About Partly Cloudy
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Dorsa
- Price Range
- ¥3,600-4,400
- Alcohol
- 12%
Partly Cloudy is a red wine from Hakko Chaud (formerly Domaine Chaud), a boutique winery on the sandy Kakuda-hama coast of Niigata led by Hideo Kobayashi. Made with minimal intervention and largely without added sulfites, its blend composition shifts from vintage to vintage: the 2020 release was 100% Syrah, the 2021 vintage blended Syrah with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Dorsa (from Yoichi, Hokkaido), while the 2023 vintage is a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Syrah has been a signature varietal of the cuvée across several vintages. The wine is aged in old oak barrels, including some cherry wood, for a gentle, umami-driven style with soft tannins and restrained oak influence.
A quietly confident example of Japanese natural winemaking — Syrah has repeatedly been the backbone of this cuvée, giving it a savory, umami-rich depth that Japanese cuisine lovers should not miss, even as the exact blend evolves each vintage.
New to wine?
A friendly, approachable natural red that's easy to drink alone or with friends — a great way to experience the true potential of Japanese terroir.
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with light meat dishes, grilled fish, and Japanese-style preparations. Try it with seared bonito (katsuo no tataki), roasted beef with a light soy-based sauce, or grilled eggplant with ginger and soy sauce.
When to drink it
Ideal for casual dinners, gatherings with friends, or relaxed evenings at home paired with Japanese cuisine.
Terroir & Winemaking
The 2023 vintage (a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend) is bottled at 12% ABV, 750ml, per the producer's official retail listing (saitousaketen.co.jp). Winemaking follows a minimal-intervention approach with wild-yeast fermentation and, in several vintages (2020-2021), no added sulfites; wines are typically unfiltered and unfined, and aged around 12 months in old French and American oak barrels, including some cherry wood. Blend composition varies by vintage rather than being fixed.
About the producer
Hakko ChaudCrafting expressive, terroir-driven wines in Niigata.新潟市, 新潟県Visit the producer page →More wines from Hakko Chaud
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Partly Cloudy taste like?
- It has a gentle, umami-rich profile with soft red fruit, savory depth, and a subtle, well-integrated oak influence rather than an overt fruit-forward style.
- What food pairs well with it?
- It pairs especially well with Japanese dishes such as seared bonito (katsuo no tataki), lightly sauced roasted beef, and grilled vegetables with soy and ginger.
- Does the grape blend change from vintage to vintage?
- Yes. The blend is not fixed: the 2020 vintage was 100% Syrah, the 2021 vintage blended Syrah with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Dorsa, and the 2023 vintage is a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend, with Syrah featuring as a signature varietal in several years.
- What is the alcohol content?
- The 2023 vintage is bottled at 12% ABV, per the producer's official retail listing.
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