Still Wine
A Grape Variety For The Connoisseurs
Chardonnay Pinot Noir has been a consistent favorite throughout the years not only because it has gained elite status, but also because it has the flavor to back up its claims. In a scene from ‘Sideways’, a movie that’s partly about the wine culture, one of the lead roles even went so far as to describe it in superlatives, leaving no room for doubt that this variety is the one to beat. It has been reviewed and esteemed by connoisseurs, fashion magazine editors, and fine dining critics. The nuances are just so distinct and yet so subtle for everyone that it’s difficult to describe every tasting. Some critics even have pet names for it, as one would treat a mistress or a lover.
It is probably the most demanding out of the numerous grape varieties used in wine processing. It traces its origins from France, since the country has the perfect climate for growing them. Although it is rather sensitive to the smallest change in temperature, other countries have managed to clone it and simulate the conditions for growing it. Wine exports differ in personality, depending on the country they come from, and that’s part of the charm that is Pinot Noir Chardonnay. The wine ranges in body from light to medium, especially if the ideal settings are met and the clones develop rich vines. The Burgundy variety has a very rustic aroma, but in general, it should send off a whiff of berry upon swirling. Winemaking has changed over the years, and this has also paved the path for differing tastes and aromas. Current developments in the U.S. and New Zealand resulted in stronger, darker, fruity variants. In addition to yielding red wines, the variant is also tapped in Champagne wineries for lighter wine types like stills and whites. The high demand for Pinot Noir Chardonnay, as well as its manageable crop yields, make it as popular as never before, among wineries.
You’ll hardly ever going to grow too familiar with its taste since each swirl offers a new personality. The impression one gets with each tasting is truly different, and the lingering aftertaste is truly a delight. Grope for ways of describing what another half glass of it leaves you with. If not in words, then hopefully through the way musicians and painters express them.
Proper Still Wine Service with Master Sommelier David Glancy