About this wine
Merlot from Akeno Vineyard's own farm in Hokuto City, Yamanashi, fermented in stainless steel tanks with no added sugar or acid, then aged in new French oak barrels for 6 months followed by 6 months in bottle. A softer, rounder counterpart to the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon, showing the plush, generous side of Merlot grown at altitude in Japan's sunniest wine region.
A gentle, fruit-forward red that's a comfortable first step into Japanese Bordeaux-variety wines.
Sommelier's Note
"The friendliest red in the Akeno Vineyard lineup — softer tannins and riper fruit make it an easy match for almost any weeknight meal."
Food Pairings
A versatile red for roast chicken, hamburg steak, and tomato-based pasta or stews. In Japanese cuisine, pairs nicely with beef sukiyaki or nikujaga.
When to drink it
Casual dinners, home-cooked meat dishes, everyday drinking
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Vintage
- 2023
- Price Range
- ¥5,500 (tax included)
Terroir & Winemaking
Fermented in stainless steel tanks without chaptalization or acid adjustment. Aged in new French oak barrels for 6 months, then 6 months in bottle before release.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does this Merlot compare to the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon?
- It's softer and rounder, with riper fruit and gentler tannins, reflecting Merlot's naturally plusher character and a shorter 6-month oak regimen.
- Is it fermented with any additives?
- No — it is fermented in stainless steel tanks with no added sugar or acid, then aged in new French oak for 6 months and bottle-aged for 6 months.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Roast chicken, hamburg steak, tomato-based pasta or stews, and Japanese dishes like sukiyaki or nikujaga.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
カベルネ・ソーヴィニヨン 樽熟成
Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel-Aged
RedCabernet Sauvignon
Grown on Akeno Vineyard's own 2-hectare plot at roughly 800m elevation in Hokuto City, Yamanashi — an area with Japan's longest recorded sunshine hours — this Cabernet Sauvignon is fermented in stainless steel tanks with no added sugar or acid, then aged in new French oak for 8 months and once-used barrels for a further 3 months before 3 months in bottle. The result is a structured, cool-climate expression of Cabernet Sauvignon with the variety's characteristic dark fruit and spice deepened by careful barrel work.
カベルネ・フラン 樽熟成
Cabernet Franc Barrel-Aged
RedCabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc grown on Akeno Vineyard's own plot in Hokuto City, Yamanashi, showing black cherry, orris root, and shishito-pepper aromas layered with black pepper and forest-floor notes from barrel aging. Sour cherry and dark fruit fruitiness meet the variety's signature green, peppery edge, with well-integrated tannins that leave a gently bitter finish.
甲州「たかねのはな」
Koshu 'Takane no Hana'
WhiteKoshu
A Koshu white grown by Akeno Vineyard Club members — including grower Kazuhito Kitano — on the estate's own plot in Hokuto City, Yamanashi. Vinified on a contract basis at Komazono Vineyard in Koshu City, the wine shows citrus fruit with a faint honeyed sweetness, balanced acidity, and a pleasant bitterness that gives the finish real punch, in the classic style of Yamanashi's signature grape.
シャルドネ
Chardonnay
WhiteChardonnay
Made from 100% Chardonnay grown on Akeno Vineyard's own plot in Hokuto City, Yamanashi, fermented in French oak barrels and aged on the lees in barrel for four months. The wine combines ripe orchard fruit with the bright, direct acidity of a cool, high-elevation site, and picks up notes of vanilla and honey from its oak treatment.