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The Pinot Noir Masterclass course icon

The Pinot Noir Masterclass

Like Duolingo, but for The Pinot Noir Masterclass. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.

For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.

88 bite-size levelsAbout 5 minutes each

Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android

Pierre the Pinot
The Pinot Noir Masterclass
with Pierre the Pinot
88
Levels
5
Sections
5
Min/day
What you'll learn

Key ideas in The Pinot Noir Masterclass

  • Higher temperatures increase the evaporation rate of ethanol
  • Fruit esters are most expressive at cooler 'cellar' temperatures
  • Excessive ethanol vapor masks delicate floral and fruit aromatics
  • Secondary earthy aromas require slightly more thermal energy to volatilize
  • Why high-alcohol Pinot Noir tastes 'hot' at room temperature
  • How temperature ranges influence specific aromatic profiles
  • Thermal energy increases the kinetic energy of molecules
  • Slightly warmer temperatures (60°F+) soften the perception of sharp acidity
  • Volatile phenols escape the liquid surface as they reach their boiling/evaporation points
  • The physical relationship between temperature and aromatic release
  • Colder temperatures emphasize structural acidity and tannins
  • Using temperature to highlight acidity in cool-climate wines
  • 68°F is the general threshold where alcohol begins to dominate the profile
  • Delicate phenols lose their distinctiveness when evaporation is too rapid
  • Over-chilling suppresses fruit flavors
  • Suppressed fruit makes the wine's acid structure feel out of balance
Why not just Google it

You've tried the other tabs

Wikipedia

Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.

YouTube

You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.

ChatGPT

One answer, then back to scrolling.

Online courses

Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.

Tomo gives The Pinot Noir Masterclass the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.

Try a question

Here's what playing it feels like

A real question from this course. Take your best guess.

The Science of the Pour

At what temperature range are a wine's bright fruit esters typically most expressive?

Get it right to open this lesson and 87 more in the app.

Course map

Where The Pinot Noir Masterclass takes you

Master the nuances of the 'heartbreak grape' and refine your palate for world-class reds. From decoding terroir-driven aromatics to managing a professional cellar, this course transforms enthusiasts into connoisseurs.

  1. 1

    The Perfect Pour and Immediate Service

    • Optimizing Temperature for Volatile Phenols
    • Aeration Strategies: Decanting vs. Slow-Ox
    • Stemware Physics: Bowl Shape and Ethanol Dissipation
    • Identifying Faults: TCA, Brettanomyces, and Volatile Acidity
  2. 2

    Decoding the Pinot Palate

    • Primary Aromas: From Red Fruit to Floral Tones
    • Secondary Characteristics: The Influence of Malolactic Fermentation
    • Tertiary Evolution: Forest Floor and Gamey Notes
    • The Structure of Tannins: Polymerization and Mouthfeel
    • Acidity Profiles: Tartaric vs. Malic Balance
    • Blind Tasting Methodology: The Grid System
  3. 3

    Navigating the Global Terroir

    • Côte d'Or: The Hierarchy of Crus
    • New World Expressions: Willamette Valley and Central Otago
    • Cool-Climate Extremes: Germany's Spätburgunder
  4. 4

    The Science of the Vineyard and Cellar

    • Clonal Selection: Pommard vs. Dijon Clones
    • Whole-Cluster Fermentation and Stem Inclusion
    • Oak Management: Toast Levels and Forest Origin
    • Soil Composition: Limestone, Marl, and Volcanic Basalt
    • The Impact of Diurnal Temperature Variation
  5. 5

    Curating and Investing in a Collection

    • Vintage Variation and Climate Change Impact
    • The Economics of En Primeur and Secondary Markets
    • Long-Term Cellaring: Humidity and Vibration Control
    • Advanced Food Pairing: Umami and Earthy Synergies

5 sections · 22 units · 88 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.

How it's taught

You pick the voice

This course
The Professor

The Pinot Noir Masterclass is taught in the The Professor style: clear, structured, thorough. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.

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