About this wine
Izutsu Merlot Kikyogahara is the everyday-drinking expression of Merlot from Izutsu Wine, one of the founding wineries of Nagano's Kikyogahara district — Japan's most acclaimed appellation for the variety. The wine is made entirely from Merlot grown on the high river terrace on the right bank of the Narai River within Kikyogahara, and carries GI Nagano certification. Vinified without oak, as part of Izutsu's minimal-intervention, no-added-preservative series, it shows a deep ruby color, aromas of cassis and cherry with hints of violet and spice, and a soft, medium-bodied palate with gentle, well-integrated tannins. At around ¥2,550 for a 720ml bottle, it offers genuine Kikyogahara Merlot character at an accessible, everyday price.
A soft, approachable medium-bodied red — a gentle first taste of what Japanese Merlot can be.
Sommelier's Note
"Kikyogahara is Japan's most celebrated address for Merlot, and this Izutsu bottling delivers real varietal character — soft cassis and cherry fruit with gentle tannins — at a genuinely everyday price."
Food Pairings
Its soft tannins and bright red-fruit character make it versatile with pasta in tomato or meat sauce, roast or grilled chicken, and pork dishes.
When to drink it
Everyday dinners, pasta night, casual gatherings
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Alcohol
- 12.5
- Price Range
- ¥2,500-3,000
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from 100% Merlot grown on the high river terrace on the right bank of the Narai River within the Kikyogahara district — a GI Nagano certified single-district bottling. Part of Izutsu's minimal-intervention, no-added-preservative series, it is vinified without oak aging (unlike Izutsu's separate barrel-aged Merlot Tarujuku bottling) to preserve the fresh, pure character of the fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Izutsu Merlot Kikyogahara taste like?
- Deep ruby in color with aromas of cassis and cherry, hints of violet and spice, soft round fruit, and gentle, well-integrated tannins — a dry, medium-bodied red.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Its soft tannins and bright fruit make it versatile with pasta in tomato or meat sauce, roast chicken, and pork dishes.
- What temperature should it be served at?
- Best enjoyed at 12-16°C (54-61°F), slightly cooler than typical red wine serving temperature.
- Is this an oaked wine?
- No — unlike Izutsu's barrel-aged Merlot (Merlot Tarujuku), this bottling is unoaked, preserving a fresher, more fruit-forward character.
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Izutsu Merlot Barrel-aged
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Izutsu Merlot Barrel-aged is a full-bodied dry red wine made entirely from Merlot grapes grown on Izutsu Wine's estate and contracted vineyards around Shiojiri, Nagano. Fruit from three distinct sub-areas of the Kikyogahara appellation -- Kikyogahara proper, Naraigawa, and Iwatarihara -- is fermented separately, each lot aged for roughly 18 months in French oak barrels before final blending to balance the character of each site. The result is a soft, fruit-forward Merlot with added depth and richness from extended oak aging. The wine is certified as a GI Nagano Premium product, the appellation's highest quality tier, and has been awarded Silver (2012) and Gold (2015) at the Japan Wine Competition, cementing its reputation as one of the definitive barrel-aged Merlots of Japan.
井筒ワイン 無添加 生にごりワイン コンコード
Izutsu Additive-free Concord
RedConcord
Izutsu Additive-free Concord is a seasonal, unfiltered 'nama' (fresh) red wine made entirely from Concord grapes grown in Kikyogahara, Shiojiri, Nagano — the same appellation that produces Izutsu's celebrated Merlot. Bottled directly from the fermentation tank near the end of primary fermentation, with no added sulfites, no heat pasteurization, and only minimal filtration, it preserves the grape's raw, juice-like vibrancy. The result is a semi-sweet, cloudy (nigori) red with a distinctly grapey, candy-like aroma and a soft, easy-drinking palate. Because residual yeast activity continues in the bottle, it often carries a gentle natural spritz that can intensify with time and warmth, so it must be kept refrigerated (10°C or below) and is best enjoyed soon after purchase. Released once a year as a limited autumn 'shinshu' (new wine), it sells out quickly each season.
井筒シャルドネ
Izutsu Chardonnay
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Izutsu Chardonnay is the entry-level, unoaked dry white from Izutsu Wine, one of Nagano's oldest and most decorated wineries, based in the Kikyogahara district of Shiojiri. The grapes are grown on volcanic clay-loam soils shaped by ash from Mt. Norikura and Mt. Ontake, which naturally produce high acidity; malolactic fermentation softens this into a clean, well-balanced dry white. Vinified without oak to preserve varietal purity, it shows a crisp, precise profile with green apple and citrus notes, gentle fruit weight, and a refreshing mineral finish. The wine is GI Nagano certified and won a Silver Medal at the 2024 Japan Wine Competition. It sits alongside Izutsu's barrel-aged (Tarujuku) and single-vineyard Chardonnay bottlings as the winery's approachable, fruit-forward everyday expression of the variety.