Little Star Pinot Noir 2023 750ml

FRANCE : LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON : PAYS D'OC Pinot Noir LIGHT-BODIED, RASPBERRY, CHERRY, THYME, WOODSMOKE Pinot Noir at this price is a labelling story before it is a wine story. Pays d'Oc is an IGP rather than an AOP, so the grape goes on the front label. No Languedoc appellation would allow that. Heat is the problem the winemaking solves. Part of the crop is picked early, before full maturity, to keep the sugar down and hold the lifted side of the variety; the rest comes in fully ripe and gets a long maceration for colour and depth. The two are blended back together. It is made at the Union des Caves Cooperatives de Cebazan in the Herault, under the house label of a New York importer. Raspberry and cherry, a little smoke and pepper, thyme underneath, and a finish that stays silky rather than grippy. PAIRINGS : Roast chicken with thyme the herb on the nose bridges straight to the plate Seared duck breast enough fruit for the meat, enough lift for the fat Mushroom and barley risotto earth and savour catch the smoky edge