Haku
栢
Mongaku Valley Winery
Chardonnay · Pinot Noir · Pinot Gris · Pinotage · Sauvignon Blanc
About this wine
Haku is the lightest and most aromatic of the three main cuvées. Chardonnay-dominant (61% in 2024), it features a bright, Champagne-like complexity with ripe citrus, white flowers, and a clean mineral finish. The subtle influence of Pinot Noir and Pinotage adds delicate structure without weight. Haku is designed for immediate pleasure but also rewards 1–2 years of aging.
A welcoming entry point into Mongaku Valley — bright, floral, and easy to love
Sommelier's Note
"Haku shows what Yoichi Chardonnay can do when it's not trying to be Burgundy — fresher, more mineral, and unmistakably Japanese."
Food Pairings
Best with shellfish (oysters, clams), light seafood, fresh vegetables, herb-forward dishes, and dishes with citrus or mineral salts.
When to drink it
Aperitif, light seafood dinner, Japanese kaiseki, outdoor summer meal
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc
- Style
- White
- Price Range
- ~50 / ¥4,500–5,500
Terroir & Winemaking
Chardonnay-dominant field blend, co-fermented with wild yeasts. Gravity flow, unfined and unfiltered. Enjoy within 1–2 years or hold for greater complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Haku differ from Tochi?
- Haku is lighter and more aromatic, built around Chardonnay's citrus and floral character. Tochi is more structured and umami-driven, built around Pinot Noir. Both are field blends, but Haku is the approachable sibling you'd open first.
- What does Haku taste like?
- Ripe grapefruit, apricot, and white flowers on the nose; on the palate, crisp acidity, subtle bitterness, and a saline mineral finish reminiscent of fine Champagne. Fresh and elegant.
- What food pairs best with Haku?
- Oysters and shellfish are the classic match. Also excellent with light seafood dishes, sea urchin, chilled tofu, herb-forward preparations, and mineral-rich seafood salads.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
楢
Nara
WhitePinotage · Pinot Noir · Pinot Gris · Sauvignon Blanc · Chardonnay
The most distinctive of the trio. Pinotage-dominant (54% in 2024), Nara expresses the unique, spicy character of this rare variety in a blanc de noir style. Floral and honeyed on the nose with lychee, grapefruit pith bitterness, and saline minerality. Pinotage's characteristic spice and structure give Nara a bold, unconventional profile that stands apart from most Japanese whites.
栃
Tochi
WhitePinot Noir · Pinotage · Pinot Gris · Chardonnay · Sauvignon Blanc
Mongaku Valley's flagship cuvée. A Pinot Noir-dominant field blend of 5–7 co-planted varieties, wild-yeast fermented and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2024 vintage comprises Pinot Noir (64%), Pinotage (23%), Pinot Gris (5%), Chardonnay (4%), and Sauvignon Blanc (4%). Despite being a white wine, the dominant Pinot Noir gives Tochi a firm, three-dimensional structure that sets it apart from most whites. The palate shows dashi-like umami, saline minerality, and a complex, long finish.
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Hinoki
WhitePinot Noir · Pinotage · Pinot Gris · Sauvignon Blanc · Chardonnay
The experimental series of the Mongaku Valley lineup. While the three main cuvées (Tochi, Haku, Nara) follow a consistent field blend philosophy, Hinoki explores different winemaking approaches with each vintage — including extended maceration, unusual assemblages, and limited production runs. Some vintages are released as white wine; others as red. Named after Japanese cypress, the only needle-leaf tree among the acorn-named cuvées, reflecting its unconventional character.