Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Grace Koshu 2023 – Yamanashi GI, Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
Produced from 100% Koshu, Japan’s signature indigenous white grape, this wine is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel to preserve purity and transparency. Grown in the elevated vineyards of Katsunuma, Yamanashi, it beautifully expresses the restrained elegance that has made Grace Wine an international benchmark for Japanese fine wine.

Aromas & Flavors
Yuzu, lemon peel, green apple, white peach, Asian pear, and delicate white flowers lead into subtle mineral notes with hints of wet stone and citrus zest. Delicate rather than aromatic, everything is driven by finesse.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, a steely mineral backbone, and exceptional precision. The texture recalls the purity of Chablis with a subtle sake-like silkiness, finishing remarkably clean, refreshing, and focused.

Food Pairings
Sashimi, sushi, crudo, oysters, grilled white fish, tempura, steamed shellfish, or lightly seasoned Japanese cuisine.

Verdict
An elegant expression of Japan’s flagship white grape that prioritizes freshness, balance, and precision over power. Refined, mineral-driven, and wonderfully food-friendly, it stands comfortably among the world’s finest delicate white wines.

Did You Know?
Koshu has been cultivated in Japan for nearly 1,000 years and is believed to descend from ancient grapes that traveled along the Silk Road before adapting to Japan’s humid climate. Today, Yamanashi is considered the spiritual home of premium Koshu wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
One of the purest and most distinctive white wines I’ve experienced. Its combination of crystalline freshness, mineral precision, and understated elegance makes it a benchmark not only for Japanese wine, but for delicate, terroir-driven whites anywhere in the world. It has earned a permanent place among my favorite food wines. — 11 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Okay…so I entered the night fully aware that we were going to be taking down some unicorns…but this?!  I wasn’t prepared for this. I walked into the room, greeted my fellow brothers-in-wine and began to set my contributions next to the other bottles in the line-up. I casually scanned from left to right in complete wonder at what was on display…and stopped halfway, as my eyes recognized a label from the recesses of my memory. A label that had been filed away under the category of “Academic” since there was very little likelihood that I would ever see a bottle, let alone have an opportunity to enjoy it. And yet, here I was, in a small town north of Lincoln, NE, staring in disbelief at a bottle of 1990 Gentaz-Dervieux. I turned to our host who, at this point, was smiling at me; like a childhood friend who had invited me over to play with his GI Joe Aircraft Carrier, the U.S.S. FLAGG. “F***ing Gentaz?!”

The nose? Magic. Brambles, granite, mushrooms, cumin, espresso, purple flowers, leather, smoke; so sanguine, so savory. Vinous. Rustic. Tremendous with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. I took my time. Drink now through 2035+. — 2 years ago

Ove Rekstad

9.0

Lars ville gi 9.1. — 7 years ago

with Lars

Aaron Tan

9.2

I heard something today on IDTT that exemplifies tasting this wine - never explicitly was the term "great" terrior used, but I think it's safe to say that the discussion was about great terrior. A "great" vineyard isn't necessarily better than others in terms of quality... Or even necessarily need to represent the covering GI... but it is "great" because of clarity. It produces a unique expression CONSTANTLY, irrespective of vintage or producer. In short, it speaks precisely of a place... Cliché but truly. And that's Pettenthal! Time and time again I've seen this. With KP, Kai, Gunderloch, Kuhling-Gillot. Pettenthal is great and this wine sealed it for me.

Brought this to blind KP. It was an obvious choice since KP's tiny super plot was once part of FK Schmitt's holdings. Despite the differences with KP's insane 17' auction wine (vintage, style, vineyard size, philosophy), this wine was clearly Pettenthal. That cool and smoky elements that I've learned to associate with the vineyard, fine minerally backbone. Damn! This has to be one of the most tightly focused aged Auslese's I've had in a while. What a pristine bottle - all thanks to Roland's exquisite sourcing skills. Stone fruits, petrol, honey, spice, umami elements. Finish was admittedly one-dimensional. Could be longer. Still, what a lovely #rieslingstudy — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

