About this wine
Nozomi (meaning 'hope') is the name given to de Montille & Hokkaido's 2023 vintage release, marking the historic transition from the project's five-year Yoichi-sourced learning series (Oser 2018, Surprise 2019, Learn 2020, Comprendre 2021, Explore 2022) to wines made from the estate's own Hakodate vineyard, the same year the Hakodate winery facility was completed. The 2023 Nozomi release comprises three wines: a Chardonnay made from 100% estate-grown Hakodate fruit (the project's first fully estate-grown release), a Pinot Noir blending roughly two-thirds Yoichi-grown grapes with estate fruit due to lower-than-expected estate yields, and a Kerner sourced from contracted Yoichi growers (Ani Farm). All three were vinified with native yeasts at the newly built Hakodate winery, reflecting Domaine de Montille's Burgundian philosophy of minimal intervention transplanted to Hokkaido's volcanic terroir.
An elegant, cool-climate expression of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — approachable in youth yet refined.
Sommelier's Note
"Nozomi is the moment de Montille & Hokkaido stopped studying Hokkaido's terroir and started speaking it fluently — the first wine grown entirely on Etienne de Montille's own Hakodate hillside."
Food Pairings
The Pinot Noir (pale garnet, red berries, peony florals, fine tannins, mineral finish) pairs beautifully with sushi and sashimi, pâté, charcuterie, and herb-crusted white meats. The Chardonnay and Kerner suit delicate white fish, tempura, and soft cheeses.
When to drink it
Ideal for celebrating a milestone or as a gift for wine lovers who follow Japan's emerging fine-wine scene — this vintage marks the first estate-grown harvest of a historic Franco-Japanese project.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Kerner
- Style
- Red, White
- Vintage
- 2023
- Price Range
- ¥29,700 for the 3-bottle set (Chardonnay, Kerner, Pinot Noir), roughly ¥9,000-10,000 per bottle
Terroir & Winemaking
Vinified at the newly completed Hakodate winery using native-yeast fermentation. Chardonnay: 100% Hakodate estate fruit, whole-cluster pressed. Pinot Noir: approx. 2/3 Yoichi-grown grapes blended with estate fruit, partial destemming. Kerner: Yoichi contract-grown fruit (Ani Farm). Aged in a mix of ceramic tanks and French oak barrels, in the low-intervention Burgundian style associated with Domaine de Montille.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does 'Nozomi' (望) mean, and why is it significant?
- Nozomi means 'hope' or 'aspiration' in Japanese. It is the label for de Montille & Hokkaido's 2023 vintage, the first wine made using grapes from the project's own Hakodate estate vineyard, marking the transition from a five-year learning phase sourced from Yoichi growers to true estate-grown wine.
- What grapes and wines make up the Nozomi 2023 release?
- The release includes three wines: a Chardonnay made entirely from estate-grown Hakodate fruit, a Pinot Noir blending estate fruit with roughly two-thirds Yoichi-grown grapes, and a Kerner sourced from contracted Yoichi growers.
- What does the Nozomi Pinot Noir taste like?
- Pale garnet in color, with fresh red fruit (raspberry, strawberry), floral peony notes, soft acidity, fine-grained tannins, and a mineral finish typical of Domaine de Montille's Burgundian style.
- What food pairs well with Nozomi?
- The Pinot Noir suits sushi, sashimi, pâté, and charcuterie, while the Chardonnay and Kerner pair well with delicate white fish, tempura, and soft cheeses.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
學（ガク）ピノ・ノワール
Gaku Pinot Noir
RedPinot Noir
Gaku is the 2020 vintage in de Montille & Hokkaido's five-year 'learning series' (2018-2022), each year named with a single kanji character reflecting the lesson learned that season. Gaku (學, meaning 'to study/learn') was produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes grown by growers in Yoichi, Hokkaido, in partnership with Coco Farm & Winery and winemaker Bruce Gutlove of 10R Winery, before de Montille & Hokkaido's own Hakodate estate vineyard came into production in 2023. It shows the delicate, cool-climate character the project was chasing: pale garnet color, fresh red berries (raspberry, strawberry), peony florals, and a savory, autumnal undertone of root spice, wood smoke, pickled cherry and mushroom, carried by fine, veil-like tannins.
探（サグル）ピノ・ノワール
Saguru Pinot Noir
RedPinot Noir
Saguru (探, meaning 'to explore' or 'to search') is the 2022 vintage in de Montille & Hokkaido's five-year 'learning series' (2018-2022) — the final release before the estate's own Hakodate vineyard came into production in 2023. Like its predecessors 豪 (Oser, 2018), 驚 (Surprise, 2019), 學 (Gaku, 2020) and 理 (Ri, 2021), Saguru was made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes purchased from contracted growers in Yoichi, Hokkaido, and vinified in partnership with Coco Farm & Winery and winemaker Bruce Gutlove of 10R Winery. The name reflects the project's stance at that stage: having accumulated four years of learning, the team still faced new challenges to explore before the Hakodate estate could stand on its own. The wine shows a light garnet color, fresh red fruit (raspberry, strawberry), peony florals and a whisper of white pepper spice, framed by fine-grained, veil-like tannins, savory earthy depth and a mineral, lingering finish — the delicate, cool-climate Burgundian style the de Montille family was chasing in Hokkaido.