Bourgogne Pinot Noir (8 Best Wines, Taste, How It Is Made)

What is Bourgogne Pinot Noir and which are the finest bottles you should buy?

“Bourgogne” is an appellation in the Burgundy wine region, which covers red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines that aren’t from the Grand Cru, Premier Cru, or Village tiers.

This could include Bourgogne Rouge (made from Pinot Noir), Bourgogne Blanc or Bourgogne Rosé wines.

And unlike Grand Cru, Premier Cru, or Village appellations, the grape variety used in a Bourgogne wine can be stated on the label. 

So, you may find instead of “Bourgogne Rouge,” a red wine is more specifically labeled “Bourgogne Pinot Noir,” and white wine from Chardonnay could be “Bourgogne Chardonnay.”  In this article, we’ll be exploring Bourgogne Pinot Noir in particular — its taste, winemaking, food pairings, its aging potential, and some great vintages to choose from.

More About Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Almost all red wine from Burgundy are made of Pinot Noir, so the term “red Burgundy” typically refers to Pinot Noir wine. 

Bourgogne Pinot Noir is considered an entry-level wine, as it sits beneath the more illustrious Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines in the quality pyramid. 

The Pinot Noir grape is a finicky varietal that’s difficult to grow. However, this grape variety loves the fantastic limestone soils of Côte d’Or in Burgundy, ranging from the Upper Jurassic limestone of Givry to the fossil-rich subsoil in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir wines are often from vineyard fruits in less-favorable locations, but they may be picked from the best terroir too. 

As such, they often exhibit characteristics of great red Burgundy, but at much more affordable prices.    

8 Delicious Bourgogne Pinot Noir To Try In 2023

Here are the finest bottles you should buy:

• 2010 Domaine Prieuré Roch Bourgogne Rouge ‘Pinoterie’, Burgundy
• 2015 Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy
• 2012 Coche-Dury Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy
• 2015 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy
• 2016 Domaine Arnaud Ente Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy
• 2018 Domaine Fourrier Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy
• 2018 Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy
• 2016 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy

1. 2010 Domaine Prieuré Roch Bourgogne Rouge ‘Pinoterie’, Burgundy ($629)

This lovely Pinot Noir wine offers an intoxicating bouquet of rose petals and wild cherry, spice, and smoke. A silky palate featuring a core of dense cherry ends on a delicious mineral finish. 

2. 2015 Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy ($302)

The 2015 vintage offers elegant notes of blueberry, red fruit, and a hint of smoke. Precise, delicate, and silky on the palate, it ends on a long, mineral finish. 

3. 2012 Coche-Dury Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy ($187)

Coche-Dury is well-known for their Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault wines, but this Bourgogne Pinot Noir speaks for itself. Sweet cherry on the nose, tasting of creamy red fruit and velvety tannins, this vintage has finesse! 

4. 2015 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy ($115)

From the famed Domaine Leroy comes this lovely vintage of fresh, creamy red fruit and a rounded palate of crisp acidity. Experience flavors of apple, sour cherry, and floral notes in this fine wine.

5. 2016 Domaine Arnaud Ente Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy ($109)

The 2016 vintage from this small, family-run Meursault estate is fresh and lively, light-bodied with some acidity. This is an entry-level wine worth seeking. 

6.  2018 Domaine Fourrier Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy ($54)

This 2018 Domaine Fourrier vintage spent 12 months in French oak, resulting in a smooth red wine with aromas of red fruit, citrus, and hints of rose petal. Medium-bodied with dusty tannins, it has impressive structure and length for a Bourgogne Rouge.

7. 2018 Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy ($23)

The 2018 Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a dark ruby tone with intense aromas of black fruit. An elegant tannin structure is combined with blackcurrant and spicy tastes, delivering a full mouthfeel.

8. 2016 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy ($22)

This elegant Pinot Noir displays a complex bouquet of red cherry, plums, and a hint of earth and warm spice. Fresh red fruit flavors saturate a slightly tart palate, accompanied by bright acidity.

Is Bourgogne Pinot Noir Sweet?

Pinot Noir wine is typically a dry wine, and isn’t sweet. 

However, the varietal is well-known for its wide variety of fruity aromas and other flavors like mineral or spice, which directly reflects the terroir where it’s grown. 

The fruitiness of Bourgogne Pinot Noir can range from the fresh aroma of red fruit like red cherry or red berry in younger wines to more jammy scents in an older vintage. 

The sweetness in the aroma may make the wine taste sweeter than it really is.

Next, let’s delve into a bit of winemaking.

How is Bourgogne Pinot Noir Made? 

Vinification of Bourgogne red wine can vary greatly, depending on the vintage and winemaker. 

Pinot Noir is a particularly delicate grape, and some winemakers may de-stem before vinification. 

Cold maceration is often done before fermentation to extract phenolic components. 

For full maceration, the grapes are placed in vats — traditional open vats or stainless steel vats.

During the maceration process (which brings color and tannin to the grape juice), alcoholic fermentation begins. This can be a natural process from indigenous yeasts or triggered by the addition of yeasts.

After alcoholic fermentation, aging in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks begins. During aging, the red wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, making it smoother. Aging typically lasts 12-24 months before bottling.

What Foods Pair with a Bottle of Bourgogne Pinot Noir?

Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a versatile wine. With its low tannin levels and high acidity, it matches well with different food groups. 

Lighter styles can go with tuna, salmon or chicken, cured meats, creamy pasta dishes, or aged cheese. Fuller-bodied versions do well with beef, lamb, or game birds, as well as rustic vegetable dishes.

You may wonder if your bottle of Bourgogne Pinot Noir will keep well. 

Does Bourgogne Pinot Noir Wine Age Well?

Bourgogne Pinot Noir is generally meant to be enjoyed at release, but some of them have an aging potential of up to 3-5 years. Bourgogne Rouge and Village-level wines often improve in taste within five years.    

Ready For A Taste of Red Burgundy?

Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a delicious, accessible way to experience what red Burgundy wines have to offer.    

However, if you’re interested in more complex, age-worthy Burgundian wine, you should invest in them through a modern, reputable investment platform like Vinovest. 

Vinovest provides access to some of the finest, rarest wines in the world (including that elusive Cote d’Or wine) letting you to buy, store and even sell your bottles when you wish to.