Summer Pinot Noir - Wine of the Week

by Gretchen Roberts, Posted Jun 8th 2009 @ 4:00PM

Gretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

Warm weather is made for whites, rosés and beer to help quench the undying thirst that accompanies the heat. But red wine lovers need not despair: plenty of light reds like Barbera, Beaujolais and Pinot Noir are good summer sippers, too.

Pinot is often relegated to autumnal pairings of mushrooms and duck, but it's also delicious in summer with grilled veggies (think: eggplant with yogurt sauce) and Indian takeout when it's too hot to cook.

Five summery Pinot recommendations after the jump.

In summer, I like to drink Pinot Noir I can see through when I tip the glass, which proves it hasn't been macerated to death. If you're going to drink Pinot Noir -- drink Pinot Noir -- not a supersized, homogenized version that includes pumped-up fruit, alcohol and oak, inevitably hiding the true essence of the grape, which is naturally thin-skinned, light, low in alcohol (when grown in cool climates) and fragrant with red fruits like cherries and raspberries. Pumped-up Pinot is like a bottle blonde who has had work done elsewhere as well (ahem). Let's try to be less fussy in the summer, when simplicity rules.

Here are five I've sipped recently when the mercury soared in the South.

Brancott Pinot Noir South Island 2007 ($16): New Zealand Pinot Noir, like Sauvignon Blanc, is known for its quality and value. Brancott's entry-level version is no exception, with a classic Pinot taste of strawberries, raspberries and cherries and a tinge of violets and earthiness.

Girasole Vineyards Pinot Noir 2007 ($16): Light and refreshing, with lip-smacking berry and cherry flavors, this Pinot from California's Mendocino region has good acidity and a slightly sweet finish. Made from certified organic grapes and labeled "vegan," the wine scored a 90 from Wine & Spirits magazine.

Albert Bichot Bourgogne 2006 ($15): As an inexpensive Burgundy, the Albert Bichot isn't bad. It delivers a bouquet of slightly tart red cherries with a hint of earthiness in the palate. Definitely serve this wine with food -- it's too acidic to be a sipping wine.

Clos du Bois Pinot Noir 2006 ($18): This wine is a bit darker with spicy undertones from oak aging. Typical of the overall Clos du Bois style, it's got deep fruit flavors and a silky-smooth finish.

Ponzi Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007 ($35): This classy, classic Oregon Pinot Noir requires more moolah to enjoy, but it will take you to the next level of Pinot with its smooth red cherries and rose flavors complemented by interesting notes of herbs and spices.

Got a favorite summery Pinot? Spill it!

Filed Under: Wine of the Week, Drink Recipes, Drinks
Tags: albert bichot, bourgogne, brancott, burgundy, clos du bois, ClosDuBois, girasole, pinot noir, ponzi, summer, wine, wine of the week

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-08-2009 @5:12PM dividend said... Wonderful to see that there are indeed some new world wines that are scaling back their jolly-rancher like flavor exposions. I'm definitely going to take this list to task. What about the alcohol content in these compared to the "super-reds?"
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6-08-2009 @6:21PM Gretchen Roberts said... Great question about alcohol content levels. Here they are:

Brancott: 12.5
Girasole: 13.7
Albert Bichot: 12.5
Clos du Bois: 13.5
Ponzi: 13.6

"Refreshing" is the key word here, pun intended. I've had some New World Pinots with an inferiority complex that wanted to be Cabernet, and while you can't fault the quality, the alcohol levels (topping 14 percent) and weight make you wonder what the varietal is, anyway.
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