Great American Pinot Noirs

"Oh, its flavors! They are the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle on the planet."

So eulogized Miles in the 2004 cult-hit movie Sideways about that most magical, recalcitrant, frustrating and certainly most expensive of all red wines, Pinot Noir. As he goes to great pains to point out it is a difficult grape to grow, it isn't a survivor like Cabernet Sauvignon. It also produces low yields and is hard to ripen, at least in Burgundy, it's home territory, and often times results in thin, watery wine.

However, if you grow Pinots where there's a abundant sunshine, like California, it's too easy to wind up with over-ripe grapes and sweet jammy wine that tastes like stewed fruit. It is hard to find very well made American Pinot Noirs and that is why Western Taste wants to provide its readers with good recommendations.

In Sweden American wines are not that shown on the shells at Systembolaget which is a shame since USA makes amazing wines.

Western Taste recommends the fallowing American Pinot Noirs:

Fetzer Barrel Select Pinot Noir 2008

Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA

Nr at Systembolaget: 70556

Cost in Sweden: 149 SEK

Cost in China: Approx. 350 RMB

Cost in US: 25 USD

Belle Vallee Grand Cuvee Pinot Noir 2003

Willamette Valley, Ore, USA

Nr at Systembolaget: Spec. import

Cost in Sweden: Spec. import

Cost in China: Not yet available

Cost in US: 49 USD

Chalone Pinot Noir 2003

Salinas Valley, California, USA

Nr at Systembolaget: Spec. import

Cost in Sweden: Spec. import

Cost in China: Not yet available

Cost in US: 25 USD

Cloudline Pinot Noir 2003

Willamette Valley, Ore, USA

Nr at Systembolaget: Spec. import

Cost in Sweden: Spec import

Cost in China: Not yet available

Cost in US: 18 USD

Clos Du Val, Carneros Vineyard Pinot Noir 2001

Carneros, California, USA

Nr at Systembolaget: 70359

Cost in Sweden: 219 SEK

Cost in China: Not yet available

Cost in US: 34 USD

Cristom, Jessie Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2002

Willamette Valley, Ore, USA

Nr at Systembolaget: 71242

Cost in Sweden: 349 SEK

Cost in China: Not yet available

Cost in US: 45 USD




Written by: Alexander Yü