Raise a glass It’s a red letter day for pinot lovers

Pinotphiles will be raising a glass on Thursday to celebrate National Pinot Noir Day. For these red wine lovers, nothing comes close to the elegant flavours of summer fruits you’ll find in a young pinot, or the darker red berries and earthy savoury notes in a more mature style.

One to try is Fixin Michel Magnien 2013, Burgundy (£23.99, waitrosecellar.com). This plush pinot has beautiful depth and structure, with powerful floral aromas and a generous, silky texture with vegetal notes, ripe tannins and a seriously long finish.

Another cracker is Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand (£27.95, winedirect.co.uk). Its latest vintage, 2014 has been described by the winemaker as its best pinot noir to date and its seductive nose of rose petals and sweet ripe fruits, with bright red cherries, plush plums and darker fruits set against a backdrop of spicy oak and herbs with ripe, silky tannins, all perfectly complement each other. Perfect with simply roasted grouse.

Dalrymple Pinot Noir 2013, Pipers River, Tasmania (£28, Oddbins) is immensely enjoyable, the fruit beautifully defined with a bouquet of black plums and raspberry that leads to sweet, opulent fruits with accents of oak, spice and finely structured tannins on the suave finish.

If you want a less expensive wine, try Extra Special Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Australia (£7.98, Asda), a delightful pinot produced for the supermarket by reputable producer De Bortoli.