Grace Akeno Rouge 2020

Aiming for a wine that provides a glimpse of the place where it is from, we have decided to combine the three second wines “Grace Merlot”, “Grace Cabernet Sauvignon” and “Grace Cabernet Franc”, whose varieties are listed on the front label, into a single wine from the 2017 vintage.
This new wine is “Akeno”, the name reflects our cherishment of its origin. It is a blend of three varieties from a single vineyard, or a “wine with a view” of where it is from. After rigorous selection in the vineyard and the winery, small lots were selected and vinified separately with scrupulous attention to details as well as gentle extraction. Each variety or lot was matured in French oak barrels and bottled without clarification or filtration.

Grace Akeno Rouge 2020
Posted on 25 July 2023. WINEFRONT – GARY WALSH

Merlot 63%, Cabernet Sauvignon 28%, Cabernet Franc 8%, and Petit Verdot 1% It’s the 100th anniversary wine from Grace.
Raspberry, dried cranberry, quite spicy with cinnamon and clove, charcoal, some sundried tomato, kombu and pepper. It’s medium-bodied, cherry and plum, nutty grainy tannin, distinct savoury spice, but also quite a ‘mineral’ thing with some ripe tomato tang, yet sweet squished strawberry vanilla flavour too, and a finish of excellent length. It’s umami, yet there’s something of a strawberry Kit Kat sweetness in the mix. and gee, I really like it all up. A very different expression of these grape varieties, but really good.
Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : Jul23
Alcohol : 13%