About Koshu Barrel Fermented (French Oak)
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Koshu
- Price Range
- Approx. ¥2,320
- 720ml, tax included; historical reference price from the producer's own product listing
Sourced from carefully selected Koshu grapes grown in the Shimoiwasaki district of Katsunuma, this wine is fermented directly in small French oak barrels, giving it firm acidity and fruit character balanced with a clean, crisp oak-inflected finish. It received a Bronze Award at a domestic Japanese wine concours (Kokusan Wine Concours) and is bottled in the certified "Katsunuma Bottle." It is distinct from the winery's other barrel-influenced Koshu, "Golden Koshu" (fermented using a red-wine-style maceration method followed by six months of barrel aging) — this cuvée is fermented directly in French oak barrels for a more integrated, elegant oak character.
A benchmark example of how French oak fermentation can add structure and complexity to Koshu without overwhelming its delicate character — a Bronze Award-winning expression of Katsunuma terroir.
New to wine?
A great introduction to how French oak fermentation can transform Japan's native Koshu grape into a more structured, food-friendly white wine.
Food Pairings
Pairs well with grilled white fish, cream-based dishes, and roast chicken. In Japanese cuisine, it complements tempura and dashi-simmered dishes particularly well.
When to drink it
Suited to special dinners, gifting to Japanese wine enthusiasts, or pairing with refined Japanese cuisine.
Terroir & Winemaking
Fermented directly in small French oak barrels using Koshu grapes selected from the Shimoiwasaki district of Katsunuma. Bottled in the winery's certified "Katsunuma Bottle." Awarded Bronze at a domestic Japanese wine concours (Kokusan Wine Concours). Specific vintage and alcohol content could not be confirmed from primary source materials, so they are omitted here; the source listing (a Diamond Winery/Chanter Wine product page) offered this cuvée as a standard-line, non-vintage-labeled wine at the time of publication.
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 Koshu different from Diamond Winery's other barrel-aged Koshu, "Golden Koshu"?
- Unlike Golden Koshu, which uses a red-wine-style maceration process before six months of barrel aging, this wine is fermented directly in French oak barrels, giving it a more integrated and elegant oak character.
- Has this wine won any awards?
- Yes, it received a Bronze Award at a domestic Japanese wine concours (Kokusan Wine Concours).
- What does "Katsunuma Bottle" mean?
- It refers to a certified bottle used for wines from the Katsunuma appellation that meet the local growers' association's quality standards for the designated grape.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Grilled white fish, cream-based dishes, roast chicken, and Japanese cuisine such as tempura pair particularly well.
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