When you think of the finest Pinot Noir, Burgundy is usually the first place that comes to mind. But there are lots of other regions making exciting Pinot these days. For the upcoming Pinot Noir Day on Aug 18 (this Sun!), why not explore some superb Pinot Noir styles from Germany, New Zealand, and Canada? Tasting these alongside the more well-known Burgundian examples can be a total eye-opener, helping you find your new personal favorite.💖

Let's start with our German selections🇩🇪. First in our collection is the "Spatburgunder Alte Reben Trocken 2015" from Jean Stodden, one of the nation's foremost Pinot Noir artisan producers. Hailing from the Ahr region, this full-bodied, ripe and fruity wine displays an excellent structural framework and would greatly benefit from a few years of judicious cellaring.

Shifting attention to Baden, we have the Ziereisen Jaspis Spätburgunder Alte Reben 2013. This is a rare one as only 3 barrels of this were made. Crafted from 48-year-old vines planted upon pure limestone soils, this wine is remarkably juicy, fresh, and profoundly complex. The firm, ripe tannins and full-bodied profile suggest this Pinot possesses superb aging potential, with the dark fruit flavors beautifully complemented by subtle hints of smoke and ginger.

Rounding out the German selection is the Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Spätburgunder 3 Star Fass no.1 2014 from Mosel. The 3-star classification denotes the highest quality in Markus Molitor's tier system, and this spellbinding vintage with a RP97 rating doesn't disappoint. Nestled within the steep, south-facing slopes of the Graacher Himmelreich vineyard, this Pinot Noir exhibits an elegance and intensity that is simply spellbinding. The 2014 vintage, with its excellent fruit maturity, helps to balance the naturally high acidity, resulting in a wine of tremendous finesse and silky texture.

Crossing the oceans, we have selected the Folium Vineyard Pinot Noirs from New Zealand's Marlborough region 🇳🇿. Crafted by Japanese-born winemaker Takaki Okada, these wines exhibit a distinctly European sensibility, with a subtlety that complements rather than overpowers food. They have a great following in Japan and other parts of Asia, and the Folium Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 2015 was featured as a great match for Peking Duck in the popular Japanese manga series The Drops of God (神之水滴). Unlike many Marlborough wineries, Okada dry-farms his organically-grown vineyards, resulting in wines of greater intensity and complexity. The 2018 pinot is more floral, the 2019 has more spice notes, and the 2014 exhibits elegant mineral and earthy characteristics.

Last but not least, the Pinot Noirs from Tawse Winery in Ontario, Canada🇨🇦, demonstrate a masterful ability to capture the unique terroir of the Niagara Escarpment. This multiple-time Canadian Winery of the Year recipient produces a range of Pinot styles - from the racy, taut expressions favoring sweet, ripe fruit in the Vinemount Ridge appellation, to the silkier, more elegant Pinots with smooth texture and refined tannins from the 'Twenty Mile Bench' area closer to Lake Ontario.

Get set for a multi-continental Pinot party together!🌎

ENJOY SPECIAL PRICES ON SELECTED ITEMS (UP TO 15% OFF!)

Promotion period: until Aug 28, 2024

1/ Jean Stodden Spatburgunder Alte Reben Trocken 2015 - Bt | JR17
HK$1480 ▷ HK$1300

Light ruby that’s already browning with a pale rim. I’m torn between taking this distinctive nose for the forest floor aromas that can sometimes be associated with Pinot Noir, and less-than-pristine wood. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt because there is very fresh, attractive fruit on the palate. This is an extremely hedonistic wine that’s already delivering pleasure. A hint of mushrooms and nice balance. Refreshing as well as fruity with a little fine tannin on the end.

-17, Jancis Robinson, Jancisrobinson.com, September 2017

2/ Ziereisen Jaspis Spatburgunder Alte Reben 2013 - Bt | RP92
HK$900 ▷ HK$790

From 48-year-old vines, Ziereisen's 2013 Spätburgunder Jaspis Alte Reben has a dark and intense ruby color and opens with a deep, perfectly ripe and toasty bouquet of dark berries (cassis, black berries) and cherries along with mocha and floral flavors. Full-bodied, silky, fresh and elegant on the palate, with fine and spicy tannins and persistent oak and nougat flavors, this is a well-balanced and nicely bitter Pinot from the Markgräflerland in southern Baden, near the border with (Basel) Switzerland. It already drinks very well but can be aged for another 7-10 years. Tasted in May 2018.

-92, Stephan Reinhardt, 239, The Wine Advocate, November 2018

3/ Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Spatburgunder 3 Star Fass no.1 2014 - Bt | RP97
HK$1800 ▷ HK$1580

The 2014 Pinot Noir Graacher Himmelreich *** opens with a deep, concentrated, very aromatic yet fine and superbly balanced bouquet of perfectly ripe, sweet forest berries and dark cherries intermixed with noble toast, very fine crunchy/flinty slate and wild herbal notes including coriander and potted ginger. There is a tiny touch of potted plums and fat nougat here as well, so the three-starred Himmelreich is perhaps the least reductive of Molitor's outstanding 2014 Pinot Noir series. (Molitor says the Graacher had a high pH of 0.1 or 0.15 compared the the Trarbacher.) However, this is so generous and elegant on the nose, where everything is just as it should be—a beauty filled in bottles. Full-bodied, refined and voluptuous on the palate, with perfectly ripe fruit and a tender, highly finessed and silky character, this is a dense, intense and incredibly juicy Pinot Noir with great intensity, very tine tannins and a seductive texture. The finish is long, concentrated, intensely aromatic and endlessly juicy, with hints of ripe blackberries, but at the same time, it is still pure, fresh and fine, with exciting tension thanks to the vibrating mineral structure and expression. Although I love the more transparent, silky/filigreed and delicate style of the Trarbacher Schlossberg at least as much, the Himmelreich delivers more flesh and fruit to the palate. The extraordinary number of 2,400 bottles (more than ever before) were filled in August 2017. I tasted the wine three times in March 2018, and I am still in love.

