About TOMOE Chardonnay Taigetsu
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Price Range
- ¥3,000-4,000
TOMOE Chardonnay Taigetsu ("waiting moon") is the second expression in Hiroshima Miyoshi Winery's flagship Chardonnay lineup, positioned as a more approachable, accessibly priced companion to the winery's top-tier TOMOE Chardonnay Shingetsu ("new moon"). Made from 100% Chardonnay grown in the Miyoshi Basin, where the Go, Basen and Saijo rivers converge in Hiroshima's Chugoku Mountains, the wine is barrel-aged for roughly nine months, developing gentle vanilla and caramel notes over a base of lemon peel, pear and yellow apple fruit with a touch of honeysuckle. Its palate is softer and more immediately drinkable than the Shingetsu's, with smooth, well-integrated acidity and a lingering, citrus-tinged bitterness reminiscent of Japanese yuzu. Taigetsu has earned medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the International Wine Challenge, and the Japan Wine Competition.
Taigetsu proves TOMOE's Chardonnay range excels below its flagship price point — a polished, food-versatile wine that punches well above its ¥3,000-4,000 tag.
New to wine?
A gentle, food-friendly introduction to premium Japanese Chardonnay — serve slightly chilled and let it warm in the glass to reveal its full aromatic range.
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with dashi-based dishes, sake-steamed clams, sautéed chicken, and simmered root vegetables — its bright acidity and gentle bitterness echo the delicate umami of Japanese home cooking.
When to drink it
Ideal for a relaxing evening at home, a Japanese-cuisine dinner, or as a thoughtful gift for wine enthusiasts curious about Japanese Chardonnay.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Chardonnay from vineyards across the Miyoshi Basin, including contract plots at elevations up to 400m; barrel-aged for approximately nine months. This yields a softer, more approachable style than the winery's flagship Shingetsu bottling, which undergoes barrel fermentation, barrel malolactic fermentation, and sur lie aging.
About the producer
Hiroshima Miyoshi WineryHiroshima's pioneering winery, redefining Japanese terroir through its TOMOÉ label三次市, 広島県 · Founded 1994Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What does TOMOE Chardonnay Taigetsu taste like?
- It offers lemon peel, pear, and yellow apple fruit with honeysuckle florals, gentle oak-derived vanilla and caramel notes, smooth well-integrated acidity, and a lingering, citrus-tinged bitterness.
- What food pairs well with it?
- It is best enjoyed with Japanese dishes built on dashi, such as clear soups, sake-steamed clams, sautéed chicken, and simmered root vegetables.
- What is the difference between Taigetsu and Shingetsu ("new moon")?
- Taigetsu ("waiting moon") is the second tier in TOMOE's Chardonnay lineup — a more approachable, affordably priced wine aged in oak for about nine months. Shingetsu ("new moon") is the flagship, made from limited-yield grapes from restricted vineyard plots and vinified with barrel fermentation, barrel malolactic fermentation, and sur lie aging for a more powerful, complex style.
- What does the name "Taigetsu" mean?
- 待月 (Taigetsu) literally means "waiting moon." The name situates this wine as the second expression in the Chardonnay series, following the winery's flagship Shingetsu ("new moon") bottling — both names draw on lunar phases as part of the TOMOE brand's identity.
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