About this wine
Yukimuro Obake is Agricore Echigo Winery's flagship top-tier red, made from 100% hand-selected Merlot grown in the winery's own Minamiuonuma vineyards. Named after the yukimuro (snow cellar) in which it is patiently aged for five full years at a stable ~5°C using up to 250 tons of natural packed snow, this wine achieves a depth and refinement rarely seen in Japanese reds. It was awarded Bronze in the Vintage 2020 category at the 2025 Japan Wine Competition. Dry and medium-to-full bodied, it shows powerful, concentrated fruit balanced with silky, well-integrated tannins built up over its long, gentle snow-cellar maturation.
A serious, special-occasion Japanese red — approachable in style but built for those ready to explore a more concentrated, age-worthy wine.
Sommelier's Note
"Five years in a snow cellar is a rare commitment few wineries anywhere can match — Yukimuro Obake is proof that patience, not machinery, makes the finest Japanese red."
Food Pairings
Substantial enough for aged beef steak, wagyu sukiyaki, and slow-braised short ribs; also excellent with hard aged cheeses.
When to drink it
Anniversaries, gifting, and pairing with a special dinner featuring red meat.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Alcohol
- 12%
- Vintage
- 2020
- Price Range
- ¥5,500 (single bottle, tax included)
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Minamiuonuma-grown Merlot from the winery's own vineyards, cluster- and berry-selected before pressing. Aged five years in the yukimuro snow cellar (~5°C, maintained year-round without mechanical refrigeration using up to 250 tons of natural snow). Dry, medium-to-full body, 12% ABV. Bronze Award, Vintage 2020 category, 2025 Japan Wine Competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Yukimuro Obake taste like?
- It offers concentrated dark-fruit character with silky, well-integrated tannins and a long finish, the result of five years of slow aging in a natural snow cellar.
- Why is it called 'Yukimuro Obake'?
- 'Yukimuro' means snow cellar and 'obake' means ghost/phantom in Japanese — a playful nod to how the wine seems to transform, almost supernaturally, over its long years hidden away in the snow.
- Has this wine won any awards?
- Yes, it received a Bronze Award in the Vintage 2020 category at the 2025 Japan Wine Competition.
- What food pairs best with Yukimuro Obake?
- Aged beef steak, wagyu sukiyaki, and slow-braised dishes, as well as hard aged cheeses.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
越後ワイン 雪季（せっき）赤
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越後ワイン 雪季（せっき）白
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ドメーヌ越後カベルネ
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越後ワイン メルロー
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RedMerlot
Echigo Wine Merlot is a standard-tier single-varietal red made from 100% Minamiuonuma-grown Merlot. It offers a soft, mellow character with gentle tannins and moderate acidity, making it an approachable, everyday dry red that still carries the distinct character of its snow-country terroir.
越後ワイン カベルネ
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