In wine grape terms, Pinot Noir is classified as a noble variety, very much like Chardonnay, both used in great Burgundies and Champagne.
Takuan von Arnim, Haute Cabrière’s Cellarmaster makes use of one of the properties of this grape is that it truly expresses the terroir in which it is produced, the ‘sun, soil, vine and man’ influences on the wine. The grape also reflects the vintage, starting from the previous winter right through to harvesting.
Pinot Noir has a thin skin, and low tannins. One of the advantages is that the colour extracted gives the wine a gem bright opacity.
Nine months in 228 litre Burgundian oak barrels imbues the wine with sufficient oak to provide a ‘platform on which to present this noble cultivar and not a curtain to hide it as in a theatre play!’
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