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5 best pinot noir wines to enjoy all year round
These are our top-rated light reds, from £6.99
Thriving in cooler regions around the world, pinot noir is a thin-skinned red grape that produces wines brimming with juicy red cherry, strawberry and red fruit. Making their way around the world, our panel tried a selection from California, New Zealand, Chile and Burgundy to find the best examples, starting from just £3.99.
What does pinot noir taste like?
Typically young pinot noir will be all about the red fruit, with bright acidity and an easy-drinking attitude. If it’s had some time in oak, you can expect vanilla and spice, too.
Older styles might start to display more funky, earthy notes, making it a great wine to pair with mushroom risotto, duck, game or comforting stews. One of our all-time favourite combinations though, is pinot noir with roast lamb, making it a fantastic option for Easter.
Should pinot noir be chilled?
Pinot noir is a versatile light red that can be enjoyed all year round. During the summer months, many prefer to chill it slightly before serving — we’d recommend a couple of hours in the fridge (12-14C is ideal). Any cooler than this and you can start to miss out on some of the more subtle aromas.
How we test
When putting our 10 pinot noir wines to the test, our panel was looking for well-balanced, fruit-forward styles, with bright acidity and silky tannins. Velvety smooth and easy drinking, these are the ones we recommend.
Score: 83/100
Offering excellent value for money, this Chilean ruby red opens up with juicy red fruit such as strawberry, alongside a slightly funky mushroom note. On the palate the earthiness continues, backed up with a touch of spice and cherry. Overall, we’re confident this easy drinker will be a real crowd-pleaser.
Score: 81/100
This complex Burgundy (the home of pinot noir) has had 10 months in oak, where it’s developed creamy vanilla and spicy notes. Red plum, redcurrant and rich black cherry jostle for attention, alongside cinnamon and clove. Although it proved popular with our testers, it would also benefit from a little aging if you can bear to hold on to it.
Score: 78/100
Although a relatively recent wine to come out of New Zealand, the country has developed quite a reputation for making quality pinot noir. This silky smooth little number is a fine example, with rich baked cherries on the nose and just a hint of spice on the palate.
Score: 75/100
Barrel-aged in French oak for 10 months, Morrisons has collaborated with highly regarded Chilean winemaker Errazuriz for this own-brand bottle. The fruit for this elegant wine comes from a single vineyard, which benefits from cool winds coming off the nearby Pacific Ocean. The result is an incredibly smooth, cherry-scented red with subtle spice.
Score: 74/100
Well-priced and easy drinking, this pinot noir is ideal for mid-week winter meals. It’s packed with earthy black cherry, nutmeg and cinnamon spice. With a touch of toastiness and refreshing acidity, it’s a little cracker given the price.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
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