When to drink a Pinot Noir

[DAnna]

Got a couple bottles of 2000 Pinot Noirs-one from Cakebread the other from Sterling. Should I drink them now or keep holding on?

[Innkeeper]

They should both be ready to go. Don't take this as carte blanche advice about future Pinots. Pinot Noir is one of the most versitile red wines in terms of styles, much like Riesling is for whites. Pinot can be as light as a Gamay or as full and robust as a Syrah. Some folks like their Pinot one way or another, and others like them across the spectrum. Check with your retailer when you buy to find out these details.

[PinotEnvy]

DAnna,

I reccomend going to the vintage chart on Wine Spectator. Here is the link

http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Vintage_Charts/0,1183,,00.html

While no expert, I have not herd of keeping Pinot Noir for long periods of time. Are you saving it for a particular occasion or just trying to pick an optimal time to drink it?

PE

[Kcwhippet]

As ww says, the 2000 Pinots are ready to drink now. In fact, virtually all CA Pinots are drinkable when young.

[Thomas]

To PinotEnvy,

Some Burgundy wines can outlive a generation. Aging a wine--any wine--depends on the color and nature of the grape plus its particular vineyard site, the vintage, and the way the wine is produced. Pinot Noir is no different.

Having said that, there are places (the site) where Pinot Noir is hardly ever given a chance at aging.



[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 09-29-2004).]

[PinotEnvy]

Precisly why I say I am no expert [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[Thomas]

Yeah well, neither am I. Just know a few things here and there and I learn a few more regularly.

[winoweenie]

Hi Danna. Neither Jack Cakebread nor Sterling are prime Pinot porducers and since 2000 wasn't an overly super season for good juice I'd definately drink them dudes in the next year. My best luck for aging Pinots are the grapes from the RRV in Sonoma and of course the region in France the wine is named fer. Good juice for near term consumption. WW

[DAnna]

thanks everyone. i guess its time for a party! when a person like myself who generally purchases wine in the $10-16 range spends $35-50 on one bottle-it gets designated as "special occasion" wine. but in this case i should just maybe create an occasion instead of letting the wine go down in quality.

[stevebody]

7:47 p.m. Perfect time to drink Pinot.