Cuvée Misawa | GRACE WINE | 中央葡萄酒株式会社

WINE LIST

中央葡萄酒山梨甲州グレイスワインリスト

Cuvée Misawa

VINTAGE　2018

While I was still a student, the 1999 harvest was deeply engraved in my heart.
Before establishing our vineyard in Akeno, my father said to me during the harvest at Toriibira Vineyard, “If you hesitate, throw them all away,” and that year we only produced one barrel of Merlot.
“Cuvée Misawa” is an uncompromising wine, not because it is part of my family business, but it is also the symbolic wine I have always admired and longed to devote myself on with all my heart, when I vowed to become a winemaker.

Region	Misawa Vineyard, Akeno, Yamanashi prefecture
Grape Varieties	Cabernet Franc (90%) Petit Verdot (10%)
Vinification	18 months maturation in French oak
Type	Red wine
Best Consumed	2022 – 2028
Retail Price	Open

2018
2017
2016
2015

2018

In 2018, the rainy season ended early by the end of June, and maturity progressed ahead of the usual schedule. In October, we celebrated the harvest of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Due to pruning and pre-véraison yield restrictions, the harvest was about 30% less than usual, but both varieties achieved over 23 brix, showcasing the characteristics of Akeno, with both ripeness while retaining refreshing acidity.

[Variety composition]
Cabernet Franc (90%)
Petit Verdot (10%)
2017

In 2017, rainfall was very low in both the early summer and during the rainy season, bringing positive effects to flowering and fruiting, which led to natural yield restrictions. I recalled we were expecting a great vintage. The blue summer sky spreaded throughout August. In September, temperature differences between day and night exceeded 20 degrees Celsius. Although there were two typhoons in October, the growing season was able to capitalised on the earlier weather advantages, and by getting the timing of maturity and harvest right, it resulted in being an ideal vintage.

Blessed with excellent September weather, the 2017 vintage used Merlot as foundation, with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot as core, forming a powerful but graceful assemblage. In addition, by blending in the only barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon which was ripe with uncompromising quality despite October being affected by two typhoons, we were truly able to express the essence of Cuvée Misawa – a wine made from the best lot.

[Variety composition]
Merlot (53%)
Cabernet Franc (23%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (12%)
Petit Verdot (12%)
2016

We decided the harvest would not match the quality for Cuvée Misawa, so we declassified it to the second wine.
2015

2015 was blessed with excellent weather in October. Cabernet Sauvignon achieved 25 Brix. At such a cool production area at 700m above sea level, this was the ripest Cabernet Sauvignon we ever had. The final blend was made up of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Petit Verdot and Merlot.

[Variety composition]
Cabernet Sauvignon (55%)
etite Verdot (28%)
Merlot (17%)