Asahiyoshu Winery
Soleil Chino Koshu
ソレイユ 千野甲州
Category
Wine
Type
White Wine
Producer
Asahi Yoshu Winery
Production area
Japan Yamanashi Prefecture
Variety
Koshu 100% from Yamanashi Prefecture
Fermentation
French oak barrel for 20 days
Maturation
Oak barrel for 6 months
Capacity
720 mL
ABV
12%
Serving Temperatures
Recommended drinking temperature is around 12°C. As the wine is unfiltered, sediment may form.
Recommended Pairings
seasonal tempura, salmon or trout meunière, chicken dishes, root vegetable stews and gratins, shabu-shabu, sushi, and beef dishes
Tasting from winery
In 2022, weather conditions led to higher acidity and good sugar levels in the grapes. The wine features aromas of quince, lemongrass, pear, chestnut, and biscuit, with citrus fruit flavors and robust acidity. It has a grapefruit-like bitterness in the finish.
On a south-facing clay slope at nearly 600 meters elevation, Mr. Takao Ogawa cultivates Koshu grapes using no-till grass cultivation and short spur pruning, with minimal pesticides. Grapes from this premier vineyard are carefully selected, whole-bunch pressed, and fermented in French oak barrels. The wine is aged for 6 months with 33% new oak.
In 2022, weather conditions led to higher acidity and good sugar levels in the grapes. The wine features aromas of quince, lemongrass, pear, chestnut, and biscuit, with citrus fruit flavors and robust acidity. It has a grapefruit-like bitterness in the finish. For optimal balance, it is recommended to age the wine for a year, though it can age for 10 to 20 years.
About the producer
Photo form Winerly's HP
Wherever you go, there is a gentle flavor,
In 2001, a small, unassuming cooperative winery nestled within a residential area in Yamanashi City, complete with licenses and equipment, was up for sale. It was then taken over by the Suzuki couple, who started the new Asahi Western Liquor the following year.
The first year of brewing was done entirely with purchased grapes, but the initial fermentation of Koshu grapes in barrels won a popularity vote among Yamanashi Prefecture wine enthusiasts held in 2003. In 2004, it was featured in the "World Wine Report 2004" published in the UK, which highlighted that 'an 80-year-old cooperative winemaking facility was revived by a young couple's winemaking team.'
Also, in the special edition of Wine Kingdom called "Japanese Wine Archipelago", the 2003 Soleil Koshu was selected as one of the 36 specially chosen domestic wines.
Since then, the winery has consistently made good wine from healthy grapes, earning positive evaluations from customers, among others.
Starting in 2018, at the 'Japan Winery Award', they gained an additional star in 2020, achieving a four-star rating, which is the second-highest level in the five-star system.
About the Production Area
Japan Yamanashi Prefecture
Photo form Winerly's HP