Pinot Meunier

What is it? Pinot Meunier (MUH-n’yay) is a close relative to Pinot Noir and was identified as such before the 16th century. Based on recent DNA “fingerprinting”, an early Pinot vine and a vine called “Gouais Blanc” are the parents of Pinot Meunier and other varieties, including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The name “Meunier” is a French word meaning “the miller”. This term is given to Pinot Meunier due to the distinctive, flour-dusted appearance on its leaves.

What is it like as a still wine? Pinot Meunier is traditionally used to make sparkling wine, however as a still wine it is lighter bodied and very elegant. Pinot Meunier is appreciated for its aromatics, fruitiness, soft tannins and spicy finish. Our Pinot Meunier is matured in neutral oak barrels allowing the true character of the variety to impress.

Follow this link to learn more about Pinot Meunier in the Forbes article "The Grape Divide" featuring Amalie Robert Estate.

2022

Montmorency Cherry Red. Cocoa, Five-spice, red raspberry and rose petals playfully entertain. Highly perfumed and light on the palate, Pinot Meunier provides a silky palate experience with subtle tannins yet firm acidity. Pairs well with rich cheeses and cured meats, desperately seeking Lardo di Colonnata. Hand harvested, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

2021

Casino Royale Red. Rose petals, ripe red raspberry and cinnamon aromas parlay into a jewel box of exquisite palate expressions flaunting the unadulterated elegance of Pinot Meunier. A lithe and fruit driven experience sealed with a welcoming kiss of bittersweet acidity. Hand harvested, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

2019

Jolly Rancher cherry red. Translucent transcends to scents of Christmas past, dark chocolate covered cherries, freshly grated cinnamon stick and a waft of allspice from a still cooling pumpkin pie. Elegant and lithe, playful on the palate with intention and discipline providing virtuous restraint. That’s as far as I go. And just as pretty as the day is long. Unfined, Unfiltered and Unrepentant.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Culinary Inclinations: Roasted steelhead steaks seasoned with savory, thyme, white pepper, smoked paprika and a dusting of ground ginger alongside steamed artichoke hearts with fresh dill aioli and herbed red potatoes sautéed in duck fat. And then, a little chèvre with raspberry preserves.

2018

Translucent Crystalline Red. Sun warmed raspberries join fragrant rose petals in an audaciously bodacious manner. Sweet meets tart, unpretentious endures unrelenting and texture teases tannin as the juxtaposition seemingly never ends. And just like last year, this is the best Pinot Meunier we have ever had the privilege to grow, ferment and bottle.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

2017

Exhilarating Red. Nostrils flare and your senses are immediately set upon by an exceedingly enthralling and lively bouquet of fresh summertime raspberries and pungent rose petals. The palate is drenched in wild raspberry and spice while a firm undertone of tannin and acidity culminate in a resounding crescendo of emphatic textures and flavors. Pretty wine? Just as pretty as the day is long! Unfined and unfiltered.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

2016

Blushing ruby red. Elegant and delineated aromas festively waft tart red Montmorency cherry, Oregon strawberry preserves and baking spice adorned by cocoa dusted almonds. Easy going and playful on the initial embrace, but the mid-palate reveals a strengthening tenacity as the third grape of Champagne delivers crisp acidity and textured tannins. Lithe and elegant, savory and sweet – quite the little tart, indeed. Unfined and unfiltered.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Deep, shimmering red. Fresh red berries, cherry, candied flowers and succulent herbs on the spice-accented nose. Nicely concentrated yet energetic as well, offering spice-laced black raspberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that pick up a smoky mineral nuance on the back half. Displays a suave blend of depth and delicacy and finishes with sharp definition, harmonious tannins and lingering spiciness. All de-stemmed fruit and eight months of aging in neutral French oak barrels.

- Josh Raynolds, Vinous, September 2020 – 92 points

2015

Chagall stained glass red. Aromas of fresh, ripe Oregon strawberries, crystallized red rose petals, purple wildflowers and cocoa dusted almonds enchant. An elegant and refined palate experience evokes sweet-tart red fruits providing the delicate veil for a firm and engaging finish, aka the velvet glove. Lithe and elegant, savory and sweet – quite the little tart, indeed.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Brilliant red. Spice- and herb-tinged cherry and red currant scents, slowly joined by subtle woodsmoke and cola notes. Chewy and focused on entry, offering bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that flesh out and become sweeter with air. Nicely concentrated but lively as well, showing strong closing thrust, dusty tannins and a lingering cherry note.

- Josh Raynolds, Vinous, February 2018 – 91 points

- Wine & Spirits Magazine, October 2017 – 90 points

2014

Delish red. Sweet aromas of ripe Montmorency cherries, red currants and bittersweet chocolate entice the palate into a rosy red fruit mélange intertwined with savory bits and restraining acidity that linger effortlessly. This wine is as elegant as the day is long.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

​Brilliant red. Bright mineral- and spice-accented cherry pit and raspberry scents develop subtle earth and rose pastille notes as the wine opens up. Juicy and focused on the palate offering bitter cherry and raspberry flavors that slowly tighten up and become deeper on the back half. Delivers a solid punch of flavors but comes off vibrant displaying no excess fat supple tannins and emphatic finishing spiciness.

