About this wine
Chardonnay from the Tsugane vineyard with skin-contact fermentation and 30% new oak aging. Exhibits freshness and vibrant complexity.
The Tsugane Chardonnay is where natural wine philosophy meets the richness typical of Chardonnay. Expect elegant complexity rather than simple fruitiness — a perfect introduction to how Japanese mountain terroir elevates this international grape variety.
Sommelier's Note
"This is Japanese Chardonnay at its highest expression — a wine where the interplay of altitude-driven acidity, skin-contact texture, and restrained oak creates a world of its own. The transparency and mineral depth are uniquely Japanese, distinct from Burgundy yet equally compelling. Open it with patience and let it unfold over an hour."
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with grilled white fish, steamed scallops, herb-roasted chicken, and fromage blanc. The wine's mineral structure and vibrant acidity also complement delicate Japanese cuisine: lightly salted grilled fish, tempura, chawanmushi (savory egg custard), and yuba (tofu skin) dishes.
When to drink it
Ideal for a seafood dinner, an adult house party, or a special celebratory meal. Best shared with wine-curious guests who appreciate nuance — or savored alone with time to notice how the aromas evolve in the glass.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Style
- White, natural
- Alcohol
- 12%
- Price Range
- ¥8,000-10,000
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Chardonnay from the high-altitude Tsugane vineyard (approx. 800m above sea level) in Hokuto, Yamanashi. Vinified with skin-contact fermentation to build texture and complexity. Aged in French oak barrels (approximately 30% new oak). Wild yeast fermentation, no temperature control, no fining, no filtration, zero sulfur addition, gravity bottling. Extremely small production.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Tsugane Chardonnay taste like?
- Expect ripe stone fruit (peach, white nectarine) and tropical notes layered with honey and toasted nuts from oak aging. Delicate acidity and a long mineral finish give the wine remarkable length and elegance.
- What food pairs best with it?
- Delicate Japanese dishes are a natural fit: lightly salted grilled fish, steamed scallops, tempura, and chawanmushi all showcase the wine's mineral and umami affinity. For Western cuisine, white asparagus gratin or creamy seafood dishes work beautifully.
- When is the best time to drink it?
- It is enjoyable upon release but rewards 3–5 years of cellaring, developing greater complexity and depth. Unusually for Japanese white wine, it has genuine aging potential — open a magnum if you can find one.
- How is it different from a typical Chardonnay?
- Most Chardonnay is made with pressed juice only. Tsugane Chardonnay uses skin-contact fermentation, adding texture and savory depth rarely found in white wine. Combined with Beau Paysage's no-additive, no-filtration approach, the result is a wine of rare transparency.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
ツガネ ラ・モンターニュ
Tsugane La Montagne
RednaturalMerlot
100% Merlot from the Tsugane vineyard at 800m elevation. Shows faded rose aromas and delicate tannins, fresh and approachable. Production: 200–1,967 bottles depending on vintage.
クラハラ ル・ボア
Kurahara Le Bois
RednaturalCabernet Franc
Kurahara Le Bois is a highly sought-after red wine by Eishi Okamoto of Beau Paysage, sourced from the Kurahara vineyard in Yamanashi Prefecture. Made from 100% Cabernet Franc with minimal intervention, it expresses the forest-like terroir of this second vineyard site. Delicate red berry aromas interweave with herbal and earthy notes reminiscent of forest floor, reflecting the name 'Le Bois' (The Forest). Low alcohol and bright acidity make it a transparent, elegant expression of Japanese natural winemaking.
ツガネ ピノ・ノワール
Tsugane Pinot Noir
RednaturalPinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir from the Tsugane vineyard. Elegant, refined and water-like freshness. Bright red color with primary fruit character, delicate floral notes and fresh strawberry. Beautifully balanced. Production: 900 bottles.
ツガネ ル・ボア
Tsugane Le Bois
RednaturalCabernet Franc
Produced by Eishi Okamoto at his Beau Paysage estate in Tsugane, Yamanashi, this 100% Cabernet Franc is one of Japan's most celebrated natural wines. The name 'Le Bois' (forest) is drawn from the Furinkazan ('Wind-Forest-Fire-Mountain') concept of Takeda Shingen, whose legacy is rooted in Yamanashi. Grown at around 800m altitude in volcanic 'Kuroboku' soil, the wine is hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts, with zero additives and no filtration. It typically shows a pale ruby hue with aromas of fresh red berries, cedar, earth, and herbal nuances. Elegant acidity, silky tannins, and low alcohol (11–12%) give it remarkable purity and sense of place.
ツガネ ル・ボア トランス
Tsugane Le Bois Trance
RednaturalCabernet Franc
Tsugane Le Bois Trance is a lighter, more approachable variation of Beau Paysage's flagship 'Le Bois' Cabernet Franc. Produced by Eishi Okamoto in the Tsugane area of Hokuto City, Yamanashi at around 800m elevation, the 'Trance' bottling is crafted from grapes selected from specific sub-plots of the Tsugane vineyard in years when the fruit shows a particularly fresh and vibrant character. It shares the same minimal-intervention philosophy—hand-harvesting, indigenous yeast fermentation, no fining, no filtration—while expressing a lighter, more immediately joyful side of the terroir. Pale ruby in color, it delivers crisp red fruit, fresh herbs, and a lively acidity that makes it one of the most accessible wines in the Beau Paysage range.
ツガネ ア・ハム ピノ・グリ
Tsugane a hum Pinot Gris
orangenaturalskin-contactPinot Gris
Tsugane a hum Pinot Gris is a skin-contact orange wine crafted by Eishi Okamoto of Beau Paysage in the Tsugane vineyard at 800m elevation in Yamanashi. The 'a hum' series (ア・ハム) is Okamoto's most experimental and lightest-touch line — produced in a series of around 300 bottles per vintage, where each variety is vinified with extended skin contact to create a pale amber wine of extraordinary transparency. This Pinot Gris exhibits dried orange peel, pomelo, white peach, a hint of gentle tannin, and a crystalline mineral finish native to the Tsugane terroir. Minimal sulfur, no filtration, gravity bottling.