
  
  It was a great tasting from an expert presenter.

​

If you would like a copy of John's presentation in PDF format, you can down load it from here

​

​