About Suehiro Merlot Barrel Selection
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Price Range
- ¥7,000
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
Suehiro Merlot Barrel Selection is Grandvert Vineyard's top-tier Merlot cuvée, sold exclusively at the winery. Made entirely from 100% Merlot grown in the estate's own vineyard in Nirasaki City, Yamanashi, it is built from only the three finest barrels selected from that vintage's Merlot lots, then aged for a careful 21 months in oak. The result is a deep, dark-red wine with aromas of black cherry, dried flowers, clove, tar and graphite, backed by firm tannin and a poised, elegant acidity that gains roundness from the extended oak aging — a wine built to evolve gracefully over the next 5 to 10 years.
This is the most serious red Grandvert Vineyard has released to date — a barrel-selected Merlot with the structure and length to reward a decade of patience.
New to wine?
A serious, full-bodied red best enjoyed after a few years of cellaring — a good next step once you've tried the standard Suehiro Merlot.
Food Pairings
Best suited to rich, char-grilled dishes: charcoal-grilled aged red meat or a classic Tournedos Rossini with foie gras and truffle. Its firm tannin and long finish also stand up well to hard, aged cheeses and dark-chocolate desserts.
When to drink it
A special-occasion bottle best reserved for celebratory dinners or gifting to serious wine lovers, given its winery-only availability.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Merlot from Grandvert Vineyard's own vineyard in Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Selected from only the three best-performing barrels of the vintage's Merlot lots, then aged for 21 months in oak before bottling. ABV 13.5%. A winery-exclusive release not distributed through the online shop.
About the producer
Grandvert VineyardA farm-style winery at the foot of Yatsugatake, opened 2024.北杜市, 山梨県 · Founded 2024Visit the producer page →More wines from Grandvert Vineyard
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Suehiro Merlot Barrel Selection different from the standard Suehiro Merlot?
- The Barrel Selection is made from 100% Nirasaki-grown Merlot chosen from only the three best barrels of the vintage and aged for 21 months in oak (versus a Nirasaki/Hakushu blend aged roughly 12 months for the standard bottling). It has a higher ABV (13.5% vs. 12.5%), a higher price (¥7,000 vs. ¥5,500), and a fuller, more tannic profile.
- Can I buy Suehiro Merlot Barrel Selection online?
- No — as of the 2023 vintage, it is sold exclusively at Grandvert Vineyard's winery and café in Kobuchisawa, Hokuto City, and is not listed on the winery's online shop (ygv.base.shop).
- How long can Suehiro Merlot Barrel Selection be aged?
- The winery suggests a cellaring window of roughly 5 to 10 years, thanks to its firm tannin structure and the extended 21-month barrel aging.
- What food pairs well with this wine?
- The winery recommends charcoal-grilled aged red meat or Tournedos Rossini — dishes rich enough to match its full body and long finish.
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