The Japanese wine company of Grace was established in the year 1953 by the third generation Kazuo Misawa family member. The seeds for this company were sown in 1923 when the Chotaro Inzai Wine Company was launched in Katsunuma-Cho. There was no looking back for the company since the 1950s. It grew from strength to strength, and today it has become the most popular Japanese wines in the world.

Merlot 63%, Cabernet Sauvignon 28%, Cabernet Franc 8%, and Petit Verdot 1% It’s the 100th anniversary wine from Grace. Raspberry, dried cranberry, quite spicy with cinnamon and clove, charcoal, some sundried tomato, kombu and pepper. It’s medium-bodied, cherry and plum, nutty grainy tannin, distinct savoury spice, but also quite a ‘mineral’ thing with some ripe tomato tang, yet sweet squished strawberry vanilla flavour too, and a finish of excellent length. It’s umami, yet there’s something of a strawberry Kit Kat sweetness in the mix. and gee, I really like it all up. A very different expression of these grape varieties, but really good. Date: Jul 2023; Alcohol: 13%; Price: $170; Closure: Cork: 2023-2029+; Rated: 95 Points; Gary Walsh; The Wine Front