About Grand Cuvée Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Price Range
- ¥3,300-3,600
Grand Cuvée Merlot is the red-wine counterpart to Ikeda Winery's flagship Grand Cuvée Koshu, made from 100% Merlot grown in Katsunuma, Yamanashi. Unlike the winery's Select Red — a Merlot-based blend with Syrah (or, in some vintages, Cabernet Sauvignon) — Grand Cuvée Merlot is a single-varietal bottling, fermented with extended maceration to draw out deep color and flavor, then aged in oak barrels for about a year. Minimal filtration is used to preserve the grape's natural richness and individuality. The result is a concentrated, full-bodied red with dense dark-fruit character, velvety tannins and a lingering, toasted-oak-inflected finish — priced and positioned above Select Red as one of Ikeda Winery's most ambitious red bottlings, released only in limited quantity each vintage (the 2023 Grand Cuvée Syrah counterpart has sold out).
This is Ikeda Winery's most serious red — a single-varietal Merlot with real concentration and oak structure that sets it apart from the winery's blended, everyday reds.
New to wine?
A great way to taste what Japanese Merlot can achieve at its most concentrated — rich and structured, but with smooth, approachable tannins.
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with grilled red meats, roasted lamb, and aged cheeses. Its concentrated fruit and firm tannins also stand up well to soy-based Japanese dishes such as sukiyaki, teriyaki grilled chicken, and unagi kabayaki.
When to drink it
Ideal for special dinners, celebratory occasions, or as a thoughtful gift for wine enthusiasts who appreciate single-varietal, barrel-aged Japanese reds.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Merlot grown in Katsunuma, Koshu City, Yamanashi. Fermented with extended maceration to extract color, flavor and tannin, then aged in oak barrels for roughly one year. Minimal filtration is used to retain the grape's natural character. Produced in limited quantity each vintage.
About the producer
Ikeda WineryFamily-crafted Koshu and Muscat Bailey A from the heart of Katsunuma甲州市, 山梨県 · Founded 1995Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Grand Cuvée Merlot taste like?
- Rich, concentrated dark-fruit flavors with notes of toasted oak, supported by soft, velvety tannins and a long finish.
- How is it different from Ikeda Winery's Select Red?
- Select Red is a Merlot-based blend (with Syrah or, in some vintages, Cabernet Sauvignon), while Grand Cuvée Merlot is 100% Merlot, aged in oak for about a year, and positioned above Select Red as a more concentrated, higher-priced bottling.
- What food should I pair it with?
- It pairs well with grilled red meats and roasted lamb, and also complements soy-based Japanese dishes like sukiyaki and teriyaki chicken.
- Is this wine widely available?
- It is produced in limited quantity each vintage; the winery's related Grand Cuvée Shiraz bottling has sold out in past vintages, so early purchase is recommended.
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