First things first: chapeau to @wine.sake.suzuki, for the dedication and vision to bring this bottle to German...

First things first: chapeau to @wine.sake.suzuki, for the dedication and vision to bring this bottle to Germany. I remember asking for Takahiko a few years ago, so it’s a joy to finally see the wines here! And thanks to @leprewinebardusseldorf for serving it in perfect condition. This wine from Takahiko isn’t 100% Pinot, there’s a tiny bit of Zweigelt... It opens very reduced and slightly fizzy at first, showing that “just‑bottled” youthfulness. Since the fruit is so restrained, I don’t quite understand the Burgundy comparison. The Pinot character is recognizable, but beyond that it feels difficult to draw direct associations. So I took the bottle home to study it on its second day. It has a very different mineral edge. Very lean, savory, with a touch of volatile lift. On day two, it opened onto fresh strawberries and crushed cherries. We had great fun pairing it with umami‑rich dishes and acid-driven fermented food, something I usually don’t enjoy as much. Yet this bottle, even though it’s a very light‑bodied Pinot, can play beautifully with so many savory foods. Once again, it tastes like no other Pinot I know. Which makes the usual questions “Is it worth it?” and “Is it worth the hype?” - honestly impossible to answer. This wasn’t the deepest or most complex red I’ve ever tried and that wasn’t the point of opening this bottle either. If you look into his wines, or rather his approach to vineyard management, the story is far more unique than just “a Pinot from Hokkaido”, what makes these bottles so sought after. Cheers! #winediary #pinotlover #takahiko #rarewines