About Sakura Saku Merlot
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Price Range
- ¥6,500
- excl. tax
- Alcohol
- 12%
SAKURA Saku Merlot 2024 is Sakura Vineyard's debut 100% Merlot red, grown on the winery's own plots in Sakura City, Chiba. A brutally hot 2024 summer caused shatter (fruit loss) on the vineyard's still-young Merlot vines, so the harvest — and the resulting bottling — was tiny: just 55 bottles at 12% ABV. The wine opens with fruity aromas of blueberry and cassis, framed by bright acidity and firm, well-integrated tannins. It was vinified at Mugi to Budou Ushiku Brewery in Ibaraki Prefecture under winemaker Rie Sano.
Sakura Vineyard's first-ever bottled Merlot, born from a brutal, fruit-thinning heat wave — just 55 bottles exist, and each one over-delivers with blueberry-cassis depth wrapped in firm, food-ready tannins.
New to wine?
A rare, ultra-small-batch Japanese Merlot — approachable tannins and juicy blueberry fruit make it an easy entry into red wine.
Food Pairings
A natural match for red meat dishes and grilled unagi (eel), where its firm tannins and bright acidity cut through richness. Also pairs well with hearty stews and aged cheeses.
When to drink it
Special-occasion dinners featuring red meat or unagi; a rare bottle worth seeking out for wine collectors.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Merlot from estate vines in Sakura City, Chiba. The 2024 growing season's extreme heat caused shatter on the still-young Merlot plantings, resulting in a very limited yield. Vinified at Mugi to Budou Ushiku Brewery (Ushiku, Ibaraki) under winemaker Rie Sano. 750ml bottle, 12% ABV, only 55 bottles produced.
About the producer
Sakura VineyardReviving abandoned Chiba farmland into rosé sparkling wine佐倉市, 千葉県Visit the producer page →More wines from Sakura Vineyard
- SAKURA Mau Rosé SparklingSparkling · Pinot Noir · Chardonnay
- Sakura Saku BlancWhite · Sauvignon Blanc · Riesling
- Sakura Saku ChardonnayWhite · Chardonnay
- Sakura Saku OrangeWhite · Pinot Gris
- Sakura Saku Pinot NoirRed · Pinot Noir
- Sakura Saku Pinot Noir ColzaRed · Pinot Noir
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape variety is used in SAKURA Saku Merlot?
- It is made from 100% Merlot grown on Sakura Vineyard's own plots in Sakura City, Chiba — the winery's first-ever Merlot release.
- How many bottles were produced?
- Just 55 bottles, due to extreme summer heat in 2024 causing shatter (fruit loss) on the still-young Merlot vines.
- What food pairs well with this wine?
- Red meat dishes and grilled unagi (eel) are classic matches, thanks to the wine's firm tannins and bright acidity.
- Who made this wine?
- It was vinified at Mugi to Budou Ushiku Brewery in Ibaraki Prefecture, under winemaker Rie Sano.
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