Trio '20

About this wine

Trio '20 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Rue de Vin, a pioneering estate winery in Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture. Made entirely from estate-grown grapes on the cool, high-altitude slopes above the Chikuma River, the wine combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The 2020 growing season brought difficult weather during ripening and a reduced harvest, prompting winemaker Hideaki Koyama to lean more heavily on Cabernet Franc to round out the blend, giving this vintage a roughly 3:2:1 ratio of Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon to Cabernet Franc. The result is a wine that leads with Merlot's supple red-and-black fruit, backed by Cabernet Sauvignon's structure and spice, with Cabernet Franc adding a lifted, herbal-edged freshness.

Sommelier's Note

"The 2020 vintage of Trio tells the story of a difficult harvest turned into a virtue — a Merlot-led blend given extra lift and freshness by a higher share of Cabernet Franc, proof that Tomi's Bordeaux varieties can adapt vintage to vintage without losing their sense of place."

Food Pairings

A natural match for grilled or roasted red meats — lamb chops, roast beef, and duck breast — as well as aged hard cheeses. On the Japanese side, it pairs beautifully with sukiyaki, beef tataki, and grilled unagi glazed with a soy-based tare, where the wine's fruit and light spice stand up to the umami and sweetness of the sauce.

When to drink it

Everyday dinners with grilled meat, casual gatherings with friends, or a first step into Japanese red wine.

Specs

Grape Varieties

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Style

Red

Vintage

2020

Price Range

¥5,000-6,000

Terroir & Winemaking

Grapes are hand-harvested from Rue de Vin's own vineyards in Tomi City and vinified with minimal intervention — low SO2 additions, no fining, and no filtration — in keeping with the estate's house style. The 2020 vintage's tighter harvest led to a Merlot-forward blend rounded out with a larger proportion of Cabernet Franc than in other vintages of this cuvée.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grapes are in Rue de Vin's Trio '20?

Trio '20 is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grown at Rue de Vin's estate vineyards in Tomi City, Nagano, in an approximate 3:2:1 ratio for this vintage.

What does Trio '20 taste like?

Expect soft red and black fruit from the Merlot, gentle spice and structure from Cabernet Sauvignon, and a fresh, herbal lift from Cabernet Franc, with moderate tannins overall.

What food pairs well with Trio '20?

It pairs well with grilled and roasted red meats, aged cheese, and umami-rich Japanese dishes such as sukiyaki or soy-glazed grilled eel.

Why is Cabernet Franc more prominent in the 2020 vintage?

Difficult weather during the 2020 growing season reduced the harvest, so winemaker Hideaki Koyama used a higher proportion of Cabernet Franc to balance the blend, giving this vintage its distinctive character.