JM 1ST APPROACH

The cool climate Aude Valey in the south of France produces arguably the best French Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy. The high elevation and cooling evening breezes result in a clean and fresh wine with balance tannin and true varietal character.

Totally de-stemmed before a long, cool maceration. Maturation is primarily in stainless steel with roughly one third undergoes carbonic maceration aiding aromatics and fruit expression. A further third receives six month maturation in French oak barrels for greater complexity.

An elegant and restrained nose with red and black berries mixed with floral notes and spice aromas. The palate is rich and full bodied with an array of berry flavours. The class of the vintage is shown in the delicate and precise finish with varietal red berry overtones.

This wine has been a runaway success since its inception a few years ago but quality-wise, this 2010 is the year for it to really crack the big time. It’s grown in France’s Aude Valley (though I appreciate the way Walsh calls it, more authentically, “Valee de l’Aude”). I have a feeling Le Chat Noir might put the Aude Valley on the map. Importer: Fourth Wave Wine.
It’s been a tough time for bargain pinot noir drinkers of late. There are a couple of exceptions but in general, the heat of 2009 and the wet of 2011 have hardly made it easy for volume producers – and it usually takes volume to keep both the price down, and the quality up.

This pinot noir from Le Chat Noir steps beautifully into the breach. It has a flash of cedary oak – not something I’ve seen in previous vintages – good density of fruit flavour, a rub of tannin and better-than-decent length. Better still, it smells perfumed and buoyant and tastes fresh and vigorous. It doesn’t just scratch the pinot itch, it gets the heart racing. If you see this wine around, and you’re a pinot noir fan – BUY. 92 points Winefront