Mikata Wine / Kerner Barrel Aged 2022 (White) 750ml

After using only free-run juice from skin contact and undergoing natural fermentation for over 9 months, it was aged for 3 months in a third-use barrel before bottling. Aromas of white peach, European pear, and kabosu. It has a slight residual sugar, resulting in a rich flavor and pleasant drinking experience. It can be enjoyed for a week after opening.

"Last time we released the Kerner barrel-aged from the press run, but this time it is made using only free-run juice."

The press run was quite good, but this one has even higher quality.

"This is the best wine that Kitani has ever produced. It's regrettable that the grapes are not ones I cultivated myself, but I truly felt the wonderfulness of Hokkaido grapes."

The aroma, acidity, length of the finish, and the taste in the mouth are all excellent.

By aging in barrels during the final stage of fermentation, we enhanced the potential of the Kerner by adding a slight barrel aroma and tannin without introducing any oxidative nuances.

Mikata was handling the Kerner for the first time, but I feel that we were able to brew it without compromising the potential of the very high-quality grapes. It pairs well with grilled white fish such as sweetfish, shellfish, and Japanese sweets.