Grace Akeno Rouge 2023

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 2023 is 58% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. 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 — 94+ points (22 January 2026)
"Blue and red fruit, tobacco, cedar and pencil oak, spice, some blue flowers. Medium-bodied, crisp berry acidity attack, a quiet grainy grip to tannin, some nut and tobacco flavours in with fresh blackberry and redcurrant, with a lively finish of excellent length. Needs a little time, but very stylish and good."
Read the full review at The Wine Front