About this wine
Kamihoro Wine "Kaze" (Wind) is the flagship red wine of 10R Winery, crafted entirely from grapes grown in their own south-facing estate vineyard in Kamihoro, Kurisawa-cho, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido. The wine is a field blend of Pinot Noir (dominant), Gamay, Poulsard, and Pinot Meunier — all varieties co-planted and co-fermented together, a technique inspired by traditional Burgundian practices. Winemakers Bruce and Ryoko Gutlove follow low-intervention, natural farming principles (lutte raisonnée: no chemical fertilizers or herbicides), releasing Kaze each year alongside its sister white wine "Mori" (Forest). The 2017 vintage was famously called "the best red wine in the world" by Noma's head sommelier, who featured 10R wines at the restaurant's Kyoto pop-up. The 2022 vintage carries 11% ABV at 750ml.
If you think "I don't really like red wine" — Kaze might change your mind. It's light-bodied, with no harsh tannins, and smells like fresh raspberry, rose petals, and forest floor. Serve it slightly chilled (14–16°C). Great as a solo glass or with simple dishes like grilled chicken or mushroom pasta. The 11% alcohol means you can enjoy a full glass without feeling heavy.
Sommelier's Note
"Kaze is the wine that proves Hokkaido doesn't need to apologize to Burgundy. This field blend from Gutlove's south-facing slope achieves what single-varietal wines often can't: a harmonic complexity where raspberry, iron, dried florals, and forest earth layer over each other without any single note dominating. The 2017 earning "world's best red wine" from Noma's sommelier was not a fluke — it reflects a producer who understood before almost anyone that cool-climate restraint and umami-driven minerality are Hokkaido's unique gifts. Buy it, age it 3–5 years, and let it show you what Japanese terroir truly means."
Food Pairings
Kaze's high natural acidity, silky tannins, and umami-driven minerality make it exceptionally versatile with food. Ideal pairings: roasted duck breast (the gamay adds brightness to cut through fat), salmon meunière, pork rillettes, grilled lamb chops. Japanese cuisine pairings work beautifully — duck soba, yakitori (thigh/skin), shabu-shabu with ponzu, braised daikon with pork belly, and mushroom-based hot pots. Serve slightly chilled at 14–16°C to emphasize the fresh florals.
When to drink it
Perfect for: intimate dinner parties where conversation matters, wine bars exploring Japanese natural wine, fine dining with Japanese cuisine (kaiseki-style), gifting to wine-curious friends looking for something beyond Burgundy, and outdoor dining in cooler weather. The Noma pedigree makes it a conversation piece at any gathering.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Pinot Noir, Gamay, Poulsard, Pinot Meunier
- Style
- Red
- Alcohol
- 11
- Price Range
- ¥4,400–¥5,500
Terroir & Winemaking
Grape source: 10R Winery's own estate vineyard, south-facing slope, Kamihoro, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido (Sorachi sub-region). Vine planting began 2009; approx. 4,000 Pinot Noir vines per hectare. Farming: lutte raisonnée (no herbicides, no chemical fertilizers). Grape blend: Pinot Noir dominant + Gamay, Poulsard, Pinot Meunier (co-planted field blend). Vinification: co-fermentation of all varieties; low-intervention/natural winemaking; combination of wood cask and stainless steel aging. ABV: 11% (2022 vintage), 10.5% (2017 vintage). Bottle: 750ml. CellarTracker community score: 94 (2017 vintage).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes "Kaze" different from a typical Pinot Noir?
- Unlike most Pinot Noirs, Kaze is a field blend — Pinot Noir, Gamay, Poulsard, and Pinot Meunier are grown together in the same vineyard plot and fermented together. This co-planting creates a complexity and harmony impossible to achieve by blending separate lots.
- Is this a natural wine? Can it be aged?
- Yes. 10R Winery uses low-intervention farming (no herbicides, no chemical fertilizers) and minimal-intervention winemaking. The wine can be aged 3–7 years; the 2017 vintage still receives excellent reviews. Recommended storing in a cool, dark place.
- Why does it taste a bit different from Burgundy Pinot Noir?
- Hokkaido's Sorachi region has volcanic iron-rich soil and a cooler, shorter growing season than Burgundy. This produces a more restrained, higher-acid style with pronounced mineral and earthy notes — less opulent, more precise.
- What food pairings work best?
- Duck, salmon, pork dishes, and mushroom-based Japanese cuisine pair best. The wine's natural acidity and umami minerality make it especially suited to Japanese washoku — soba with duck, yakitori, ponzu hot pot.
- Where can I buy it?
- Available online via IMADEYA, 葡萄屋 (budouya.jp), ウメムラ Wine Cellar, and 銘醸やなせ. Note it's a limited-production wine and often sells out quickly.
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