About Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Price Range
- Approx. ¥6,600-7,300
- varies by vintage and retailer stock
- Alcohol
- 13%
Merlot is the flagship red of Nasu Wine (Watanabe Vineyard Brewery) in Nasushiobara, Tochigi, made from estate-grown Merlot trained in the Guyot system that owner Yoshinari Watanabe began planting in 2002 after studying in Bordeaux. It is a ruby-colored, full-bodied red with aromas of cassis, dark berries, oak-derived vanilla, and earthy nuances, showing soft yet powerful tannins. Bottles are typically released with bottle age and can develop further elegance and finesse with additional cellaring.
The wine that proves Nasu can do serious Bordeaux-style Merlot — cassis and vanilla oak wrapped in soft, age-worthy tannins from a winery with 140 years of history.
New to wine?
An approachable, food-friendly full-bodied red — soft tannins and ripe dark-fruit character make it a gentle introduction to serious Japanese Merlot.
Food Pairings
A natural match for grilled or roasted beef with rich sauces, lamb chops, and aged hard cheeses; the soft tannins also work well with slow-braised dishes.
When to drink it
Dinner with grilled meats, special occasions, wines to cellar and revisit over the years
Terroir & Winemaking
Estate-grown Merlot from Guyot-trained vines planted from 2002 onward on the Watanabe family's Nasushiobara vineyard; vinified and aged using Bordeaux-influenced techniques, released with some bottle age (vintages sold at retail include 2004-2006) and capable of further cellaring.
About the producer
Nasu Wine140-year-old Tochigi winery fusing heritage craft with Bordeaux training.那須塩原市, 栃木県 · Founded 1884Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape variety is Nasu Wine's Merlot made from?
- It is made from Merlot grown on the Watanabe family's own vineyard in Nasushiobara, Tochigi, using Guyot-trained vines planted from 2002, distinct from the winery's Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend 'Black Mahogany'.
- What does Nasu Wine's Merlot taste like?
- It is a ruby-colored, full-bodied red with cassis and dark berry fruit, oak-derived vanilla, and earthy nuances, backed by soft but powerful tannins that soften further with bottle age.
- What food pairs well with Nasu Wine's Merlot?
- Its full body and soft tannins pair well with grilled or braised beef in rich sauces, lamb, and aged hard cheeses, as well as richly seasoned Japanese beef dishes like sukiyaki.
- Can Nasu Wine's Merlot be cellared?
- Yes. It is typically released with some bottle age already, and retailers note that further cellaring lets it develop additional elegance and finesse over time.
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