03 KOSHU

Koshu Toriibira Vineyard Private Reserve

VINTAGE 2023

The Toriibira district is greatly treasured by our fourth generation owner, Shigekazu Misawa. It has a long history, is located at an altitude of 450m, and is revered by local people due to its well-drained gravelly soil, resulting in high quality grapes. The harvested grapes went through further selection and the best lots were fermented in old French oak barrels and further matured in stainless steel tanks. The wine possesses both elegant acidity and complexity with a long finish.

Detail

Basic Data

Production area
Toriibira district, Katsunuma town (cho), Yamanashi Prefecture
Grape variety
Koshu
Altitude
450m
Soil
Clayey gravels
Vinification
Fermentation in old French oak barrels, maturation in stainless steel tank
Type
White
Style
Dry

Tasting Notes

Clear and faultless. Brilliant pale yellow colour with a grey hue. The nose is rich, with aromas of fruits such as golden delicious apple, yellow peach and pear, spicy aromas from cloves and white pepper, and toastiness, giving impression of complexity. On sipping, a mellow attack, dry, with rounded acidity, fruity flavours reminiscent of aromas expand on the palate with a long finish. This is a white wine that combines elegance and power.

Vintage

2023

March to May were blessed with perfect weather conditions with the right amount of rainfall and sunshine, resulting in early budburst, and growth started in good shape. The rainy season also ended sooner, and Veraison set in motion as early as late July, followed by steady fine weather, maintaining vine health.
Amidst the summer heatwave which saw record high temperatures across Japan, Yamanashi experienced minimal rainfall, enabling grape ripening to progress smoothly. Even during the harvest period, there was no impact from typhoons, and grapes ripened at an unprecedented speed.
At Misawa Vineyard, which is 700m in altitude, the harvest of the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon concluded around two weeks earlier than usual on October 22nd, followed by the final harvest of the year of Koshu grapes.
Throughout the harvest period, we were able to secure healthy, high-quality grapes. Both early and late ripening varieties had sugar content levels more than 1 degree higher than the average vintage, resulting in exceptionally full ripeness rarely seen before. It can be said that 2023 is a vintage that promises long-term aging potential, a true "great vintage."

2022

From March to May, the weather was favourable with sufficient rainfall and sunlight. Budburst kicked-off earlier than usual, giving a smooth start to growth.
Thereafter, berry development went at a relaxed pace due to the dry rainy season and low rainfall, but there were few cases of diseases or physiological disorders, and the ending of the rainy season ahead of time brought precocious véraison to some vineyards as early as the end of July.
Despite occasional downpour, the summer months passed by with little precipitation, and the diurnal temperature differences, with high daytime and low night-time temperatures, resulted in healthy growth with higher than usual accumulation of berry sugar content.
This year's vinification period began ahead of time in mid-August with the harvesting of Chardonnay grapes for sparkling wine in the Hishiyama area of Katsunuma.
Although there was a typhoon in mid-September, the weather and growing conditions were similar to those in previous years, with no damages.
The weather up to the summer seemed to indicate that the grapes would ripen at an unprecedented rate, but when looked back, the harvest at Akeno Town, Hokuto City, took place in the second week of November.
The 2022 vintage saw the longest vinification period. The grapes were meticulously cared-for up to harvest time and were picked under the best possible conditions.

2021

March to May was blessed with good weather, with light to moderate rain and low to reasonable sunshine. Budburst started off quickly, kicking off steady growth. The rainy season in June was also mild, with no diseases, and fruit set went well. The rainy season concluded 16 days earlier, sunny weather continued, and maturity started at the end of July. There was some stagnation due to heavy rain, lack of light, and low temperature in mid-August, but good weather continued from late August onwards, and the delay brought about by the cool summer was recovered. October was most peculiar. Temperature was high nationwide, but temperature differences between day and night were large. A patient wait for maturation was paid off with a satisfactory harvest.

