Aizawa Nouen
Obihiro, Hokkaido

Grapes: Yamasachi
Type: Red
Style: Dry, light-bodied
Colour: Medium garnet
Alcohol: 11.0%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 10 ppm 
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 10-13°C
Production: 1,008 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, ripe plum and pomegranate are layered with notes of cassis and cranberry jam. Hints of red shiso and thyme add a herbal lift, alongside a touch of wet stone minerality and a faint yoghurt-like nuance. On the palate, flavours of ripe red and dark berries, cranberry, redcurrant, pomegranate and plum unfold with a subtle hint of cinnamon spice and herbal complexity. The tannins are light, supported by well-balanced acidity, leading to a savoury, umami-tinged finish. It is best enjoyed within three days of opening.

Food pairing
Roast duck breast, marinated tuna (maguro no zuke), teriyaki yellowtail, seared beef tataki, charcoal-grilled mushrooms, nikudōfu (beef and tofu stew), sukiyaki, tempura of mountain vegetables, lamb chops, Peking duck, beef stir-fried with black beans, gai yang (Thai grilled chicken), sweet and sour pork, pan-fried gyoza.

Winemaking
We have been importing “Ryunosuke” every year since the earliest days of GUBI GUBI, and the latest 2024 vintage has just arrived.

At Aizawa Farm, the grape variety Yamasachi—registered as an international variety by the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine)—is grown entirely without pesticides. In 2024, the vineyard enjoyed stable weather from spring budbreak right through to harvest. Although there was a major outbreak of scarab beetles in July, the farm was still able to pick grapes of the highest quality to date, making this a truly excellent vintage.

After careful sorting, the grapes underwent 40 days of whole-bunch carbonic maceration. Following pressing, the wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks with wild yeasts, then aged for five months in old barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Only a very small amount of sulphites was added at bottling. While this cuvée is usually released as a rosé, the 2024 vintage shows a deeper colour thanks to fully ripened Yamasachi grapes, and is therefore offered this year as a red wine.

Yamasachi is a uniquely Japanese grape variety, developed by crossing Yamabudo, a native wild grape, with Kiyomi—a Japanese variety originally bred from the French grape Seibel 13053. This innovative hybrid has exceptional cold resistance, capable of thriving even in regions where temperatures fall below -30°C, while still delivering generous aromatics and depth of flavour.

We invite you to discover a wine made from this distinctive, high-quality Japanese grape variety.

Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 68 kcal
Fat: 0 g
 - Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 1.5 g
 - Sugar: 1.5 g
Protein: 0.2 g
Salt: 0g