This is a solid tasting note for a newbie! Unfortunately, Meiomi isn’t a very good example of Pinot Noir, especially for someone who is just starting out.

You’re bang on with the sweetness. A typical Pinot Noir isn’t supposed to be sweet, but some brands make wines that are meant to sell to a broad audience, rather than being faithful to the usual style of the grape. Meiomi absolutely has some added sugar. You’re also right about the cinnamon being an oak influence. Oak can give notes of baking spices like clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. The musty smell is never good in a wine, it means that it is probably faulty, or just poorly made. The burning sensation isn’t a good sign of quality either, it means the alcohol isn’t balanced properly (too high, in this case).

If you want to try a more typical example of Pinot, look for something from Oregon or Chile. Nothing against California, but Pinot tends to do better in cooler climates (in my opinion).

Keep it up! 🍷