Grace Akeno Rouge 2019

Grace Winery (Chuo Budoshu) was founded in 1923 by Chotaro Misawa in Katsunuma, Yamanashi Prefecture — the birthplace of Japan's wine industry. It remains family-run today, led by winemaker Ayana Misawa, Chotaro's great-great-granddaughter, and is considered a benchmark for quality in Japanese winemaking.

Akeno Rouge is a single-vineyard blend from the Misawa Vineyard in Akeno — the name a deliberate mark of respect for its origin, and a "wine with a view" of exactly where it comes from. The 2019 is 44% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. After rigorous selection in both vineyard and winery, small lots were vinified separately with scrupulous attention to detail and gentle extraction, then each variety matured in French oak barrels and bottled without fining or filtration.

The Wine Front — 95 points (20 January 2022)
"There's such detail, delicacy and perfume here, which I find so appealing; a light but sure touch. Blackcurrant, raspberry, violet and cedar, a little spice and fern and green tea-like fragrance. It's light to medium-bodied, fresh and 'mineral', light fine tannin, crisp and quite stony. So precise, redcurrant and subtle green notes, and a fine long finish of excellent length. Mouth-watering and delightful. Love this wine."
Read the full review at The Wine Front