Here is another PN derived wine from an outlying region, which is an interesting drink but which does nothing yet to challenge the leadership of the Burgundy region. On the showing of its 2014 and 2015 vintages, I did suggest that it might be a reasonable substitute for a lesser but decent villages Burgundy. With climate change more northerly regions, including Normandy and the south of England, could represent the future for PN. However, I am wondering now if I was not unduly influenced in favour of the 2014 by having tasted it from the barrel at the estate in the presence of the very articulate owner, Gérard Samson, who studied law at the Caen university and has a much wider general culture than most vignerons.
2017 Les Arpents du Soleil Pinot Noir Rouge - France, Normandy (28/10/2023)In respect of the 2014 vintage (and the same applied to 2015), I wrote that this Norman PN could be a good ringer for lesser Burgundy village wine. However, this 2017 is not and nor was the 2016. Indeed I can reproduce quite a lot of my TN on the 2016. Colour was quite pale with some foam on first pour at the rim. The nose was quite expressive in a register of sharpish sour cherry and red currant with at first a hint of an extraneous note reminiscent of wet concrete which disappeared later. Like the colour the palate was lighter than my memory of 2014 and 2015, showed a certain elegance with fresh red berry fruit, decent minerality, fresh acidity, a very slight sensation of prickle and not a lot of backbone. Quite good.
Posted from CellarTrackerPrice for 50cl was just under €14, which is much the same as entry level wines from the Chalonnais.
