Grace Koshu Cuvée Misawa Akeno Vineyard 2020

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.

Cuvée Misawa Akeno Vineyard Koshu comes from the Misawa Vineyard in Akeno, Yamanashi — 700m altitude, on clay and volcanic soil. Fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel, the wine keeps its focus on the variety's natural delicacy and site character rather than oak influence. 2020 produced 4,460 bottles, from what's regarded as a very good vintage for Grace.

The Wine Front — 95 points (1 February 2022)
"Subtle as ever. I'm thinking pear, white flowers, a little spice and white pepper, a subtle seaweed/green herb top note. It's firm in the mouth with a fine chalky texture, lemon zest, a subtle nuts in caramel thing, and some bitterness, with kind of grainy but fresh acidity, and plenty of length. Hard to describe in a way, but beautiful to drink. I think it should age very nicely."
Read the full review at The Wine Front