Koshu Toriibira Vineyard Private Reserve
03 KOSHU

Koshu Toriibira Vineyard Private Reserve

VINTAGE 2023

The Toriibira district is greatly treasured by our fourth generation owner, Shigekazu Misawa. It has a long history, is located at an altitude of 450m, and is revered by local people due to its well-drained gravelly soil, resulting in high quality grapes. The harvested grapes went through further selection and the best lots were fermented in old French oak barrels and further matured in stainless steel tanks. The wine possesses both elegant acidity and complexity with a long finish.

Detail

Basic Data

Production area
Toriibira district, Katsunuma town (cho), Yamanashi Prefecture
Grape variety
Koshu
Altitude
450m
Soil
Clayey gravels
Vinification
Fermentation in old French oak barrels, maturation in stainless steel tank
Type
White
Style
Dry

Tasting Notes

Clear and faultless. Brilliant pale yellow colour with a grey hue. The nose is rich, with aromas of fruits such as golden delicious apple, yellow peach and pear, spicy aromas from cloves and white pepper, and toastiness, giving impression of complexity. On sipping, a mellow attack, dry, with rounded acidity, fruity flavours reminiscent of aromas expand on the palate with a long finish. This is a white wine that combines elegance and power.

Vintage

2023

March to May were blessed with perfect weather conditions with the right amount of rainfall and sunshine, resulting in early budburst, and growth started in good shape. The rainy season also ended sooner, and Veraison set in motion as early as late July, followed by steady fine weather, maintaining vine health.
Amidst the summer heatwave which saw record high temperatures across Japan, Yamanashi experienced minimal rainfall, enabling grape ripening to progress smoothly. Even during the harvest period, there was no impact from typhoons, and grapes ripened at an unprecedented speed.
At Misawa Vineyard, which is 700m in altitude, the harvest of the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon concluded around two weeks earlier than usual on October 22nd, followed by the final harvest of the year of Koshu grapes.
Throughout the harvest period, we were able to secure healthy, high-quality grapes. Both early and late ripening varieties had sugar content levels more than 1 degree higher than the average vintage, resulting in exceptionally full ripeness rarely seen before. It can be said that 2023 is a vintage that promises long-term aging potential, a true "great vintage."

2022

From March to May, the weather was favourable with sufficient rainfall and sunlight. Budburst kicked-off earlier than usual, giving a smooth start to growth.
Thereafter, berry development went at a relaxed pace due to the dry rainy season and low rainfall, but there were few cases of diseases or physiological disorders, and the ending of the rainy season ahead of time brought precocious véraison to some vineyards as early as the end of July.
Despite occasional downpour, the summer months passed by with little precipitation, and the diurnal temperature differences, with high daytime and low night-time temperatures, resulted in healthy growth with higher than usual accumulation of berry sugar content.
This year's vinification period began ahead of time in mid-August with the harvesting of Chardonnay grapes for sparkling wine in the Hishiyama area of Katsunuma.
Although there was a typhoon in mid-September, the weather and growing conditions were similar to those in previous years, with no damages.
The weather up to the summer seemed to indicate that the grapes would ripen at an unprecedented rate, but when looked back, the harvest at Akeno Town, Hokuto City, took place in the second week of November.
The 2022 vintage saw the longest vinification period. The grapes were meticulously cared-for up to harvest time and were picked under the best possible conditions.

2021

March to May was blessed with good weather, with light to moderate rain and low to reasonable sunshine. Budburst started off quickly, kicking off steady growth. The rainy season in June was also mild, with no diseases, and fruit set went well. The rainy season concluded 16 days earlier, sunny weather continued, and maturity started at the end of July. There was some stagnation due to heavy rain, lack of light, and low temperature in mid-August, but good weather continued from late August onwards, and the delay brought about by the cool summer was recovered. October was most peculiar. Temperature was high nationwide, but temperature differences between day and night were large. A patient wait for maturation was paid off with a satisfactory harvest.