Country: France Region: Le Midi Grape: Pinot Noir
Vin de Pays d’Oc Wines come from what is known as Le Midi. This region, also referred to as the Languedoc-Roussillon, is one of the oldest wine areas in France as it was planted by the Romans. For most of the 20th century the region produced vast quantities of very common wine. However, with the creation of Vin de Pays in 1973, an appellation that encouraged the promotion of good regional wines from all parts of France, the area began to attract investment both in new vineyards and wineries. Today, the Vin de Pays d’Oc represents about three-quarters of all French Vin de Pays.
Your favorite Wine of the Month Club is happy to include this selection of Scarlet of Paris’s Pinot Noir in this month’s shipment. Unadulterated 100% Pinot Noir grapes were used to produce this elegant ruby red nectar. The profile is a rich, fruit bouquet of raspberry and cherry with interesting plum undertones that carry through. On the palate, the wine is smooth and silky, with just the right hint of “jammy” sweetness.
It is ready to be enjoyed now, and will not benefit from cellaring. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled to 60° F if you prefer. Serve with deli meats, burgers, brats, sausages, pasta, poultry or pork chops.
Scarlet of Paris Pinot Noir:
PINOT NOIR — One of the classics of the Champagne region of France, but its claim to greatest fame lies immediately south in Burgundy. In the right place, under ideal climatic conditions, it produces the most velvet-like smooth wines of any grape. This finicky fruit is difficult to grow, a real challenge to growers, but worth the effort. With flavor variations from cherries to strawberries, Pinot Noir grapes are light in color, rather low in tannin, with relatively high alcohol. A loner, it is rarely blended. Also grown in Australia, New Zealand and California.
