Pinot noir
Pinot noir at T.J.'s Fine Wine and Liquor in Brandon, Mississippi: what it is, how to choose it, and the brands on our shelf.
Pinot noir is the red for tables where nobody agrees. Thin skins mean lighter colour and soft tannin, and the acidity means it works with food that is not steak. Expect red cherry, raspberry, rose and, with age, mushroom and forest floor.
How to choose
What is on the plate? Pinot is the safest red with salmon, pork, roast chicken, mushrooms and most of a Thanksgiving table. It has the acidity to cut and not enough tannin to fight.
How full do you want it? California pinot from Sonoma and Santa Barbara is riper and rounder, closer to a light cabernet. Oregon is leaner and more structured. Burgundy is earthy and restrained. New Zealand is bright and herb-edged.
Who is drinking it? If someone tells you they find red wine heavy, pour them pinot noir.
Serving. Cooler than you think, around 55 to 60 degrees. Fifteen minutes in the fridge before dinner. Warm pinot loses its edge.
Brands on our shelf
- A to Z
- Apothic
- Barefoot
- Belle Glos
- Bogle
- Bread & Butter
- Clos du Bois
- Coppola
- Cupcake
- Dark Horse
- Davis Bynum
- Decoy
- FitVine
- Gnarly Head
- Goldeneye
- Hahn
- Imagery
- J Vineyards
- Joel Gott
- Josh
- Kali Hart
- Kendall-Jackson
- La Crema
- Louis Jadot
- Matua
- Meiomi
- Ménage à Trois
- Mirassou
- Murphy-Goode
- Oyster Bay
- Rodney Strong
- Seaglass
- Woodbridge
- yellow tail
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Common questions
- What is pinot noir?
- Pinot noir is a thin-skinned red grape that commonly produces lighter-colored wine with noticeable acidity and relatively moderate tannin. Climate, whole-cluster fermentation and oak can create substantial differences between regions and producers.
- How do I choose a pinot noir?
- Start with region and alcohol level. Cooler areas often retain more acidity and savory character, while warmer areas may show riper fruit and more body. Vintage and oak treatment add another layer of variation.
- What food goes with pinot noir?
- Pinot noir works with roast chicken, pork, salmon, mushrooms and dishes that would overpower many white wines but do not need a heavy red. Its acidity and moderate tannin make it flexible across a table.
- Does T.J.'s Fine Wine and Liquor carry pinot noir?
- Yes. T.J.'s Fine Wine and Liquor carries pinot noir at 237 Orleans Way, Suite B, Brandon, Mississippi. Browse the brand names on this page, then call (769) 348-0006 to confirm a specific bottle before you drive in.