I’ve been perusing The Chopping Block’s wine selection for a while now, and I figured it was time to start highlighting some of the fantastic bottles available. With fall approaching, there’s no better place to start than with one of my all-time favorite cool-weather reds: Pinot Noir.
More specifically, let’s head to Burgundy with Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Rouge.
Burgundy Without the Intimidation
Even casual wine drinkers have probably heard of Burgundy. This region of France produces some of the most celebrated wines in the world, but you don’t need an enormous wine budget or an encyclopedic knowledge of French vineyards to enjoy what Burgundy has to offer.
Burgundy is also closely associated with the idea of terroir, a French term that essentially means a “sense of place.” The idea is that everything from soil and climate to the location of a vineyard can influence how a wine tastes. Two wines made from the same grape and grown surprisingly close to one another can still taste noticeably different.
That ability to express where it was grown is one reason Pinot Noir is so closely associated with Burgundy.
Fortunately, there are also bottles from respected Burgundy producers that offer an excellent introduction to the region without requiring a special-occasion budget. That brings us to Maison Joseph Drouhin.
Meet Joseph Drouhin
The Drouhin family has been making wine in Burgundy since 1880 and is now in its fourth generation of winemaking. The house focuses on Burgundy’s two signature grapes: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Today, we’re sticking with Pinot Noir, a grape native to Burgundy and one that even non-wine geeks may remember getting some extra attention from Paul Giamatti in Sideways.
Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Rouge is made from 100% Pinot Noir, with grapes selected from the Drouhin family’s vineyards. The wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for about a year in oak, only a portion of which is new. That allows the fruit and character of the wine to remain front and center rather than being overwhelmed by oak.
What Does It Taste Like?
In the glass, the wine is bright ruby red with aromas and flavors of fresh red fruits such as raspberry and strawberry.
What I particularly enjoy about Burgundian Pinot Noir is the earthiness that accompanies all of that bright fruit. Wine tasting is subjective, of course, and everyone will pick up something a little different. But that combination of fruit and earthiness is exactly what makes this style of Pinot Noir so appealing to me when the weather starts to cool.
It also makes it incredibly food-friendly.
What to Cook With It
If you pick up a bottle, here are three Chopping Block recipes I’d put on the table with it:
Butternut Squash Bolognese
The sweet, earthy character of butternut squash is a natural match for Pinot Noir’s red fruit and earthy notes.
Coq au Vin
This French classic is right at home alongside a bottle of Burgundy, especially as we head into cooler weather.
Spiced Oven-Baked Ribs
Pinot Noir’s acidity and fruit make it versatile enough to stand up to the richness and spice of these ribs without overpowering them.
If you’re ready for a red that feels like fall but isn’t overly heavy, Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Rouge is a great bottle to explore. Stop by The Chopping Block to pick one up, then choose your recipe and make a night of it.
Want to learn more about what’s in your glass? Check out our upcoming wine classes to taste, explore new varieties and learn how to choose and pair wines with more confidence.
