{"id":22865,"date":"2019-02-19T16:01:23","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T16:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/?p=22865"},"modified":"2019-05-20T14:58:28","modified_gmt":"2019-05-20T14:58:28","slug":"nagano-region-japan-7-azumino-winery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/japan\/nagano-region-japan-7-azumino-winery","title":{"rendered":"Nagano region, Japan (7) Azumino Winery"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One of the most beautifully situated wineries in Nagano, Azumino winery was established in 2007 in the Nihon Alps wine valley, in the shadow of the northern alps. Here, on a bright, bracing winter’s day, I met with Akira Kato (chief winemaker) and Kentaro Furukawa (viticulturist).<\/p>\n

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Akira and Kentaro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The winery is owned by Kashiyama, a Vacuum Solutions company who are in the semiconductors business (these need to be made under vacuum). Previoulsy, this location was home to a winery called Azumin Wine but it went bankrupt and Kashiyama decided to take the winery on.<\/p>\n

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The barrel cellar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Azumin were making fruit juice, wine and beer, as well as drinking yoghurt. But Kashiyama decided just to carry on with wine and yoghurt. At this time they cultivated the land round the winery and established vineyards. Now they have 1.8 hectares, and they also have two other plots in the same area taking the total up to 3.2 hectares. The altitude is 700 m.<\/p>\n

In 2008 they planted Chardonnay and Merlot in front of the winery, and a year later planted Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2014 they planted some Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay is the dominant variety (50% of their vineyard, but 20-30% of production), with Merlot second. They also use Concord and Niagara, and make some cider using the traditional Kogyoku variety of apple. It’s a small apple with nice acidity.<\/p>\n

Their production is mainly from this area, and they buy in 70% of their needs from growers. Production is 80 000 bottles per year.<\/p>\n

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Azumino Winery Chardonnay Sparkling 2016 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nInjected method. This is pretty and fruity with nice citrus notes, a touch of white peach and some table grape richness, kept fresh with bubbles. It’s very attractive, with nice balance. 86\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nFrom their own vineyards, harvested 28 September. First release of this was 2016. This is light, clean and fruity. Distinctive elderflower and pear notes on the nose, with a delicate, well balanced palate. Light in style and very attractive, with subtle green notes. 87\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Sauvignin Blanc 2017 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nLight and expressive with some green herbal notes and taut lemony fruit. Stony and quite acidic. Finishes a little short, but it’s an attractive lighter style. 84\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Chardonnay 2016 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nSubtle nuttiness to to rounded, smooth citrus and pear fruit. Unoaked style with nice texture and gentle fruitiness. Simple and pleasant with a hint of caramel on the finish, showing a bit of development. 84\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Chardonnay Barrel Ageing 2017 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nThis is bright with a slight cabbage edge to the attractive citrus fruit. There’s a core of good acidity here and the oak is unobtrusive, smoothing the edges out a bit and adding some spicy framing. Nice fruit here. 88\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Ch\u00e2teau Azumino Chardonnay 2014 Winery Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nFresh, taut and quite Chablis-like in its flavour, this has good acidity under some stony citrus fruit with a hint of yellow plum and just a trace of oak in the background. Very well integrated, showing lovely purity. It is developing very nicely. 91\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Tennoubara Merlot 2017 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\n15 months barrel ageing, 10% new. Lovely weight of fruit here: crunchy raspberry and blackberry fruit with with nice freshness. Good concentration with a bit of spicy detail. This is really good. 91\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Merlot Barrel Ageing 2016 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nSupple and berryish with smooth, rounded, quite bright berry fruits, with some blackcurrant freshness. Stylish and focused with great balance, and lovely fruit intensity. Delivers pleasure. 89\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nHas a strong menthol edge to the nose. Savoury and spicy with some mint and medicine hints as well as blackcurrant fruit and some blackcurrant bud. Astringent finish. This is quite tough. 82\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Ch\u00e2teau Azumino Merlot 2014 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nSavoury, structured and quite spicy with appealing black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, showing some development and firm tannins. Has nice intensity: food friendly style. 86\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Ch\u00e2teau Azumino Special Reserve 2014 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\n65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. This has nice intensity with savoury, spicy character and vivid blackcurrant fruit. It’s very structured with good acidity, and the tannins are quite strong, but there’s enough fruit to counter them. A taut, lean, structured wine with lots of appeal. Hints of tar and medicine here on the finish. 89\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Concord Dry 2016 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nFresh, aromatic nose with cherry jelly and strawberry. The palate is light, juicy and jellyish with nice balance. A good example. 84\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Concord Sweet 2016 Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nAppealing cherry jelly and strawberry aromas. The palate is fruity with some sweetness, but it remains fresh and balanced. Very appealing. 84\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Niagara Dry 2017 Nagano, Japan
\n<\/strong>Reductive with a matchstick edge to the juicy citrus fruit, with a touch of melon. Dry. 80\/100<\/p>\n

Azumino Winery Niagara Sweet Nagano, Japan<\/strong>
\nA bit of matchstick reduction on the nose, but it’s not dominant. Sweet, jellyish fruit on the palate with some lemon and melon character. Attractive and juicy. 82\/100<\/p>\n

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Kogyoku Cider 2015<\/strong>
\nBright, fresh and appealing with fresh appley notes and some stony, nutty hints. Crisp and dry with a juicy finish.<\/p>\n

Kogyoku Dessert Cider 2015<\/strong>
\nAn orange\/bronze colour. The juice was frozen to concentrate the flavour. Beautifully aromatic sweet baked apple nose with a touch of raisin. Very sweet with amazing acidity to counter it. Spicy, intense and rich with lovely flavour, showing apples, raisins and apricot. Remarkable stuff. World class.<\/p>\n

Find these wines with wine-searcher.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Nagano Wine Region (2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n