What Kind of Wine Is A to Z Pinot Noir?
A to Z Pinot Noir is a dry red wine from Willamette Valley, Oregon. It opens with a vibrant, complex bouquet of stone fruit, floral, and red berry aromas. On the palate, subtle oak aging provides a harmonious balance between acidity, fruit, and tannin as it drives into the long aftertaste. Oregon Pinot Noirs are medium-bodied and more finely bonded than their California counterparts. They show a wide range of flavors, including notes of bright strawberry, raspberry, and florals, as well as earthy hints of mushroom and potting soil.
Consequently, Oregon Pinots are very compelling and pleasant. The Pinot Noir grape is challenging to cultivate, as it has a small vine with tight clusters and is susceptible to diseases like rot and mildew. So, it might be a headache for winemakers to manage. Yet, if properly grown, it gives wines with incredible flavor concentration and balance.
A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir Review
- Winery — A to Z Wineworks
- Country/Region — United States, Oregon
- Type — Oregon Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Rose Petals, Violet, Peach, Apricot, Cherry, Boysenberry, Blackcurrant, Pomegranate, Cinnamon, Cedar, Chocolate, Sandalwood, Thyme
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Raspberry, Strawberry, Blackberry, Charred Wood, Smoke, Barnyard, Toasted Oak, Coffee, Pepper, Vanilla Spice
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Duck, Pheasant, Fried Chicken, Lamb Rack, Pan-seared Salmon, Mushroom Risotto, Beef Burger, Pecorino, Manchego
And our A to Z Pinot Noir review ends. A to Z Pinot Noir is a high-quality Pinot Noir from Oregon of good value. Packed with everything a wine enthusiast might want from a Pinot, such as vibrant and complex aromas and a luscious palate loaded with flavors of berries and earth, A to Z Pinot Noir proudly represents Oregon winemaking. Bold and exciting, this Pinot is fantastic for unwinding after a tough day at the office or serving on a warm evening rendezvous.
Tasting Notes
Starting with a complex nose of dried flowers, peach, and raspberry, alongside hints of boysenberry, pomegranate, and wood spices, A to Z Pinot Noir exhibits a balance between acidity, fruitiness, and tannin. Traces of minerals are discernible, too, accentuating the juicy flavors. The finish is lengthy, adding structure and depth to the mouthfeel.
Appearance
This A to Z Pinot Noir wine has a medium-purple color that is very attractive. After some time in the glass, the wine starts developing burgundy and red highlights around the rim. The center is semi-opaque, while the tears of the wine are medium and weighty. Undoubtedly, A to Z Pinot Noir has an elegant and delicate appearance that brims with passion and intensity.
Aroma
Rose petals, violets, peaches, and apricots emerge as soon as the bottle is uncorked. Scents of cherry, boysenberry, blackcurrant, and pomegranate are also present on the nose, alongside touches of cinnamon, cedar, chocolate, sandalwood, and thyme. Some notes of potting soil surface too, as the striking aromatic bouquet impresses with its complexity.
Taste
On the palate, the wine is rounded and juicy. Contrary to other Pinots, A to Z Pinot Noir is packed with toasted oak notes, such as charred wood, smoke, and barnyard. Earthy sensations of forest floor, wet leaves, and mushroom offer depth and pleasure. Fruit-wise, flavors of ripe raspberry, strawberry, and blackberry dominate the mouth, followed by hints of pepper, coffee, and vanilla. The tannin is fine-grained and unobtrusive, contributing smoothness. As to the acidity, it is bright and refreshing, balancing out the tastes.
Finish
The aftertaste is long and lingering, filled with delicate traces of boysenberry, raspberry, and cherry, among others. A to Z Pinot Noir concludes the tasting profile, therefore, delightfully, expressing its unique characteristics. Wine enthusiasts will find pleasure in the finish, which graces the back-palate with its gentle but quite expressive undertones.
Rating
A to Z Pinot Noir is a prime representative of Oregon Pinot Noir. It brims with quality and vibrant, delicious flavors. Inviting aromas and earthy notes on the bouquet mingled with the tastes of berries, underbrush, and coffee on the palate to create this irresistible wine. Highly recommended to fans of bold yet refreshing and approachable reds.
A to Z Pinot Noir Food Pairing
A to Z Pinot Noir is versatile. You can combine it with protein-based foods and meats cooked in diverse styles. For example, roast duck, oven-baked pheasant, and fried chicken pair very nicely with the wine. Likewise, lamb rack, pan-seared salmon, or mushroom risotto also make great pairing options. At the same time, your standard Sunday barbeque sausages, beef burgers, and honey-glazed pork chops make good matches with A to Z Pinot Noir, too.
Regarding A to Z Pinot Noir cheese pairing, serve the wine along with hard and semi-hard cheeses. Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, and Manchego blend with the wine’s fruitiness creating a fantastic drinking experience. Smoked Gouda is a fine choice, as well. The creamy texture of the Pinot joins the nutty flavors of the cheese for yummy, finger-licking situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes A to Z Pinot Noir?
A to Z Pinot Noir is a product of A to Z Wineworks, located in Oregon. The winery was established in 2002 by a team of four friends and winemaking professionals, passionate about the Oregon wine industry. Since its inception, A to Z Wineworks has been awarded multiple awards and accolades for its high-quality Pinot Noir, which is highly expressive of the essence of Oregon. On top of this, the wine firm produces Chardonnay. In fact, their Chardonnay has become one of the best-selling wines in the Oregon market.
