Aizawa Nouen
Obihiro, Hokkaido

Grapes: Yamasachi
Type: Rosé
Style: Dry, light-bodied
Colour: Deep amber
Alcohol: 10.0%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 10 ppm
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 7-13°C
Production: 1,151 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
The aroma of red fruit such as cranberry and red plum. Also some herbaceous aroma of tomato leaf, fennel and red shiso can be found. Gentle fruitiness and herbal tea-like flavour. More moderate acidity than the previous vintage.

Food pairing
Drool chicken, papaya salad, vegetable tempura, Agedashi Tofu (deep-fried battered tofu soaked in dashi broth), white fish sashimi, grilled salted white fish, Karaage, Indian curry

Winemaking
Ryunosuke, which wowed many natural wine lovers with its 2020 and 2021 vintages, has now arrived with the latest 2022 vintage.The 2022 vintage was affected by a stagnant rainy season front on the Pacific side of Hokkaido, which resulted in 80% of normal sunshine hours in July. Nevertheless, fine weather in September before the harvest allowed for a slight recovery. The vintage has a red fruit aroma and flavour, plus an herbal tea-like impression. The Aizawa Farm in Hokkaido grows Yamasachi, which is registered as an international variety with the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine), completely pesticide-free. After selection, the whole bunches were placed in tanks and underwent carbonic maceration for 40 days in a cool environment of around 5-13°C during the day and 0-5°C at night. After fermentation with wild yeasts, the wine was matured for four months in old oak barrels, bottled unfiltered and unfined and released after about three months.

Yamasachi was developed by crossing an indigenous Japanese variety called Kiyomi, which was developed based on the French variety Seibel 13053 (Cascade), with Yamabudou, the indigenous Japanese mountain grape. The innovative crossing of mountain grapes with wine grape varieties has made it so cold-resistant that it can be grown in regions with temperatures of over -30°C. It also has a rich aroma and flavour. Try the wines made from this unique Japanese grape variety.