domaine tetta
Niimi, Okayama

Grapes: Muscat Bailey A 99%, Pinot Noir 1%
Type: Red
Style: Dry, medium-bodied
Colour: Medium ruby
Alcohol: 13%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 15 ppm
Filtered: Yes (coarse filter)
Serving temperature: 16-18°C
Production: 2,047 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
Raspberry, wild berry and confiture. Fresh aroma but has sweetness and ripeness at the same time. Also cinnamon and caramel from oak maturation. On the palate it is dry but a bit of sweetness can be found due to the aroma. Good balance of acidity and tannin satisfying but never tiring to drink.

Food pairing
Game meat, teriyaki chicken, yakitori, okonomiyaki, lasagna, bitterballen, veal steak, pâté en croûte

Winemaking
Made from Muscat Bailey A, a variety indigenous to Japan. Grown on south-west-facing slopes on limestone soil at an altitude of 400 metres. The vines are 24 years old, the oldest in their vineyards, and were harvested manually in early December. The grapes were destemmed and placed in stainless steel tanks for fermentation without crushing. Macerated for four weeks. During the maceration, the cap was punched down three times a day. Matured in French oak barrels for six months. The proportion of new oak barrels was one third, the rest was eight year old barrels. The wine was then bottled in the following August and released after approximately two months.

The 2022 vintage of Muscat Bailey A suffered from coulure, resulting in a yield 1500 bottles less than the previous year. Instead, the remaining bunches became more concentrated and reached record sugar levels. The volume of aromas and flavours is greater than in previous MBAs, with a long, lingering finish. As the vines age, they are developing into wines that are both powerful and elegant.