About this wine
Kikyogahara Merlot has been produced by Château Mercian since its debut vintage in 1985, sourced from roughly 8 hectares of Merlot vines scattered across the Kikyogahara district of Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture — the birthplace of Japanese Merlot. Made from 100% Merlot, it shows a deep purple color with aromas of cassis and blueberry that develop notes of tanned leather and leaf litter with bottle age. The palate is supple and full-bodied, with refined tannins and good acidity, and has long been regarded as one of Japan's benchmark red wines, distinct from the more limited-production, barrel-selected 'Kikyogahara Merlot Signature' bottling from the same producer.
A great entry point into Japanese Merlot — full-bodied but approachable, with soft tannins that won't overwhelm newcomers to red wine.
Sommelier's Note
"One of the wines that put Japanese Merlot on the map — Kikyogahara Merlot has been a benchmark for nearly four decades, and it remains one of the most reliable ways to taste what Shiojiri's terroir can do."
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with beef stew, salt-and-pepper grilled beef steak, and grilled pork shoulder. Also complements braised meat dishes such as meatballs or hamburger steak slow-cooked until tender.
When to drink it
Well suited to steak dinners, milestone celebrations, and gifts for wine enthusiasts curious about Japanese red wine.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Price Range
- ¥10,000-14,000
Terroir & Winemaking
Grapes are hand-selected from vineyards across the Kikyogahara district and harvested in mid-October. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and wooden vats at around 28-30°C for roughly 14-15 days, followed by aging in oak barrels for about 18-19 months before bottling.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Kikyogahara Merlot taste like?
- Deep purple in color, it offers aromas of cassis and blueberry that turn into tanned leather and leaf litter with age, on a full-bodied palate with refined tannins and balanced acidity.
- What food pairs best with Kikyogahara Merlot?
- It pairs well with beef stew, grilled beef steak, and grilled pork, as well as Japanese dishes with rich, savory sauces such as sukiyaki.
- Is Kikyogahara Merlot the same as Kikyogahara Merlot Signature?
- No. Kikyogahara Merlot is Château Mercian's standard Kikyogahara-district bottling, while 'Signature' is a separate, more limited, barrel-selected upper tier from the same vineyard area.
- How long can Kikyogahara Merlot be aged?
- It can be enjoyed on release but has the structure to develop gracefully over many years thanks to its firm tannins and balanced acidity.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
シャトー・メルシャン 甲州きいろ香
Château Mercian Koshu Kiiroka
WhiteKoshu
Château Mercian Koshu Kiiroka is a landmark wine that redefined the potential of Japan's indigenous Koshu grape. Developed in collaboration with the University of Bordeaux, this wine utilizes specific yeast strains to highlight the 'Kiiroka' (yellow aroma) profile—a distinct citrusy, grapefruit-like bouquet reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc. Characterized by crisp acidity, elegant structure, and a refreshing clean finish that showcases the purity of the fruit, this wine has played a pivotal role in elevating the international reputation of Japanese viticulture, proving that Koshu can produce world-class, aromatic dry white wines.
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子ワイナリー シャルドネ
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Chardonnay
WhiteChardonnay
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Chardonnay is a premium white wine crafted from grapes grown in the Mariko Vineyard in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. Situated at high elevation with excellent drainage and significant diurnal temperature variation, this terroir yields Chardonnay of remarkable concentration and elegance. The wine exhibits vibrant acidity with flavors of citrus, white peach, and subtle toasted oak, representing the pinnacle of Japanese Chardonnay and Château Mercian's meticulous viticulture.
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子メルロー
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Merlot
RedMerlot
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Merlot is the flagship red wine of the Mariko Vineyard in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, made from 100% estate-grown Merlot. Hand-harvested from vines rooted in the region's low-rainfall, clay-rich terroir, the grapes are fermented in stainless steel and wooden vats at 25-30°C for roughly two weeks before aging around a year in French oak barrels. The result is a deep ruby-red wine of remarkable concentration, marrying ripe, almost jammy black fruit with the structure and tannic power that has made Mariko Merlot one of the benchmark wines of Japanese viticulture.
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子ワイナリー ソーヴィニヨン・ブラン
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Sauvignon Blanc
WhiteSauvignon Blanc
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown at the estate-owned Mariko Vineyard on the Jinba plateau in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. The vineyard's low rainfall, gravelly clay soil, and cool climate yield grapes with vivid aromatics — grapefruit, lemon, lime, passion fruit, and fresh herbs — supported by crisp acidity and a refined mineral character that reflects Château Mercian's meticulous terroir-driven viticulture.
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子シラー
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Syrah
RedSyrah
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Syrah is a single-vineyard red wine made from 100% Syrah grown in the Mariko Vineyard on the Jinba plateau in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. The vineyard's low rainfall, well-drained soil, and pronounced diurnal temperature swings produce a cool-climate Syrah with pronounced white and black pepper spice, violet aromatics, and dark berry fruit, framed by fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Since Château Mercian began planting the vineyard in 2003, Mariko has repeatedly been named one of Asia's top entries in the World's Best Vineyards ranking, and this Syrah has gone on to win medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge, cementing its reputation as one of Japan's benchmark cool-climate Syrahs.
北信カベルネ・ソーヴィニヨン
Hokushin Cabernet Sauvignon
RedCabernet Sauvignon
Hokushin Cabernet Sauvignon is Château Mercian's terroir-driven red wine from the Hokushin district in northern Nagano Prefecture, where the producer began VSP trellis cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2000. The area's sandy, gravelly soil offers excellent drainage, and its low rainfall combined with a wide diurnal temperature swing allows for slow, even ripening. The wine shows a deep garnet color with aromas of ripe blackberry and cassis layered with red fruit nuances of raspberry, and notes of chocolate and vanilla from oak aging. On the palate it is well balanced, with ample acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins, vinified and aged for around 18 months in oak barrels at Château Mercian's Katsunuma Winery in Yamanashi.