Alexander Vadas

9.0

Good Acidity and lively. Surprising Japanese wine! — 8 years ago

John Lumley

9.3

Paired beautifully with scallops — 9 years ago

Lawrence Asrikin

9.0

Beautifully made wine from a non-traditional wine growing region. What impress me the most is the fact that it does not attempt to copy a popular, easy-to-pronounce, and most likely French varietal such as Merlot or Chardonnay for the sake of sales and marketing. Kōshū has been grown in Japan for 1000+ years . White peach, pear, and fresh cut grass on the nose. Delicate almonds, citrus and mineral on the palate. — 9 years ago

Ichiro Kawachi

8.9

Pumpkin color and bouquet like grilled lobster shell and saffron?! Paired with a bisque. — 10 years ago

Pazzu Zu

8.9

At last a japanese red. Short at first but opened up and with kansai beef... — 11 years ago

Kanako Fujino

9.0

微発泡で華やかな甲州の白 クレマチスの か・ほ・り ♡ — 11 years ago

Omar 'Nacho' Campos

9.0

2014 vintage, from a tank sample: very floral, jasmine, white tea, melon intense nose; palate with flavours of citrus, melon and white flowers; well structured, good freshness and a lovely finish — 11 years ago

Thomas

9.2

grape Koshu
2013 — 12 years ago

Shigeru Kiuchi

9.2

甲州 アップルの香り なかなか素晴らしい。 — 13 years ago

Massa Yamashita

10

#winytokyo — 13 years ago

Phillip Tiongson

10

Sushi Nakazawa almond notes sweeter — 9 years ago

Rob McCaughey

9.4

The first guys to re-introduce Kijoshu back in '73 and they know their stuff.

Forget about Madeira - drink this instead — 9 years ago

Josh Copeland

9.4

Fantastic Koshu. Any Sherry drinker that can't appreciate the oxidative and reductive qualities of this product is just being spiteful. — 10 years ago

Betsy Andrews

9.0

Unctuous and funky. Perfect w the seaweed flour pasta w yuzu koshu butter sauce and house-dried scallop "bottarga" I am enjoying it w. — 10 years ago

Austin Ferrari

Wine Director Hillside Supper Club

9.3

Brunch gifts! — 11 years ago

Nose Reiko

9.3

Slightly green aroma, fruity, umami, but soothing to the thought — 11 years ago

kazuyo

9.7

ルミエール ペティヤン。
辛口で、後から苦味がある。
なんだろ、みかんの皮⁉️白いところを食べた時みたいな( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉシャンパーニュ方式。 — 11 years ago

Carla Hine

9.1

@ Narisawa (Tokyo). Like a lovely Sauvignon Blanc — 11 years ago

Mike Matsumoto

9.5

表参道、みな瀬でご馳走になったワイン。高級感ありあり。 — 12 years ago

Massa Yamashita

10

#winytokyo — 13 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château Mercian – Koshu “Gris de Gris” 2015
Yamanashi Prefecture – Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
Koshu, Japan’s signature white grape, is believed to trace its origins back over 1,000 years via the Silk Road. “Gris de Gris” refers to its slightly pinkish-gray skins, which receive gentle maceration before fermentation, giving the wine a pale onion-skin hue and added depth. Château Mercian, one of Japan’s most historic wineries, elevates Koshu into a refined and distinctive style.

Aromas & Flavors
Subtle yet intriguing: citrus blossom, white peach, yuzu, and delicate pear, intertwined with mineral undertones. The brief skin contact lends nuance of almond skin, faint spice, and a gentle savory edge.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied but textural, with crisp acidity and a fine, almost saline minerality. The wine shows elegance rather than intensity, finishing clean, dry, and graceful.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside sushi and sashimi, steamed shellfish, or light tempura. Its umami-friendly profile also makes it a fascinating partner for miso-based dishes or soba noodles.

Verdict
A sophisticated expression of Japan’s most emblematic grape. This 2015 Koshu Gris de Gris shows how delicacy and refinement can carry as much weight as power, offering a subtle but unforgettable wine experience. Cheers!

🍇 Educational Note: Koshu is unique among international varieties—it’s naturally low in alcohol, softly perfumed, and deeply tied to Japan’s culinary heritage. Styles like “Gris de Gris” demonstrate how traditional Japanese precision in winemaking can highlight elegance over boldness. — 9 years ago

Ben de Vin

8.9

Perfect compliment to Japanese food — 10 years ago

Kathryn Sabol

9.6

Smells like a Sauvignon blanc, tastes like a muscadet. Floral and light citrus on the nose, peach and mango on the palate. — 10 years ago

Saori Uchimura

8.9

青ゆずのような、爽やかな香り — 11 years ago

Jamie Graves

9.3

One of the best aged sake I've tried. Cocoa, umami but not too heavy, super drinkable. — 11 years ago

Richard

9.5

グレイス甲州に次いで好き — 11 years ago

Erica Jobe

10

Yes!!!!! 😍 Nice with a little spice! — 11 years ago

Tsuyoshi Motobe

8.9

knife with little sweetness — 12 years ago

Diego Lagunas

9.7

Actually very nice. Smooth buttery but not overpowering with a little barnyard to match — 13 years ago

Vanessa Christensen

10

I use to buy this wine from Kaldi Coffee Farm in Aeon Mall — 13 years ago