World-Renowned Wine Critic Circling
Unveils First Pinot Noir Wine Brewed Personally
Korean Wife's Influence Leads to Naming 'Mirae Vineyard' in Korean
New Zealand Less Affected by Climate Change
"A New Leading Region for Pinot Noir"
"Recently, New Zealand's Pinot Noir has maintained such a fresh condition that it reminds one of Burgundy in France during the 1980s, making us look forward to its future even more."
World-renowned wine critic James Suckling recently unveiled his wine 'Mirae' for the first time in the world at Lotte Department Store Avenue L Jamsil in Songpa-gu, Seoul. This wine is the first he has produced himself after 40 years of wine criticism.
Wine critic James Suckling unveiled his wine "Mirae," which he produced, for the first time in the world in Korea on the 28th at Lotte Department Store Avenue L Jamsil in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
Born in the United States in 1958, James Suckling is a key figure behind the growth of the global wine magazine Wine Spectator. As the senior editor, he tasted and evaluated approximately 250,000 wines, earning recognition for his expertise and credibility from the public. In 2010, he left Wine Spectator and continued his wine criticism through a website bearing his name. The business magazine Forbes named him "the most influential wine critic in the world." In Korea, he is affectionately known among enthusiasts as "Jaeseok hyung," maintaining high recognition and influence.
The wine Suckling introduced this time is the 'Mirae Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 Vintage,' produced in Martinborough, Wairarapa region of New Zealand. The name "Mirae" was inspired by his Korean wife, Mari Kim Suckling, and is Korean for "future." The label design was created by calligrapher Kang Byung-in, famous for the lettering on the soju brand "Chamisul." Suckling chose New Zealand as the location for his first wine production because he believes the future of Pinot Noir lies there. While many wine regions are struggling due to climate change, New Zealand maintains a cool climate and is relatively free from the effects of high temperatures.
He explained, "Even in Burgundy, the birthplace of Pinot Noir, rising temperatures have increased the alcohol content of Pinot Noir to levels similar to Syrah wines, and vintages from 2019, 2020, and 2022 show much darker colors than before." He added, "This is a significant change compared to the 1980s when most Pinot Noir wines in France were around 12.5% alcohol." He emphasized, "On the other hand, tasting various recent New Zealand Pinot Noirs reveals the freshness that Burgundy Pinot Noir used to offer, naturally leading me to believe that the future lies here."
New Zealand is a relatively young wine-producing country that began commercial winemaking in earnest in the 1970s. The average age of grapevines is relatively young, around 10 to 15 years. Although its production volume accounts for only about 1% of the global wine production, limiting its market influence, over 96% of wineries operate under the "Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand" program by the New Zealand Winegrowers Association, representing the country's quality-oriented approach and gaining attention for eco-friendly cultivation and winemaking.
Martinborough, where Mirae Vineyard is located, is about 75 km east of the capital Wellington and is considered to have a climate and soil similar to Burgundy. It is known as one of New Zealand's top Pinot Noir regions due to its well-ventilated conditions and poor, well-drained soils such as gravelly terrain.
Suckling explained, "The first grapevines were planted in Mirae Vineyard in 1988, and the 2023 vintage is the first vintage I produced myself after purchasing the vineyard in 2022." He noted that 2023 saw heavy rainfall, making grape cultivation challenging, so they harvested carefully selected high-quality clusters earlier than usual. Regarding the winemaking process, he said, "The fermentation period was short, and no new oak was used at all." He added, "After seven months of barrel aging, the wine was bottled somewhat earlier, resulting in a wine that is not heavy but delicate." In fact, Mirae's alcohol content is 12%, making it refreshing and easy to enjoy.
Suckling said, "Growing the vines and participating in the winemaking process deepened my understanding of wine more than before," which he considers another gain from producing this wine as a critic. He mentioned, "The 2023 vintage was produced in a small quantity of about 1,800 bottles, but next year it will increase to 3,000 bottles, and we plan to expand to other varieties such as Chardonnay in the future." He asked, "Please watch over the future of Mirae Vineyard's future."
Wine critic James Suckling revealed and explained his wine "Mirae" for the first time in the world in Korea on the 28th at Lotte Department Store Avenue L Jamsil in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
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