About this wine
KWtN Kimura Farm Yoichi Pinot Noir is made by Bruce Gutlove at 10R Winery in Iwamizawa from 100% Pinot Noir grown at Kimura Farm in Nobori District, Yoichi, Hokkaido. Kimura Farm planted Pinot Noir in 1985 — among the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Japan at over 40 years — on sandy-clay loam soils that differ from the volcanic black soils typical of Yoichi, imparting a distinctive saline minerality. The wine is made with minimal intervention: ~95% destemmed with ~5% whole cluster, wild-yeast fermentation, aged 14–16 months in used French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. The result is a Burgundian-inspired red with silky tannins, razor-sharp acidity, and an umami-driven minerality that has attracted international attention — three 10R wines appeared on Noma's Kyoto pop-up wine list.
If you love red Burgundy but want to discover Japan's answer, start here. Light-footed with silky tannins and vivid acidity — less austere than Gevrey, more Chambolle. The saline finish is pure Hokkaido.
Sommelier's Note
"The Kimura Farm vines were planted in 1985 — before most of Hokkaido's wine scene existed. That 40-year-old root system in red clay loam is the reason this wine has a structural density and saline depth that younger-vine Hokkaido Pinot simply cannot replicate. CT ~94 on the 2018. If you can find the 2019 (16 months in barrel, TA 7.2 g/L), you're looking at a cellaring window of 2024–2032."
Food Pairings
Grilled salmon with soy glaze, duck ramen, yakitori (duck or dark thigh), simmered pork belly, and mushroom dishes (matsutake, shiitake, enoki) all shine with this wine. The saline minerality also works beautifully with salmon sashimi and uni. For French-inspired pairings: roast duck breast, coq au vin, rabbit stew, and mushroom pasta. Hokkaido venison (Ezo deer) and lamb are exceptional matches.
When to drink it
Special dinner with Japanese cuisine, gift for the Pinot Noir collector who's tried Burgundy, cellar candidate for 5–10 years, Hokkaido seafood and game feast
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Pinot Noir
- Style
- Red
- Alcohol
- 14.1
- Price Range
- ¥4,620–¥6,740
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Pinot Noir from Kimura Farm (木村農園), Nobori District, Yoichi, Hokkaido. Vines planted 1985 (40+ years old). Sandy-clay loam (red clay) soils. ~95% destemmed + ~5% whole cluster (vintage-dependent). Wild-yeast fermentation at moderate temperatures, 3 weeks skin contact maceration. Gentle pressing, racked to French oak barrels (used/neutral). Aged 14–16 months in barrel. Natural malolactic fermentation. Minimal SO₂ at bottling (~40 ppm for 2019 vintage). Unfined, unfiltered bottling. ABV: ~14.0–14.1% (vintage-dependent). 2022 vintage: first use of full whole-cluster fermentation; approximately 2 years of barrel aging in French Burgundy oak.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between KWtN Kimura Farm Pinot Noir and the こことある (Coco Toaru) Pinot Noir?
- Both use 100% Pinot Noir from Kimura Farm in Yoichi, vinified by Bruce Gutlove at 10R Winery. The difference is the label: KWtN is released under the 10R Winery brand; こことある Pinot Noir is a collaboration released under the Coco Farm & Winery label. The terroir and winemaker are identical.
- How old are the Kimura Farm vines?
- Kimura Farm planted Pinot Noir in 1985 — over 40 years old as of 2025. This makes them among the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Japan. Old vines naturally produce lower yields with more concentrated flavors and greater phenolic complexity, contributing to the wine's unusual density and minerality.
- Is this wine suitable for aging?
- Yes. The firm acidity (TA ~7.2 g/L for the 2019 vintage) and clean structure give it 5–10+ years of aging potential. The 2019 vintage bottled in July 2021 is in a prime drinking window through 2028+. Structured vintages (2018, 2019) reward cellaring; softer vintages (2020) are more approachable young.
- What does 'KWtN' stand for?
- KWtN stands for 'Kamihoro Wine to Nakama-tachi' (上幌ワインと仲間たち — 'Kamihoro Wine and Friends'). It is 10R Winery's label for wines made from contracted partner growers throughout Hokkaido — each bottled with the grower's name (e.g., Kimura Farm, Takahashi Farm).
- Why was this wine on Noma's wine list?
- Noma's head sommelier called 10R's estate Pinot Noir 'Kaze' the best red wine in the world and included three 10R wines on the wine list for Noma's Kyoto pop-up. This placed 10R Winery alongside the world's finest producers in an international fine dining context — a watershed moment for Japanese wine.
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