Grace Blanc de Blancs
VINTAGE 2016
This sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay grapes from our own vineyard in Akeno town, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and is vinified using whole bunch press, fermentation in old French oak barrels, and secondary fermentation in the bottle, and a long maturation period of 60 months in the bottle.
It is characterised by fresh but complex flavours derived from long bottle ageing, the supple acidity and delicate mouthfeel of a Blanc de Blancs, and fine bubbles deriving from second fermentation in bottle.
Detail
Basic Data
- Production area
- Misawa Vineyard, Akeno town (cho), Yamanashi Prefecture
- Grape variety
- Chardonnay
- Altitude
- 700m
- Soil
- Clayey volcanic ash
- Vinification
- Second fermentation in bottle, 60 months maturation in bottle
- Type
- White
- Style
- Extra Brut (dry)
- Best to drink
- 2024+
Tasting Notes
Lemonish yellow. The effervescence from the bottom of the glass is fine and persistent. Not only are there fresh fruits aromas such as lemon, orange, and green apple and lovely floral characters, there are also toastiness derived from the second fermentation in the bottle and an attractive honey aroma, wrapped around by the noble power and boldness of a refreshing blanc de blancs. The carefully crafted mousse is fine, creamy and pleasant. On the palate, a pleasing acidity outlining the structure reminiscent of Côte des Blancs, layers of fruit, nuts and honey flavors superimposed on each other, and the lingering finish retains the umami of the long in-bottle ageing.
Vintage
2016
Budbreak in 2016 started earliest compared to record, due to the higher than usual temperature following the warm winter. May continued to be balmier than normal, and sunshine hours were abundant, bringing shoot growth and bloom ahead of schedule.
The weather during the worrying rainy season was better than expected, but from mid- to late August, cloudy weather persisted due to the effects of typhoon, succeeded by the autumn rain front. The blue sky returned again early September, but there was continual rainfall for about a month after, yielding the lowest daylight hours we experienced in the last few years. It was a series of hard vineyard work towards maturity, including the removal of diseased fruit. A blessed first half of the growing season by good weather, ended-up in a laborious last half during maturity. The red "Cuvée Misawa" could not be made, and the "Cuvee Misawa Blanc", which we produced only 3 barrels, became our treasure.
It was a vintage where under challenging weather, valuing the basics was paramount.
2015
After being held back by low temperatures and long rains in early spring, the varieties were ready for a turnaround with abundant sunshine and unseasonably high temperatures, with all varieties starting to budbreak in a short eight days.
Vine growth continued to be vigorous and leading to flowering starting slightly earlier than normal. After an earlier-than-usual end to the rainy season, the 2015 vintage was cyclical and highly variable, with temperatures remaining high despite rainfall brought about by a few typhoons. The 2015 vintage was characterised by distinctive weather and quality. In the end, we were able to harvest for each variety characteristic, high-quality grapes.
(Best drinking period, 2023~)
2014
The harvest season began in late August. After two snowfalls in February, the vineyard was covered with 160 cm of snow, and I was wondering what would happen, but the grapes that survived the harsh natural conditions seem to have metamorphosed in the bottle and shined through ever more after six years from harvest.
(Best drinking period, 2021-2027)
Winemaker’s Message
"Grace Blanc de Blancs" originated from a playful desire to make sparkling wine, a departure from the stiff sense of duty when facing Koshu.
The excitement of witnessing a second fermentation in the bottle for the first time taught me winemaking is still fun in the confined life of viticulture and vinification day and night.
This sparkling wine is made by gently pressing the Chardonnay grapes from Misawa Vineyard, followed by fermentation in French oak barrels and second fermentation in bottle, with maturation in bottle for a long period of 60 months.
Yields are kept below 40 hl/ha, with quality of the base wine the ultimate focus.
The 2011 vintage won Asia's first Platinum Award at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The 2014 vintage was named one of the World's Top 10 wines by Bloomberg.
"Blanc de Blancs" refers to wines made exclusively from white grapes, with hallmark characteristics of suppleness and clean acidity, combined with the characteristics of the vineyard, which is located above 700 metres, give a delicate style.
In addition, each bottle was hand-riddled and disgorged. By learning the importance of manual work and not forgetting Japanese craftsmanship, we continue to evolve.
