We’re really enamored with today’s wine and we offer it to you with our heartiest recommendation

When winemaker, Nori Nakamura offered us his perfect with sushi Pinot Noir, we were intrigued! A red wine… with sushi? We had to try this wine for ourselves. What we discovered is a Pinot Noir with a near universal pairing ability. Yes, it passes the sushi test with flying colors, but it also pairs with anything that we threw at it, from fowl to pork, to beef and even a pan of roasted root veggies with rosemary and pearl onions. This wine is a beautiful complement to most cuisines.

But don’t take our word for it! Get the facts straight from the winemaker in this video Nori produced especially for our Operatives:

This Pinot has a gorgeous crimson hue with a translucent clarity that spreads out to a slightly lighter color at the edge. Wow! This wine has a tremendously intriguing nose with an alluring bouquet of bergamot, oregano, blood orange, old leather, dusty bramble, and lavender. On the palate, the red fruit character comes to the fore, with flavors of rhubarb, strawberry fruit leather, and boysenberry. There’s also subtle notes of honeysuckle and cedar present in the background. The body is very well balanced and has more weight than a typical Pinot providing an ample substrate for the fruit to dance across the palate for a lasting and wonderful finish. This wine was designed specifically by winemaker Nori Nakamura to pair with sushi - take him at his word and try it with some classic maki.

Winemaker Nori Nakamura, a Japanese native, was first introduced to the world of fine wines when he was young - and working is his uncle’s Italian restaurant. In 1981, on a trip to Italy, Nori tasted a phenomenal 1981 Barbaresco. It was an experience that would change his life. Thus began his obsession with wine. He became a certified sommelier in Japan and then went on to hold winemaking positions at Koves-Newlan and Pine Ridge Vineyards before earning a degree in winemaking from the University of California at Davis. Before making his own wine, Nori held a winemaker posting at Artesa Vineyards & Winery.