- Josh Raynolds, Vinous, January 2017 – 92 points

2013

Raspberry red shimmers as your senses are heightened by aromas of cherry and raspberry cobbler, lavender in bloom, graham, cinnamon and a hint of caramelized brown sugar. The scintillating mid-palate is a precise tussle between purity of flavor and the velvet glove of integrated acidity. This transcendent experience evolves into a crisp and lingering finish with echoing vibrancy.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Deep red. Aromas of dried cherry, redcurrant and rhubarb, with a mineral element adding vivacity. Bitter cherry and anise flavors are enlivened by juicy acidity, picking up a smoky nuance on the back half. This lively, focused wine finishes with very good cut and smooth, late-arriving tannins.

- Josh Raynolds, Vinous, October 2015 – 91 points

Raspberry red shimmers as your senses are heightened by aromas of cherry and raspberry cobbler, lavender in bloom, graham, cinnamon and a hint of caramelized brown sugar. The scintillating mid-palate is a precise tussle between purity of flavor and the velvet glove of integrated acidity. This transcendent experience evolves into a crisp and lingering finish with echoing vibrancy.

- Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast, June 2015 – 90 points​

2012

Garnet meets cranberry and everybody gets happy. The initial aromas take you back to the first time you smelled a fresh cherry cobbler, accented by graham crackers and cocoa dusted almonds. The flavors and textures are ripe red fruits leading to a mid-palate sweetness reminiscent of an adolescent crush where everything was right with the world. The sweetness turns to a fading memory as the tannins and acids combine to form an enduring finish. “We’ll always have Paris…” Unfined and unfiltered. 50 cases produced.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Vivid red. Musky red berries and cherry on the fragrant nose, with subtle herbal and floral qualities adding complexity. Chewy bitter cherry and licorice flavors become sweeter with air while picking up a peppery nuance. Closes with very good energy, grip and length, leaving a note of white pepper behind. Shows good delineation for the vintage, with no excess fat.

- Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2014 – 90 points

2011

Translucent garnet in the glass presents fresh strawberry and raspberry aromas supported by Turkish Bay leaf and freshly tilled soil. Sweet flavors of ripe red raspberries and red currants transition to the tingling acidity of tart red Montmorency cherries. Tannins and acidity unite to provide a seamless and endearing finish. Unfined and unfiltered. 81 cases produced.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Drews and Pink’s 2011 Pinot Meunier delivers a varietally typical account that will as a result taste highly unusual to most wine lovers who seldom encounter Meunier pure. Marine breeze alkalinity and salinity, celery seed, and marjoram in the nose go on to accent a juicy, bright palate featuring the fruit of fresh, tart-edged red berries. Salinity and herbal pungency lend saliva inducement and invigoration to a buoyant and sustained finish. One way to envision this wine is to imagine a blend of relatively delicate Pinot Noir with barely ripe Gewurztraminer. It should prove versatile through at least 2015, though that hypothesis is not informed by any experience with older Amalie Robert Meunier, a deficiency I hope I’ll be able to redress.

- David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate, October 2013 – 90 points

2010

Garnet red. Aromas of red rose petals and fresh raspberries linger over five spice and graham. Refined and suave on the palate with a velvety mid-palate expression. Bright red fruits reveal the character of the vintage and transition to a lengthy and echoing finish. What an intriguing little wine we have here. Unfined and unfiltered. 99 cases produced.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

From an exposed and hardscrabble portion of their vineyard designed to administer tough love, and racked from barrel after 11-12 months (as opposed to the 18 months in barrel accorded their Pinot Noirs), Drews and Pink’s 2010 Pinot Meunier uncannily mingles exuberantly juicy tart cherry and red raspberry with rose hip, almond, and a pronounced, mouthwateringly savory sensation of salted veal and mushroom stock. I found it almost impossible to resist the next sip of this distinctively delicious as well as intriguing libation, and am sure it will prove impressively versatile at table over at least the next 2-3 years.

- David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate, August 2012 – 91 points

2008

Ruby red in the glass extends an invitation. The aromas are deep and rich with ripe blackberries, spice, tilled earth and lemon zest. The palate is broad with succulent red fruits, quince and nutmeg. The finish lingers and provides acidity that is typical of this variety. Unfined and unfiltered. 70 cases produced.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Light, bright red. Delicate aromas of redcurrant and strawberry, with a suave floral quality in the background. Zesty red fruit flavors are complemented by notes of blood orange, white pepper and subtle herbs. Finishes brisk and refreshing, leaving tangy berry skin notes behind. I like this wine's light touch.

- Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010 – 90 points

2006

We find this garnet colored Pinot Meunier to open with very delicate aromas of strawberries, maraschino cherries, cocoa dusted almonds and cinnamon. The palate begins with Montmorency cherry, moves through freshly crushed black raspberries, soothes with soft tannins that help set up the crisp, lingering sensation of five spice. We recommend the same stemware you would use for Pinot Noir. Unfined and unfiltered; 97 cases produced.

- Amalie Robert Estate Tasting Notes

Bright red. Spicy cherry on the nose, with deeper cocoa and black tea notes adding an element of seriousness. Red berry and bitter cherry flavors are complicated by brown spice and succulent herb qualities and given structure by gentle tannins. Finishes with good spicy lift and sweet persistence. More structured than the pinot noir; in fact, this benefited from decanting.

- Josh Raynolds​, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009 – 90 points

Email: Cuvee@amalierobert.com