Chanter Y.A Huit

About this wine

Chanter Y.A Huit is Diamond Winery's rare, sought-after barrel-aged Muscat Bailey A cuvée, released as roughly the eighth vintage in this barrel-aged series (hence 'Huit', French for eight). Fruit is hand-harvested late from the winery's contracted 'Cuvée K' plot in the Hosaka district of Nirasaki City, Yamanashi — an area with some of Japan's highest sunshine hours and a wide diurnal temperature swing that lets grapes ripen fully while retaining fresh acidity. Winemaker Yoshio Amemiya, who trained in tasting at the University of Bordeaux and apprenticed in Burgundy, ferments the late-harvest grapes with a Burgundy-style yeast and ages the wine in oak barrels, giving it volume and structure while keeping the fruit expression delicate. The Japanese reading 'Yui' (結ひ/結い, meaning 'bond' or 'connection') reflects Amemiya's wish that the wine connect the vineyard, farmers, winemaker, retailers, and drinkers.

Sommelier's Note

"This is one of the most convincing arguments that Muscat Bailey A deserves serious barrel treatment — Huit shows a depth and structure that few MBA bottlings can match."

Food Pairings

The barrel-derived structure and ripe berry fruit make it a natural match for glazed and grilled dishes: yakitori with sweet-savory tare sauce, teriyaki chicken, and grilled unagi (eel) with its rich soy glaze all stand up well to the wine's tannin and body. It also pairs nicely with simmered dishes like sukiyaki or kabocha squash in soy-dashi broth.

When to drink it

Special dinners, celebratory occasions, and gifting to Japanese wine enthusiasts.

Specs

Grape Varieties

Muscat Bailey A

Style

Red

Price Range

¥3,500-5,500

Terroir & Winemaking

Made from Muscat Bailey A grapes hand-picked late in the season from the 'Cuvée K' contract vineyard in Hosaka, Nirasaki City, Yamanashi. Fermented with Burgundy-style yeast and aged in oak barrels. ABV approximately 12.5%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Huit' mean?

'Huit' is French for 'eight' and marks roughly the eighth release in Diamond Winery's barrel-aged Muscat Bailey A series. It is also read in Japanese as 'Yui' (結ひ), meaning 'bond,' expressing the winemaker's wish to connect vineyard, farmers, winemaker, retailers, and drinkers.

What grape is Chanter Y.A Huit made from?

It is made entirely from Muscat Bailey A, Japan's signature native red grape, hand-picked late in the season from the 'Cuvée K' plot in Hosaka, Nirasaki City, Yamanashi.

What does it taste like?

Full-bodied yet delicate, with ripe berry fruit, barrel-derived complexity, and a balanced structure of acidity and soft tannins from oak aging.

What food pairs best with it?

Dishes with sweet-savory glazes work especially well, such as yakitori with tare sauce, teriyaki chicken, and grilled unagi.

Why is it considered rare?

Production is limited because it is made only from late-harvested grapes of a single contracted plot and only when the vintage conditions justify the barrel-aged treatment, so quantities are small and availability varies by year.