Cave d'Occi Winery
Niigata, Niigata

Grapes: Pinot Noir
Type: Red
Style: Dry, medium-bodied
Colour: Pale ruby
Alcohol: 13%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: No 
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 13-16°C
Production: 1,152 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
A fragrant and layered Pinot Noir with aromas of raspberry and red berries intertwined with notes of Earl Grey tea, violet, forest floor, and leather. Alongside the fresh berry character, the palate also carries a subtle sweetness reminiscent of dried fruit. Smooth and gentle in texture, the wine is balanced by soft tannins and refreshing acidity. A touch of spice derived from the stems adds complexity, while savoury umami gradually unfolds across the palate. The wine opens elegantly with temperature, revealing further depth and nuance over time.

Food pairing
Smoked duck, grilled lotus root, figs with blue cheese, salad with nuts and herbs, roasted red onions, rare tuna katsu, seared mackerel, dengaku with sanshō miso, charcoal-grilled spring onions, grilled radicchio, mushroom galette, tapenade, shumai with Chinese five spice, Taiwanese sausage, bak kut teh, beef braised with star anise.

Winemaking
Flamingo Pinot Noir 2024 is part of Cave d’Occi’s “Doubutsu (= Animal) Series,” created by winemaker Mr. Kakegawa as a personal and experimental expression, aiming for a gentle, natural-style wine.

The grapes come from estate vineyards with vines over 20 years old in Niigata. The 2024 vintage experienced high rainfall in July, followed by favorable weather during the August harvest period.

After careful hand-harvesting, the grapes were cooled overnight and destemmed at around 13°C into fermentation tanks. Approximately half of the stems were returned to the tank, resulting in a partial whole-bunch fermentation. For the first three days, no fermentation was initiated, and the must was managed with remontage before adding pre-cultivated indigenous yeast.

Extraction during fermentation was kept minimal, with gentle hand pigeage once or less per day. The wine was pressed on the ninth day after harvest and then aged in neutral French oak barrels.

Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 77 kcal
Fat: 0 g
 - Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 1.0 g
 - Sugar: 1.0 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Salt: 0g