After a little bit of a hiatus with my wife suffering from GI issues, I have been a little bit off my delectable game. This wine sort of re-centered me and brought me back into the game! First one in a while that I have wanted to post! What an incredibly rich and robust Cabernet. Oakville fruit, and you can taste the oak, blackberry, cinnamon, still extremely tannic. I cannot imagine rating a 2013 or 14 version of this wine, because I just don't think it's possible at this point. This one still needs an hour or two to open up, but is a 94 even after immediately pouring — 9 years ago

Alex Riordan

9.9

Friendsgiving 2025! Amazing from Gi — 8 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

A bit deep ruby red. Oak, plum, strawberry, raspberry. Sweet, gentle acidity. Minerals. Slight rich. 2nd day, highly balanced fruitiness with slight saltish!! Delicious wine!! 8.8 => 9.0 Dalrymple Pinot Noir 2022 GI Tasmania 22 @5789, Uki, 250405-250420 — a year ago

Jared O'Connell

9.0

I’ve kept this in our collection just chilling for 6 years. And ya know what…it was worth the wait. This isn’t anything special really but the time has brought out those “aged Riesling” qualities that I was hoping for. For $19 at bqe…it’s a good deal if you have the space to stash a bottle properly for more than just a few years. Nose: stretch Armstrong, GI Joe right out of the box, the McDonalds happy meal toy right after you rip open the plastic wrap. But also some sweet ripe citrus. Body/structure/palette: medium body, ripe peachy stone fruit boldness, that petrol is fuckin there but it’s not overwhelming. There’s some peach dum dums happening. Lingering mouth feel. Finish is pretty long with a hint of sour bitterness and candied yellow fruits. I need to do this with more Alsace Riesling and let it sit for 6+ years!! — a year ago

Adam Usdan

9.1

Black fruit, smoke , 2 grapes rich smooth finish, concentrated — 4 years ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.0

Made by Kurt Russell (with assistance from Ampelos). Big Trouble in Santa Barbara! — 7 years ago

Mike Swann

9.4

She spoke Spanish. I was a GI. My Spanish was terrible. The next morning I was fluent. — 7 years ago

with Dan

Douglas Braun

8.9

This is not the same as the wine mentioned leads with Cabernet Sauvignon 40% Merlot 30% Cabernet Franc 29% and 1% Petit Verdot - with that out of the way - nice restrained currants and blackberry fruit oak background somewhat young ( Hawkes Bay GI ) tannins medium to medium plus like to have this in a 3-4 year ax — 8 years ago

Dimitris Karyamis

10

Very refreshing, light, loved it — a year ago

Mark S.

8.9

Greenish yellow. Oak, vanilla and honey. Minerals. Slight citrus, melon. Acidic ++. Grapefruit, fresh. Initial aroma is like CA, but later on, feel elegancy. It would be better after acidity becomes calm. Dalrymple CAVE BLOCK CHARDONNAY GI Tasmania 19 @5976, Uki, 250405-250501 — a year ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.0

Chardonnay 70%, whire muscat 15%, viogner 15%
Extrely fruit driven
Muscat is king

Summer drink
Aperitif or matching a fat white fish like flounder or barramundi.
Not for everyone, but super interesting — 2 years ago

Mark Turton

10

It’s new. It exciting. A rose, dry but full of a fruity strawberry flavour. — 3 years ago

Jon Robinson

9.3

The inaugural vintage for cornerstone. Wine maker was Bruce Scotland. Two GI docs from Memphis got into the wine business. I bought this in 2001 at auction. To my surprise the wine is absolutely delicious. Not caught up in the high alcohol this wine is 13.5%. All mint, eucalyptus and tamed mountain tannin. — 6 years ago

Yutaka Hisaeda

10

20190710 with GI. Smooth flavour and suit with seafood. — 7 years ago

Hiroshi Otsubo

9.5

Just 1002 bottles has been produced. Very limited and the taste was so good. — 8 years ago

Giancarlo Cicero

9.0

Gi-normous! — 9 years ago