US: CALIFORNIAN PINOT CAN RIVAL PREMIER CRU BURGUNDY

(TheDrinksBusiness) - Californian cool-climate Pinot Noir can compete with premier cru Burgundy on quality and price.

That was the conclusion of a seminar hosted by the drinks business and The Californian Wine Insitute in March this year, which saw Gerard Basset MS, MW, OBE; Vanessa Cinti; Claudia Schug-Schütz and Keith Isaac MW discuss the character of Californian cool-climate Pinot Noir.

“California has an image of being very expensive but personally I think Pinot Noir from California is very good value,” said Basset, who is a sommelier, commentator and owner of Hotel Terravina in England’s New Forrest, speaking at the event, which was held in London during the Californian Wine Institute’s annual UK tasting.

Having discussed a price band of £20 to £50 for good quality Californian cool-climate Pinot Noir Basset added: “If you wanted a quality example from Burgundy at village or premier cru level, that’s what you would pay, so for me Californian Pinot is good value.”

Speaking about the natures of wines, he continued, “The wines display a lot of elegance and character, and they have a great image.”

He also stressed the reliable quality from California. “They are very consistent in what they propose, so it is very rare that you take a bottle from a good producer and find something disappointing.”