We had 3 quite different Pinot noirs over dinner with a neighbouring vigneron recently.
Nuits St George 1er Cru Les Damodes 2006
Very pale colur intensity. Intense fragrance of potpourri. Palate a touch acidic and hot on entry. Feels a bit woody with both lightness and heat. Not that enjoyable on its own but once drunk with food (lamb) it really did change its character and the acidity was welcome.
Dry River Pinot Noir, Martinborough 1999
Good colour and density. Pungent nose of violets and stewed plums. In the mouth plenty of interesting dark fruits but slightly hot feeling. Did not go that well with the food.
Domaine Serene, Yamhill Cuvée Willamette Valley 2000
Lovely expressive nose with a hint of undergrowth. Very good acid balance. Lively yet savoury. This was my favourite wine of the 3 and went pretty well with the food even if not quite as dramatically well as the Burgundy.
For me it was interesting to taste 3 good wines from arguably the 3 best regions for Pinot noir in the world. I've always been a fan of Dry River but was surprised my my preference for the other 2. The way that the Burgundy changed once we started eating was incredible. I was ready to slam it for being thin and acidic but it really did prove to be the best match.