Pisoni is deeply honored to have its 2014 Estate Pinot Noir showcased in Drops of God, the internationally celebrated manga series from Japan. This popular comic weaves wine criticism into a long-running story about the hunt for a fabled, perfect wine—mysteriously referred to as the “Drops of God.” The narrative contest that plays out in each issue is fictional, but all of the wines that appear in its pages are authentic. Under the guise of its fictional premise—a competition between a wine critic and his adopted brother to decide who will take ownership of their famous father’s extensive wine collection—Drops of God offers its readers delightfully-scripted but absolutely serious reviews of some of the wine world’s most distinguished varietals.

A co-production of a sister-brother writing team who use the pen name Tadashi Agi, Drops of God is illustrated by Shu Okimoto. At once a popular and critical international success, the manga continues to in Japan, while earlier issues have been translated into a variety of languages. Excitingly, it has recently been adapted into a series on Apple TV+, which has received further critical acclaim and 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The issue “Yume and Utsutsu” (which roughly translates into the word “trance”) stars Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. In one section of the comic, the judges have poured a mysterious wine which “looks like Pinot Noir”: it is “not Burgundy,” but “not just ordinary American Pinot Noir,” either. “Bright ruby” in color, with a “beautiful graduation” that indicates its “high quality,” this wine bears a “distinguished background” and “bloodline.”

Ultimately, the judges (along with readers of the manga), reveal this wine as 2014 Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. A wine whose “terroir has cool weather and the wind required to make great Pinot Noir,” it is, Drops of God suggests, exhilarating to drink: a wine that tastes as full-bodied in the mouth as the resonant notes of a bass sound in the ear.

Of course, the best wines, like the best music, require no translation. Nonetheless, we appreciate being provided with one and are delighted to pass it on to you.