Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

My first Japanese Red! Blend of Merlot and Muscat Bailey A (A Red Japanese hybrid grape). Interesting ruby color with garnet and purple highlights and a slight brick rim. Aromas of red and black fruit and purple flowers. Flavors of red/black cherries, raspberries, strawberries, cola, and black licorice. Slight hint of vanilla on the medium finish. Low (but pleasant) acidity and light on tannins and structure. Well polished texture and quite delicate. A light bodied and chill-able refreshing red. Not overly complex. I found myself continuously reaching for the bottle. Very unique. Thank you so much for sharing this wine, John P! — 3 months ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

Best Wine at Whole Foods under $25. Clean Syrah. Like Cote Rotie’s ‘Mercian cousin…. “French fries, French bread, French dressing”… — a year ago

Jonathan Wall

9.5

Imagine a great Cote Rotie, Cornas, and a Cal Syrah step into a bar. The atmosphere is all French but the ‘Mercian makes it interesting and overblown with too much density. It was spectacular, but if it were a bit more reserved, and didn’t stain my Riedel, it would have been on another level. — 2 years ago

nak4muu

9.0

メルシャン勝沼ツアー
香りを大事にするため敢えてのスクリューキャップ
ぶどう本来の味わいが楽しめてとても良い — 6 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Old world mixed, white, black, green pepper. Medium, almost light bodied, tart cherry, savory, high acidity. — 7 years ago

Alexander Vadas

9.0

Good Acidity and lively. Surprising Japanese wine! — 8 years ago

Jinnai

9.4

雑味なく軽くちょい甘で飲みやすい！ — 10 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château Mercian – Nagano Chardonnay (Unwooded) 2014 Nagano – Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
Made from 100% Chardonnay, this expression is crafted in an unwooded, steely style to highlight freshness rather than ageworthiness. Tasting it after a decade was unexpected — proof that even a wine not built for long cellaring can still deliver character and charm. (Educational note: Unwooded Chardonnays are generally meant to be consumed young, but high-acid climates like Nagano can sometimes extend their life.)

Aromas & Flavors
Baked pear, yellow plum, and stone fruits mingle with oxidative notes of dried apple and almond. Hints of citrus peel and honeyed tones appear, adding layers beyond its simple youth-driven origins.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a textured feel, softened by oxidation yet balanced by lingering acidity. Not bone-dry, showing a gentle roundness and a surprisingly long finish.

Food Pairings
Best with roasted poultry, creamy seafood, or mushroom risotto. Also pairs nicely with aged cheeses or Japanese izakaya fare like yakitori or miso eggplant.

Verdict
An over-a-decade-old unwooded Chardonnay that exceeded expectations. Oxidized yet balanced, with fruit, texture, and surprising persistence — a fascinating snapshot of Nagano’s cool-climate potential. 🍷

Did You Know?
Nagano, Japan, is one of the country’s leading wine regions, where elevation and cool nights help retain acidity — crucial for both crisp whites and elegant reds.

Hidden Gem 💎
Japanese Chardonnays rarely make it beyond their local markets, and aged unwooded styles are even rarer — this bottle proved how Nagano can surprise even seasoned tasters. — 9 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.4

Brdx blend. 12.5%. Medium bodied. Elegant. Mint, earth. Smooth. This impressed a lot of wine pros at dinner. — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2018 vintage. Dourthe managed this estate for the Japanese owners (Mercian) since 2001 and finally bought it in 2014. The soils are somewhat atypical for the Médoc, with a lot of clay, which explains why Reysson has probably the highest Merlot content (92%) on the left bank. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur. Another great Bordeaux value. Black cherries and very subtle oak. Round and balanced, with the high (abv. 14,5 %) alcohol well-integrated. Soft tannic structure and good length. — 6 years ago

John Munro

10

Oldest vines I. Japan — 6 years ago

Kristina A.

