Pierre & Antonin Pinot Noir is a light, vibrant expression of Pinot from the warmer south of France, showing how beautifully the grape can work when freshness rather than extraction is the priority. Grown around Carcassonne in the western Languedoc, it bursts with juicy strawberry, raspberry and red cherry, followed by delicate flowers, dried herbs and a subtle earthy, forest-floor character. An eight-day maceration gives enough time to build colour, flavour and gentle structure without pushing the wine towards heaviness. The palate remains silky and supple, with fine tannins and lively acidity carrying all that bright red fruit into a fresh, softly savoury finish. It is an immediately appealing style of Pinot Noir: less earthy and structured than many Burgundian examples, but far lighter and more energetic than you might expect from southern France. Serve it just below room temperature and its perfume really comes alive – an easy-going, low-intervention red that works equally well with a relaxed dinner, charcuterie or simply a glass on its own.
Pierre & Antonin Pinot Noir, Producer
Pierre & Antonin was created by Pierre Caizergues and Antonin Bonnet, two friends from winegrowing families in southern France. Pierre comes from Malepère and Antonin from the Larzac area, but the pair actually met in New York on 4 July 2010. Their conversations about the Mediterranean, wine and the future of southern French viticulture eventually developed into a project centred on approachable, lively wines made with a strong environmental conscience.
Their philosophy puts freshness and drinkability ahead of excessive extraction or winemaking intervention. Pierre & Antonin have also become particularly known for their work with disease-resistant grape varieties and for environmentally conscious packaging, including exceptionally lightweight bottles, local Roussillon cork and recycled-fibre labels. Pinot Noir sits within their more traditional varietal wines, but shares the same emphasis on bright fruit, gentle handling and accessibility.
Pierre & Antonin Pinot Noir, Terroir & Winemaking
The Pinot Noir comes from the IGP Cité de Carcassonne in the western Languedoc, close to the foothills leading towards the Pyrenees. This is a relatively elevated part of southern France, giving Pinot Noir the benefit of plentiful sunshine while cooler conditions help retain the freshness essential to the variety. Earlier technical information for the cuvée describes the fruit as coming from altitude and confirms 100% Pinot Noir.
The wine undergoes approximately eight days of maceration. This relatively short extraction is well suited to the style Pierre & Antonin are aiming for: enough skin contact to provide colour, flavour and silky tannins, but not enough to turn delicate Pinot Noir into a dense or heavily structured red.
The result is intentionally fresh and fruit-led, with strawberry, cherry and floral aromas supported by subtle herbal and earthy complexity. The sources available for this wine do not clearly specify its maturation vessel or length of ageing, so I would leave those details unspecified rather than assume stainless steel or oak.
Pierre & Antonin Pinot Noir, Tasting Notes
Bright ruby in colour with a fragrant, immediately appealing nose. Strawberry, raspberry and juicy red cherry lead the aromas, followed by subtle floral notes and a touch of dried herbs. With a little air, a gentle earthy, forest-floor quality develops beneath the fruit.
The palate is light to medium-bodied and wonderfully supple. Fresh red berries are carried by lively acidity, while soft, fine-grained tannins give just enough structure without interfering with the wine’s easy-going character.
Red cherry and raspberry linger into the finish alongside gentle spice, herbs and a subtle earthy note. Everything feels clean, bright and uncomplicated in the best possible way – Pinot Noir built around drinkability rather than power.
Pierre & Antonin Pinot Noir, Food pairing suggestion: Miso-Glazed Aubergine with Sesame Mushrooms and Ginger Rice.
Did you know?
Cité de Carcassonne is an IGP surrounding the spectacular medieval fortified city of Carcassonne in the Aude department of southern France. The area sits at a meeting point between Mediterranean and more Atlantic influences, with higher sites towards the foothills providing useful freshness for varieties such as Pinot Noir.
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