About this wine
Kisvin Pinot Noir is Kisvin Winery's flagship red, first released in 2015 from 100% Pinot Noir grown in the Takemori district of Enzan, Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Made in extremely limited quantities (retailers often cap purchases at one bottle per customer), the grapes are fermented in resin tanks and aged roughly 17 months in French oak. The wine gained worldwide attention after Master of Wine and former World's Best Sommelier Gerard Basset praised the 2015 vintage on social media, calling it the Pinot Noir the world had been waiting for, and it has since become one of the most sought-after and quickly sold-out cuvees in Japanese wine. It shows a translucent ruby color with vivid strawberry, American cherry and plum aromas layered with violet, rose, cinnamon and caramel notes, a soft palate with well-integrated acidity and silky tannins, and a refined, elegant finish that rivals Old World Burgundy in style.
An elegant, Burgundy-style red that shows just how refined Japanese Pinot Noir can be.
Sommelier's Note
"The Pinot Noir that put Japanese red wine on the world map, praised by the late Master of Wine Gerard Basset himself, and one of the hardest Japanese wines to get your hands on."
Food Pairings
Pairs well with roast duck, mushroom dishes (matsutake, shiitake), grilled white-fleshed poultry, and umami-rich preparations; also complements Japanese dishes such as dashi-simmered stews, tare-glazed yakitori, and seared tuna or amberjack teriyaki.
When to drink it
Special dinners, celebrations, and gifts for serious wine collectors.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Pinot Noir
- Style
- Red
- Alcohol
- 12.5
- Price Range
- ¥15,000-18,000
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Pinot Noir hand-harvested from Kisvin's estate vineyard in the Takemori district of Enzan, Koshu City. Fermented in resin (FRP) tanks with minimal intervention, then aged approximately 17 months in French oak barrels before bottling. Production is extremely limited, with many vintages selling out immediately and retailers capping purchases to one bottle per customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Kisvin Pinot Noir taste like?
- It shows vivid strawberry, American cherry, and plum fruit layered with violet, rose, cinnamon and caramel notes, with soft, well-balanced acidity and silky tannins reminiscent of red Burgundy.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Roast duck, mushroom dishes like matsutake, and umami-rich Japanese fare such as simmered dishes and teriyaki-glazed tuna or amberjack.
- Why is Kisvin Pinot Noir so hard to find?
- Production is extremely small and each vintage tends to sell out immediately; some retailers limit purchases to one bottle per customer.
- Is Kisvin Pinot Noir aged in oak?
- Yes, it is fermented in resin tanks and then aged for roughly 17 months in French oak barrels before bottling.
- When was Kisvin Pinot Noir first released?
- The first vintage was 2015, which drew international attention after Master of Wine Gerard Basset praised it.
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キスヴィン 甲州
Kisvin Koshu
WhiteKoshu
Kisvin Koshu is the flagship white wine of Kisvin Winery in Enzan, Yamanashi, made from 100% Koshu grapes grown using the winery's signature 'Emerald Koshu' method: each bunch is individually hand-covered with a custom-designed umbrella to shield it from direct sunlight and rain. This keeps the grape skins green rather than the purple hue Koshu normally develops in the sun, reducing the astringency and bitterness typical of standard Koshu wines while allowing sugars to ripen fully. The result is a crisp, light-bodied dry white with aromas of white peach, citrus (grapefruit, yuzu), white flowers and a flinty mineral edge, balanced by moderate acidity and a savory, umami-tinged finish from lees contact. Kisvin Koshu was selected for ANA's international First Class service in 2019, one of the clearest signs of its standing among Japan's finest Koshu wines.
キスヴィン シャルドネ
Kisvin Chardonnay
WhiteChardonnay
Kisvin Chardonnay is the winery's standard-tier, 100% Chardonnay bottling from the Enzan district of Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, fermented mainly in stainless steel with a barrel-fermented portion and aged around ten months combining French oak maturation and bottle aging, with regular batonnage. The wine shows a pale gold color with aromas of peach, nectarine, honeysuckle, lime and verbena layered with toast, hazelnut and chamomile-tea notes from the oak. On the palate it is ripe yet bright, with a creamy texture, an umami-driven grip, a touch of honeyed sweetness and a long lemon-custard finish carrying a saline edge. Since Master of Wine Gerard Basset publicly praised the wine in 2017, it has become one of the most internationally recognized expressions of Japanese Chardonnay.
キスヴィン ルビー
Kisvin Rubis
RedPinot Noir · Syrah
Kisvin Rubis is a Pinot Noir and Syrah blend from Kisvin Winery's estate in the Enzan district of Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The exact blend ratio shifts vintage to vintage (roughly 70-77% Pinot Noir with Syrah filling out the balance), but the winemaking approach stays consistent: primary fermentation in stainless steel tanks, full malolactic fermentation, then around 20 months of barrel aging that softens the tannins and knits the two varieties together. The wine shows a bright ruby color — the cuvée's name and concept both point to 'a brilliant red jewel on the table' — with aromas of ripe plum, raspberry, rose petal and sweet oak spice, a juicy, medium-bodied palate, and fine-grained tannins with a long, spice-tinged finish.