THERE are two important things to remember about pinot noir. Apart from making sure you buy a good one that is.

Firstly, it is a great idea to chill down your pinot, especially in the summer months, so put it in the fridge before serving. It certainly doesn’t need to be as low as the temperature at which you serve white and rosé wines but I would leave a bottle chilling for around an hour.

Secondly, pinot noir, perhaps more than any other red, opens out beautifully if it is given time to breathe. I like to decant the wine a good thirty minutes in advance. You don’t need a posh decanter, just pour the contents of the bottle into a simple glass jug; it does just the same job.

But before you take these measures, do make sure you select a good example. Here are three I enjoyed.

New to Majestic’s range is Domaine Ferrandière Pinot Noir 2013, Pays d’Oc. This is smooth, fresh and quite light bodied, southern French take on the grape, with the emphasis on red fruit flavours, think cherry and raspberry. You should also notice some spice, almost cinnamon like, and violet notes too. Pair this one with poultry, tuna or salmon.

Virgin Wines has The Intrepid Bear 'Brown Bear' Reserve Pinot Noir 2012, from the Lodi region of California. Silky textured with juicy flavours of cherry, raspberry and rosehip, it suggests clove, vanilla, coffee and spice, with toasty oak notes too. It would be great wine to serve with barbecued chicken.

Or splash out on something a bit special from Alsace, Rolly Gassmann Pinot Noir de Rodern 2011. This example has a little sweetness but it is dashed by a balancing acidity. Velvety smooth, it has concentrated flavours of strawberry, cherry and rosehip, with mineral notes and cinnamon spice. It will go well with mushroom dishes and game.
 

Domaine Ferrandière Pinot Noir 2013, Pays d’Oc, £8.49 each, when you buy two, at Majestic 17/20

The Intrepid Bear 'Brown Bear' Reserve Pinot Noir 2012, £11.99 from Virgin Wines 18/20

Rolly Gassmann Pinot Noir de Rodern 2011, Alsace, £24 from the Wine Society 18/20

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