Put the Noir in Pinot Noir
Free tasting | Saturday, January 25, 2020 | 4-6PM
A still from Notorious, a 1946 American spy film noir directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock.
“How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?” -Walter Neff
Well, Pinot Noir isn’t particularly known for honeysuckle aromas, but the character Walter Neff from Double Indemnity doesn’t need to know that. But Pinot Noir and Film Noir have similarities beyond the name (while the Noir in Pinot refers to the dark hue of the grapes, the Noir in Film refers to the dark mood of these films) and are equally passionate and gory. But before we break down the parallels between film and grape let’s rehash what exactly Film Noir is!
This alone is a tricky question because unlike Drama or Comedy, Film Noir isn’t a genre but instead, it’s a style. During World War II, a few Noir films, like Double Indemnity, were released that featured highly stylized, super dramatic crime thrillers. Directors (like Hitchcock, see the still of Carey Grant and Ingrid Bergman above) found that audiences craved doomed romances and murders with powerful imagery. This style became popular worldwide between the 1940’s through the 1960’s, but you can still find modern films made mimicking these older films like the contemporary films Sin City or Brick.
So, imagine yourself in a cold, black and white, Noir film…or, well, in the month of January. What to do during the chilly weather but curl up and Netflix binge a few Noir films paired to Pinot Noir! Before you scoff at the idea of Pinot Noir being linked with crime, murder, and doomed romance, let’s reflect on when people drink wine, shall we? We indulge with wine during agonizing breakups, at toasts, or at funerals. Your average Pinot witnesses a lot of emotional toil! As for violence in the vineyards here’s an example from 1394 (brace yourselves!): in Burgundy during harvest a teenager was brutally beaten to death because he forgot to separate the newly picked Pinot Noir grapes from another picked grape varietal. Yikes!! Talk about an overreaction!!
Just think…if Netflix or Hulu were categorizing grapes and not movies they would have to create an Ancient category since Pinot Noir is over 2,000 years old! It’s unclear where Pinot Noir originated but countries are vying to prove that they’re Pinot Noir’s homeland. One theory is that Pinot Noir originated at the Nile River in Egypt before being brought over to France in the 4th century. Another theory is that Pinot Noir originated in the Jura in 1386. No matter what the truth is, Pinot Noir history is as intriguing as a whodunit!
To put it mildly, Pinot Noir is an international grape. It loves cool climates and is the definition of finicky; it can’t grow in places that are too cool, or wet, and it’s a grape prone to diseases. You can find Pinot Noir spread across the map including New Zealand, France, the US, and Germany. Burgundy specializes in Pinot Noir and coaxes out the savory notes of this grape like mushroom, soil, and cherry. If you want the fruitier side of Burgundy, drink your Burg young but if you’re itching for the more mineral driven notes of Pinot, try older vintages.
Domestic Pinot Noir has had a resurgence of mainstream popularity, partially thanks to the 2004 movie Sideways. While not Film Noir, Sideways is dramatic and does involve lots of shouting and more importantly, includes a monologue on the beauty of Pinot Noir. There is absolutely delicious Pinot Noir grown in California and Oregon that will also make you shout like Paul Giamatti (but hopefully not dump a spit bucket over your head). Oregon accentuates the round and juicy side of Pinot Noir and you’ll find enhanced aromas of strawberries and raspberries in these wines.
In Germany, Pinot Noir is called Spätburgunder. Due to climate change, more winegrowers are planting red grapes; in 2008 Germany had 11,800 hectares of Spätburgunder planted. Spätburgunder is generally earthier than Pinot Noir from Oregon and have darker fruit notes like raspberries and plums. Pinot Noir in New Zealand is gaining popularity with both winegrowers and consumers. In 2011 Pinot Noir plantings were estimated to be 5,000 hectares. This grape thrives particularly around Marlborough and Pinot Noir from down under is energetic and may boast notes of cherries, raspberries, and earth.
Anyhooooooo….Join us for a Noir evening full of wine and film nerdom! See you Saturday!
Put the Noir in Pinot Noir:
2016 Rings Spätburgunder
Who: Brothers Steffen and Andreas Rings
What: Spätburgunder aka Pinot Noir
Where: Pfalz, Germany
How: These grapes were harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine was then aged in a combination of new and old barrique for 18 months.
Farming Method: Biodynamic
Fun Fact: We talked about where the Noir in Pinot Noir comes from but here’s the most popular theory for the word Pinot - pine-cone shape of the grape bunches!
Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck being weird in Double Indemnity.
Which Film Noir Film Am I?: The big one - Double Indemnity (1944)! The tension and drama in this remind me of German countryside - beautiful and slow. Like the big classics, sometimes people can be skeptical of Spätburgunder (what is it and how do you pronounce it?) but with more winemakers growing this every year Spätburgunder will become just as classic as Double Indemnity.
What It Tastes Like: Smooth and earthy with notes of plums and mushrooms.
2018 Walnut Block Pinot Noir
Who: Brothers Clyde and Nigel Sowman
What: Pinot Noir
Where: Marlborough, New Zealand
How: After being hand-picked these grapes were collected into small bins and chilled overnight. They were destemmed and fermented with natural yeasts before aging for 12-18 months in barrique.
Farming Method: Organic
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Brick…and in glasses. <3
Fun Fact: This is from the Wairau Valley, which is in the most Northern Part of the Southern island; this Valley is a former ancient riverbed.
What Film Noir Film Am I?: Brick (2005) an independent film that was a refreshing Noir-ish hit at the Sundance Film Festival. Unexpected just like the spicy notes in this Pinot and as fresh as a young, brooding Joseph Gordon-Leavitt.
What It Tastes Like: Notes of brambly cherries and raspberries.
Joan Crawford is a fierce babe!
2015 Welsh Family, Bjornson Vineyard, Pinot Noir
Who: Dan Welsh and Wendy Davis
What: Pinot Noir
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon
How: Fermented with native yeasts and aged for 12+ months in neutral oak barrels.
Farming Method: Organic Practices (Eola-Amity Hills)
Fun Fact: The first Pinot Noir grapes were planted in Willamette Valley (and Oregon!) in 1965 by a winemaker named David Lett.
What Film Noir Film Am I?: Mildred Pierce (1945)! Like Double Indemnity this film is also based off a book by James M. Cain. It’s seemingly about a housewife turned independent single Mother...until it isn’t. The juiciness of this Pinot brings to mind the sly cunning of the character Veda. Dramatic, bold, juicy, and jaw dropping.
Tastes Like: Showy and dramatic with woodsy and black currant notes.
2017 Domaine Pierre Guillemot Bourgogne Rouge
Who: Jean-Pierre Guillemot
What: Pinot Noir
Where: Bourgogne, France
How: After these grapes were sorted and destemmed they underwent fermentation for 15-16 days before aging in barrel for 18 months.
Farming Method: Organic
Fun Fact: These grapes come from 32 year old vines.
Jake Gyllenhaal, being creepy AF since…well, forever.
What Film Noir Film Am I?: Nightcrawler (2014), a modern-day noir thriller. While the nightlife of Los Angeles is the polar opposite of Burgundy, France, both settings are quite mesmerizing. Jake Gyllenhaal’s Louis Bloom will make your list of Most Disturbing Villains in the 21st century just as surely as Jean-Pierre Guillemot will make your list as Most Fabulous Pinot under $40 you’ve had from the 2017 vintage.
What It Tastes Like: Cherries, tobacco and forest floor.