-97, Stephan Reinhardt, Interim End of March 2018, The Wine Advocate, March 2018

4/ Folium Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 - Bt | JS92
HK$250 ▷ HK$212

This has such terrific refinement and purity. The nose is quite floral with elegant red cherries and strawberries, as well as red flowers and gently sappy grass and light dried, woody notes. The palate is beautifully cut with fine, focused and vibrant tannin, carrying fresh, red-cherry flavor. Drink now. Screw cap.

-92, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, October 2019

5/ Folium Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 - Bt | JS93
HK$250 ▷ HK$212

A pristine, fresh and gently complex nose with blueberries, red cherries, orange zest, fresh herbs and a light spicy edge, too. The palate has a very attractively structured feel with tannins cradling fresh red-cherry and spiced red-plum flavors. Juicy and silky at the finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

-93, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, November 2021

6/ Folium Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 2014 - Bt | RP91
HK$460 ▷ HK$390

Featured in the 16th issue of the sequel to the immensely popular Japanese manga series about wine, The Drops of God (神之水滴), the Folium Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 2015 is recommended to be a great match for the much loved Peking Duck dish. The extra year aged 2014 is a 2021 library release from the estate.

Tasting note

The 2014 Pinot Noir Reserve avoids any herbal, underripe notes, instead offering up dark cherry fruit framed by cedary oak. Despite the physiological ripeness, there's no excessive alcohol or heat, and this medium-bodied wine weighs in at a modest 13.5% alcohol. It's silky in texture, with soft tannins that fan out across a long finish.

-91, Joe Czerwinski, 235, The Wine Advocate, March 2018

7/ Folium Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 2019 - Bt | JS94
HK$330 ▷ HK$280

Cherries, redcurrants, wild strawberries, dried flowers and clay on the nose. Medium-bodied and fresh with juicy character. Mineral, fruity and silky. Vibrant finish with excellent length. Energetic! Drink now.

-94, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, November 2021

8/ Tawse Cherry Avenue Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench VQA 2019 - Bt | Jamie Goode 94
HK$420 ▷ HK$378

12.5% alcohol. A blend of David’s Block and Robyn’s Block. Whole berry ferment, and this was the first year with the optical sorter (this was through Vineland’s, the year before they got theirs). Sweetly aromatic, this has red cherries and spice on the nose, and follows through to a structured palate with nice firm, grippy tannins. There’s a grainy, savoury quality with some iodine and blood. This is so detailed and expressive, finishing dry and taut. This is almost Nebbiolo like in its quality.

-94, Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com

9/ Tawse Quarry Road Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge VQA 2017 - Bt | Decanter89
HK$280 ▷ HK$252

Purchased in 2005, Quarry Road is Tawse’s second vineyard. Pinot Noir was planted in 2007 with a diverse mix of Dijon clones. Dark cherry aromas are infused with a smoky, sweet spice element from partial ageing in new barriques. Taut and linear on the palate, where crunchy fruit is accented by clove. Soft, fine-boned tannins firm up on the finish.

-89, Michaela Morris, Decanter, November 2020

10/ Tawse Quarry Road Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge VQA 2018 - Bt
HK$265 ▷ HK$238

The 10th vintage from the Quarry Road Vineyard, this Pinot Noir spent 12 months in French oak barrels; 30% of which were new. An aromatic wine with notes of red currant, cherry cola, Bing cherry, anise and graphite. The palate is medium bodied with cherry, raspberry, black licorice and toast. This is certainly a wine that will benefit with decanting in its youth but will be a great addition to anyone’s cellar to enjoy once matured.

11/ Tawse Quarry Road Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge VQA 2020 - Bt
HK$305 ▷ HK$275

2020 is being hailed as the “Vintage of the Century” due to the near perfect weather. Warmer than average temperatures and minimal rain resulted in favourable conditions for ripening and flavour concentration in the grapes.

The 2020 Quarry Road displays notes of cherry, minerality, hints of earthiness and graphite. The palate displays tart cherry, blackberry and eucalyptus with bold tannins. Ageing this wine for one to 2 years to allow for flavour maturation is recommended.

12/ Tawse Tintern Road Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge VQA 2017 - Bt
HK$340 ▷ HK$306

This is only the 3rd vintage from the Tintern Vineyard. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels; 30% of which were new. An aromatic wine with notes of field berries and cassia, layered with cigar box. The palate is pronounced with bold, yet well-integrated tannins with minerality, red fruits and toast. This is certainly a wine that will benefit with decanting in its youth but will be a great addition to anyone’s cellar to enjoy once matured.

13/ Tawse Tintern Road Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge VQA 2019 - Bt
HK$360 ▷ HK$324

Tintern is Tawse's youngest estate vineyard, purchased in 2008 as a never planted property . The 2019 Tintern Road Pinot Noir is an expressive, structured wine. It displays an aromatic profile of dark berries, cherries, and cigar, with bold yet approachable tannins framing the palate of minerality, red fruits, and toast. The finish is smooth and pleasant. This Pinot Noir will benefit from decanting in its youth but also has the potential to reward cellaring.

Promotion period: until Aug 28, 2024

In stock now, and offered subject to final confirmation and remaining unsold. E. & O. E.

HK Local delivery is free for purchases at or over HK$1,500 on wines and Jancis Robinson Wine Glasses. Otherwise there is a HK$100 charge for orders below HK$1,500. A surcharge will be added to orders delivering to Discovery Bay, Ma Wan and Airport.