About Domaine Chichibu KARASAWA Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Price Range
- ¥6,600
- tax included, per official Chichibu Wine online shop
Domaine Chichibu KARASAWA Merlot is a single-varietal Merlot from Chichibu Wine's estate-grown Karasawa vineyard, at the foot of Mt. Ryukami in the Chichibu mountains of Saitama, where the soil is enriched with limestone from nearby Mt. Buko. Distinct from the winery's Cabernet-led KARASAWA blend, this bottling focuses purely on Merlot, deliberately cropped to low yields to concentrate fruit character. The 2022 vintage was fermented under temperature control and aged in French Limousin oak barrels (the same oak used to mature Cognac), giving rich Merlot fruit aromatics layered with oak-derived spice, balanced acidity and tannin, and a refined, complex finish.
A focused, single-varietal expression of Merlot from Chichibu's Karasawa vineyard — where the estate's Cabernet-led KARASAWA blend shows structure, this bottling puts Merlot's own fruit and texture front and center.
New to wine?
An approachable single-varietal Merlot with fruit-forward character and a smooth, oak-spiced finish — a good entry point into Japanese red wine.
Food Pairings
Pairs well with roasted duck, grilled lamb, mushroom risotto, and aged hard cheeses; its balanced acidity also suits umami-rich dishes.
When to drink it
Suited to dinners with roasted or grilled meats, and as a gift for wine enthusiasts.
Terroir & Winemaking
2022 vintage. Hand-tended, low-yield Merlot from the estate Karasawa vineyard (limestone-influenced soil from Mt. Buko). Temperature-controlled fermentation, aged in French Limousin oak barrels (the same oak used for Cognac maturation) to add complexity while preserving the variety's fruit-forward character.
About the producer
Chichibu WineSaitama's oldest winery, crafting the storied 'Gensaku-jirushi' wines since 1940.小鹿野町, 埼玉県 · Founded 1940Visit the producer page →More wines from Chichibu Wine
- Chichibu KARASAWA Merlot (Regular Bottling)Red · Merlot
- Chichibu KARASAWA Merlot — Limousin Oak AgedRed · Merlot
- Chichibu KARASAWA RedRed · Cabernet Franc · Merlot · Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chichibu Wine CabernetRed · Cabernet Franc · Cabernet Sauvignon · Syrah
- Domaine Chichibu ChardonnayWhite · Chardonnay
- Domaine Chichibu KARASAWARed · Cabernet Franc · Cabernet Sauvignon · Merlot
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this the same wine as Domaine Chichibu KARASAWA?
- No. Domaine Chichibu KARASAWA is a Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend, while KARASAWA Merlot is a separate, single-varietal Merlot bottling from the same estate vineyard.
- What does it taste like?
- Rich Merlot fruit aromatics layered with French oak spice, balanced acidity and tannin, and a refined, complex finish.
- What food pairs best with it?
- Roasted duck, grilled lamb, mushroom risotto, aged hard cheeses, and umami-rich Japanese dishes like sukiyaki or grilled eel pair well.
- Where are the grapes grown?
- In Chichibu Wine's estate Karasawa vineyard at the foot of Mt. Ryukami in the Chichibu mountains, Saitama, in soil enriched with limestone from Mt. Buko.
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