Achievement
JAL International Flights First Class
The Ritz-Carlton Japan
Coco Farm＆Winery
10R Series Pinot Rose
こことあるシリーズ2020 ぴのろぜ／ココ・ファーム・ワイナリー
"Pinot Noir from Kimura Farm in the cool climate of Yoichi, Hokkaido, was fermented with wild yeast. It’s a rosé wine with a complexity and dryness akin to red wine, yet lightness and elegance like white wine. It’s a well-balanced, invigorating, and complex rosé that picks the best features of both.
The color is a salmon pink tinged with orange. The taste intertwines complex aromas of orange and plum fruits with black pepper, toast, pencil shavings, and yogurt. The palate is greeted with a refreshing acidity that spreads throughout the mouth, with a complexity of rounded fruitiness and a light astringency.
[Fermentation: 10R]
This Series is a wine that makes the most of the natural flavors created from grapes grown in the ideal conditions of Hokkaido by winemaker Bruce Gutlove. It is delivered to you from Coco Farm & Winery (located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture)."
Tasting note
Category
Wine
Type
Rose
Producer
10R Winery(Hokkaido)
Production area
Japan Hokkaido Prefecture
Variety
Pinot Noir 100%
Fermentation
Stainless tank＆Oak＊Stored after fermenting for 6 months
Capacity
750 mL
ABV
13.1%
Recommended Pairings
Yam salad, fresh spring rolls, wild vegetable tempura, hairy crab, mussels steamed in white wine, Tom Yum Goong, sweet and sour pork, venison roti with fresh sansho (Japanese pepper) sauce, jerk chicken.
Tasting from winery
Kimura Farm, located in Yoichi, Hokkaido, is said to be unparalleled in Pinot Noir cultivation in Japan. From their Pinot Noir, instead of red wine, we created a rosé.
In 2020, the late-harvest Pinot Noir from Kimura Farm in Yoichi, Hokkaido, had firm fruit at its core, with strong acidity, making it a very good vintage.
Using 100% of this Pinot Noir, at the brewery (10R) in Iwamizawa, whole clusters of grapes were placed in tanks, and carbonic maceration was performed at low temperatures possible due to Hokkaido's cool climate.
This process extracted soft aromas, flavors, richness, and a moderate "blush" color from the grape skins.
After pressing the grapes, fermentation continued with wild yeast in carefully selected barrels and stainless steel tanks.
Post-fermentation, aging with lees imparted gentle mouthfeel, aromas, and complexity to the wine.
Thanks to this, the resulting dry rosé wine has become more refreshing, complex, and versatile for pairing with various dishes. Expectations for aging are also high.
About the producer
The Charm of Meticulous Grape Cultivation and Wild Yeast Fermentation
In the 1950s, a vineyard opened on a mountain by junior high school students who struggled with arithmetic and literacy and their teacher has never been exposed to herbicides since its cultivation.
Coco Farm & Winery, born at the foot of this mountain in 1980, started winemaking in 1984. Currently, the vineyard does not use any chemical fertilizers or herbicides, and the brewery focuses on natural fermentation with wild yeast to brew wine from 100% Japanese grapes.
From sparkling wines with secondary fermentation in the bottle to dessert wines, they are joyfully making wine while listening to the 'voices' of the grapes saying, 'This is what we want to become.
Also, the stratum of finely shattered Jurassic rocks, like mille-feuille, creates moderate stress for the grapes in the rainy climate, which leads to the production of good quality grapes.
About the Production Area
Japan Tochigi Prefecture
A land where you can enjoy a variety of flavors, aromas, and colors
Tochigi Prefecture is landlocked, with hot summers and cold winters, resulting in significant temperature differences both diurnally and annually.
These variations are beneficial in balancing the sugar and acid levels in grapes. Additionally, the soil in Tochigi is predominantly volcanic, which provides good drainage.
There are also regions rich in minerals, making these soil conditions well-suited for grape cultivation.
Grape varieties originating from America such as 'Niagara' for white wine and 'Concord' for red wine are commonly grown, but in recent years, international and unique Japanese grape varieties have also begun to be cultivated.
[10R Winery Hokkaido Yoichi]
Currently, Yoichi Town is one of the most thriving grape-growing regions in Hokkaido. Since about 30 years ago when cultivation of European grape varieties began in Yoichi Town, the number of grape farmers has gradually increased.
In 2010, a winery was established in Yoichi Town, gaining attention for producing high-quality wine from Pinot Noir. In 2011, it was certified as the first wine special zone in Hokkaido. Since then, there has been a succession of new wineries being established.
Yoichi Town is situated facing the Sea of Japan, with mountains surrounding it on three sides, creating hillsides overlooking Yoichi Bay, which have become grape-growing areas.
The climate, influenced by warm currents, is relatively mild compared to other parts of Hokkaido. Grape vineyards on the hilly slopes receive ample sunlight, making them highly suitable for grape cultivation.
The main grape varieties cultivated include German varieties such as Kerner, Zweigelt, Müller-Thurgau, and in recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the cultivation area of Pinot Noir.