9.6

From Kyoko when she visited in June 2019 — 7 years ago

Patrice Conxicoeur

8.9

Best white tasted today so far in Yamanashi! — 9 years ago

TH

9.0

甲州の皮まで使ったグリドグリ。褐色の黄色でダージリンなどの香り。皮からの複雑な味わいと軽いタンニンが心地よい。フランテ 約2,500 — 10 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Mercian – Mariko Vineyard Syrah 2013
Ueda City, Nagano – Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
From Château Mercian’s pioneering Mariko Vineyard, this Syrah is unlike any other. The 2013 vintage, now over a decade old, shows how Nagano’s cool climate shapes the grape with freshness and elegance rather than sheer power. (Educational note: Nagano’s elevation and wide day–night temperature swings preserve acidity, giving Japanese reds their distinctive lift.)

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, plum, and dried cherry with accents of pepper, violet, and subtle herbs. Secondary notes of leather, soy, and earthy spice emerge with age, weaving seamlessly into the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with pronounced acidity — rare for Syrah — making it bright and affable even after a decade. Tannins are softened with age, leaving a silky texture and a long, savory finish.

Food Pairings
Perfect with Japanese-inspired pairings such as yakitori, teriyaki beef, or soy-glazed mushrooms. Also pairs beautifully with duck breast, roasted pork, or aged semi-hard cheeses.

Verdict
One of the most distinctive Syrahs out there: fresh, bright, and terroir-driven. Still harmonious after more than ten years — a wine that surprises and delights in equal measure. 🍷cheers

Did You Know?
Legend says “Mariko” takes its name from the Maruko region, once Prince Mariko’s territory in the 6th century. Today, the same land provides the ideal conditions for world-class viticulture. — 9 months ago

Gladys Xiques

9.1

Light and similar to a Chablis. — a year ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

My ‘Mercian wine for a happy 4th! And these exploded! The cab was very good. Initial nose was big, but the mid palate was thin, even watery. Finish brought it back. Threw it in a decanter and 6 hours later it came together with black currants, chocolate, and just enough oak to backbone without ruining it. Meanwhile we had the ridge Syrah behind it which is my happy place. — 5 years ago

nak4muu

9.0

樽選抜
紫は山葡萄の色か？
— 6 years ago

E & K G

8.9

Usually not a huge fan of Koshu grapes as they always seem very flat in terms of flavors, lack complexity, etc. Good for easy summer drinking outside when very chilled. But this had tons of energy and had a bit more of a tropical profile given the warmer location vs other vineyards. Great new domaine from the former winemaker at both Mercian and Katsunuma Jyozo (both top domaines in the Koshu region). — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château Mercian – Koshu “Gris de Gris” 2015
Yamanashi Prefecture – Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
Koshu, Japan’s signature white grape, is believed to trace its origins back over 1,000 years via the Silk Road. “Gris de Gris” refers to its slightly pinkish-gray skins, which receive gentle maceration before fermentation, giving the wine a pale onion-skin hue and added depth. Château Mercian, one of Japan’s most historic wineries, elevates Koshu into a refined and distinctive style.

Aromas & Flavors
Subtle yet intriguing: citrus blossom, white peach, yuzu, and delicate pear, intertwined with mineral undertones. The brief skin contact lends nuance of almond skin, faint spice, and a gentle savory edge.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied but textural, with crisp acidity and a fine, almost saline minerality. The wine shows elegance rather than intensity, finishing clean, dry, and graceful.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside sushi and sashimi, steamed shellfish, or light tempura. Its umami-friendly profile also makes it a fascinating partner for miso-based dishes or soba noodles.

Verdict
A sophisticated expression of Japan’s most emblematic grape. This 2015 Koshu Gris de Gris shows how delicacy and refinement can carry as much weight as power, offering a subtle but unforgettable wine experience. Cheers!

🍇 Educational Note: Koshu is unique among international varieties—it’s naturally low in alcohol, softly perfumed, and deeply tied to Japan’s culinary heritage. Styles like “Gris de Gris” demonstrate how traditional Japanese precision in winemaking can highlight elegance over boldness. — 9 years ago