Owning numerous vineyards around Oregon, A to Z supports biodynamic viticulture. In 2006, the winery teamed up with legendary NBA coach Greg Popovic, purchasing the Red Hill Winery. This move gave A to Z a winemaking base. However, Red Hill continues to exist as a separate entity and an upmarket label. As a final note, the A to Z Wineworks portfolio includes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris, among others.
How Is A to Z Pinot Noir Made?
The grapes of this A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir are picked, sorted, destemmed, and crushed. Crushing breaks the skins of the grapes and liberates a quantity of juice. Damaging the seeds should be avoided, however. Otherwise, the damaged seeds release bitter oils and tannin, with the resulting wine becoming astringent and overly bitter. After crushing, the juice goes into stainless steel vessels to undergo alcoholic fermentation.
As the juice ferments, the temperature increases to ensure the extraction of color, flavor, and tannins from the fermented grapes. During this time, specialized winemaking techniques take place. For instance, malolactic conversion shapes the character of the wine and smoothens the tannins out to remove astringency. Wood chips may be added, too, to give toasted character. When the fermentation is over, the final wine is filtered from sediments and bottled.
Where Is A to Z Pinot Noir Made?
A to Z Pinot Noir is produced in the sun-drenched vineyards of Willamette Valley, Oregon’s prestigious winemaking zone. Winemaking in the valley, and to an extent, in all of Oregon, is handcrafted or artisanal, with domestic winemakers aiming to create world-class wines. On top of that, most of the Willamette Valley’s vineyards are sustainable as Oregon wine producers desire to craft wines expressive of the terroir.
Pinot Noir is the leading varietal of the valley. Some of the world’s best Pinot Noirs are produced there, in fact. Willamette Valley is also renowned for having rich soils which are beneficiaries of Ice Age floods. Therefore, Pinot Noir vines take advantage of the favorable growing conditions and the ample nutrients of the ground to grow concentrated fruit. That gives the opportunity for Oregon wine producers to make great Pinot Noirs that capture the elegance of the state in the glass.
How to Serve A to Z Pinot Noir?
As a dry red wine, A to Z Pinot Noir has to be served at room temperature at 50-60°F (10-13°F). There is also the option to chill the wine, for some time, at 48-50°F (8-10°C). By doing so, the berry notes will become crisper and more refreshing. At the same time, the earthy flavors will feel tender and more concentrated, which might please wine aficionados. The best glassware for A to Z Pinot Noir are Burgundy glasses.
That said, they are expensive, so if you are on a budget, the standard larger-sized wine glasses are just fine. They enable the wine surface to come in direct contact with the oxygen in the air, boosting and intensifying the aromas and flavors, which is fantastic and all we could ask for. Decanting is a good option, too. In fact, decanting would benefit the wine with the extra aeration. As mentioned earlier, when the air comes into contact with the wine surface, the aromatic and flavor intensity of A to Z Pinot Noir elevates, offering an outstanding wine-drinking experience.
How Much Does A to Z Pinot Noir Cost?
A to Z Pinot Noir varies in price. There are very affordable and expensive bottlings. It just depends on the vintage and the vendor. A to Z Pinot Noir price ranges from $16 to $42 per 750ml bottle. Therefore, wine fans looking for a high-quality Pinot Noir at a relatively approachable price are in for a good one with A to Z Pinot Noir. Besides, this is a Pinot Noir from Oregon’s prestigious Willamette Valley, so having to pay a bit extra for the quality makes sense.
How Long Does A to Z Pinot Noir Last?
Unlike Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Noirs do not benefit from long-term storage. They are very fruit-forward and lack the complexity to withstand maturation, such as grippy tannins or a weighty body. As a consequence, putting A to Z Pinot Noir away for aging seems risky. The thing is that by trying to mature the wine, its freshness might disappear, leaving behind an uninspiring wine. Regardless, for a short time and under certain circumstances, A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir might be able to mature a bit to enable the appearance of pronounced tertiary notes.
To mature it, store the wine in a calm environment with room temperatures that do not fluctuate (50-60°F or 10-13°C) and a portion of humidity. Direct sunlight or artificial light is not beneficial as it will damage the wine by messing around with its yeasts, responsible for maturation. Furthermore, the environment should be odor-free as odors find their way inside the bottle, instilling unpleasant flavors. Give the wine about 2 years to mature before uncorking.
How Many Calories Does A to Z Pinot Noir Have?
A to Z Pinot Noir is a suitable dietary drink choice for those looking to lower their daily calorie intake. A to Z Pinot Noir calories amount is 25 calories per 1 fluid ounce, equating to 125 calories per glass serving. The calorie breakdown is 0 grams of fats, 10 grams of sodium, 4 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of protein, and 1 gram of total sugars. Consequently, A to Z Pinot Noir is superb for people on a diet. The only thing that might need a bit of monitoring is the sodium intake, which seems a bit high. For those interested in A to Z Pinot Noir alcohol content, it is 13.5% per 750ml bottle, a typical alcoholic concentration for medium-bodied Pinot Noir.
Conclusion
And our A to Z Pinot Noir review ends. A to Z Pinot Noir is a high-quality Pinot Noir from Oregon of good value. Packed with everything a wine enthusiast might want from a Pinot, such as vibrant and complex aromas and a luscious palate loaded with flavors of berries and earth, A to Z Pinot Noir proudly represents Oregon winemaking. Bold and exciting, this Pinot is fantastic for unwinding after a tough day at the office or serving on a warm evening rendezvous.