Grace Blanc de Blancs
VINTAGE 2016
This sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay grapes from our own vineyard in Akeno town, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and is vinified using whole bunch press, fermentation in old French oak barrels, and secondary fermentation in the bottle, and a long maturation period of 60 months in the bottle.
It is characterised by fresh but complex flavours derived from long bottle ageing, the supple acidity and delicate mouthfeel of a Blanc de Blancs, and fine bubbles deriving from second fermentation in bottle.
Detail
Basic Data
- Production area
- Misawa Vineyard, Akeno town (cho), Yamanashi Prefecture
- Grape variety
- Chardonnay
- Altitude
- 700m
- Soil
- Clayey volcanic ash
- Vinification
- Second fermentation in bottle, 60 months maturation in bottle
- Type
- White
- Style
- Extra Brut (dry)
- Best to drink
- 2024+
Tasting Notes
Lemonish yellow. The effervescence from the bottom of the glass is fine and persistent. Not only are there fresh fruits aromas such as lemon, orange, and green apple and lovely floral characters, there are also toastiness derived from the second fermentation in the bottle and an attractive honey aroma, wrapped around by the noble power and boldness of a refreshing blanc de blancs. The carefully crafted mousse is fine, creamy and pleasant. On the palate, a pleasing acidity outlining the structure reminiscent of Côte des Blancs, layers of fruit, nuts and honey flavors superimposed on each other, and the lingering finish retains the umami of the long in-bottle ageing.
Vintage
2016
Budbreak in 2016 started earliest compared to record, due to the higher than usual temperature following the warm winter. May continued to be balmier than normal, and sunshine hours were abundant, bringing shoot growth and bloom ahead of schedule.
The weather during the worrying rainy season was better than expected, but from mid- to late August, cloudy weather persisted due to the effects of typhoon, succeeded by the autumn rain front. The blue sky returned again early September, but there was continual rainfall for about a month after, yielding the lowest daylight hours we experienced in the last few years. It was a series of hard vineyard work towards maturity, including the removal of diseased fruit. A blessed first half of the growing season by good weather, ended-up in a laborious last half during maturity. The red "Cuvée Misawa" could not be made, and the "Cuvee Misawa Blanc", which we produced only 3 barrels, became our treasure.
It was a vintage where under challenging weather, valuing the basics was paramount.
2015
After being held back by low temperatures and long rains in early spring, the varieties were ready for a turnaround with abundant sunshine and unseasonably high temperatures, with all varieties starting to budbreak in a short eight days.
Vine growth continued to be vigorous and leading to flowering starting slightly earlier than normal. After an earlier-than-usual end to the rainy season, the 2015 vintage was cyclical and highly variable, with temperatures remaining high despite rainfall brought about by a few typhoons. The 2015 vintage was characterised by distinctive weather and quality. In the end, we were able to harvest for each variety characteristic, high-quality grapes.
(Best drinking period, 2023~)
2014
The harvest season began in late August. After two snowfalls in February, the vineyard was covered with 160 cm of snow, and I was wondering what would happen, but the grapes that survived the harsh natural conditions seem to have metamorphosed in the bottle and shined through ever more after six years from harvest.
(Best drinking period, 2021-2027)
Winemaker’s Message
"Grace Blanc de Blancs" originated from a playful desire to make sparkling wine, a departure from the stiff sense of duty when facing Koshu.
The excitement of witnessing a second fermentation in the bottle for the first time taught me winemaking is still fun in the confined life of viticulture and vinification day and night.
This sparkling wine is made by gently pressing the Chardonnay grapes from Misawa Vineyard, followed by fermentation in French oak barrels and second fermentation in bottle, with maturation in bottle for a long period of 60 months.
Yields are kept below 40 hl/ha, with quality of the base wine the ultimate focus.
The 2011 vintage won Asia's first Platinum Award at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The 2014 vintage was named one of the World's Top 10 wines by Bloomberg.
"Blanc de Blancs" refers to wines made exclusively from white grapes, with hallmark characteristics of suppleness and clean acidity, combined with the characteristics of the vineyard, which is located above 700 metres, give a delicate style.
In addition, each bottle was hand-riddled and disgorged. By learning the importance of manual work and not forgetting Japanese craftsmanship, we continue to evolve.
