About Chanter Y.A Muscat Bailey A (Regular)
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Muscat Bailey A
- Price Range
- Approx. ¥1,270 (720ml, as listed on the producer's own site; reference price only, may not reflect current pricing).
Chanter Y.A Muscat Bailey A (Regular) is the standard-tier red from Diamond Winery (Chanter Wine) in Katsunuma, Yamanashi, made from 100% Muscat Bailey A using Burgundian-style maceration (whole-berry fermentation with extended skin contact in the Burgundy tradition winemaker Yoshio Amemiya trained in). The result is a light-bodied red with rich, strawberry-jam-like fruit character. A touch of residual carbon dioxide from malolactic fermentation is retained, giving the wine a subtle freshness on the palate. It is the entry point of the Chanter Y.A Muscat Bailey A line, distinct from the barrel-aged 'Plus' (10% saignée, 50% new oak) and '4S16M' (4-week maceration, 16-month oak aging) bottlings from the same producer.
A good illustration of what careful, Burgundy-influenced technique can do for Muscat Bailey A — light and approachable, with a touch of retained fermentation freshness that sets it apart from more conventional bottlings of the variety.
New to wine?
An approachable, easy-drinking introduction to Japan's native Muscat Bailey A grape — light in body, gently tannic, and food-friendly.
Food Pairings
A versatile, food-friendly red that suits everyday Japanese cooking — yakitori, grilled unagi, and other soy-sauce based dishes — as well as light hot pot (nabe) preparations, thanks to its gentle tannins and bright fruit.
When to drink it
Casual weeknight dinners and everyday Japanese meals.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Muscat Bailey A fermented using Burgundian-style maceration (extended skin contact in the whole-berry fermentation tradition). A small amount of carbon dioxide from malolactic fermentation is intentionally left in the finished wine, contributing a light, fresh sensation on the palate. Style: light-bodied red.
About the producer
Diamond WineryBurgundy-trained winemaker Yoshio Amemiya crafts Japan's most celebrated Muscat Bailey A reds and Koshu whites in tiny quantities around 45,000 bottles per year, making Diamond Winery's Chanter wines highly sought-after and hard to find.甲州市, 山梨県 · Founded 1939Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes this wine different from typical Muscat Bailey A reds?
- It is fermented using Burgundian-style maceration and retains a touch of carbon dioxide from malolactic fermentation, giving it strawberry-jam-like fruit richness plus a subtle fresh, lightly prickly sensation not typical of standard Muscat Bailey A wines.
- How is this different from the 'Plus' and '4S16M' versions?
- This is the standard (regular) bottling. 'Plus' uses 10% saignée and 50% new oak barrel aging, while '4S16M' undergoes a longer 4-week maceration and 16 months of barrel aging — both are more concentrated, oak-driven expressions of the same base wine.
- What food should I pair it with?
- It works well with soy-sauce based Japanese dishes such as yakitori and grilled eel (unagi), as well as light hot pot dishes like sukiyaki or nabe.
- Is it a light or full-bodied red?
- It is a light-bodied red, easy to drink and food-friendly, with gentle tannins and bright fruit character.
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