French wines to buy in Tokyo and Japan

Herebelow are French wines that I recommend and where to buy them in Tokyo and Japan. A retailer that is not listed here can sell the wine ; he/she only has to contact the merchant or the importer.

French wine values tasted in 2009

 Côtes du rhône - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Domaine de Pierredon

2008 - USD 10 -

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Côtes du rhône - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Les grandes vignes - (cinsault)

2007 - USD 12 - aromas of red fruit - red fruit, goes away fast (short), balanced

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Côtes du rhône villages signargues - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Domaine de Pierredon

2008 - USD 13 - red fruit - red fruit, less alcohol than Genestas, firm

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Côtes du rhône villages - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Domaine Les Genestas

2008 - USD 12 -

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Fleurie - Geneviève et Jean-Claude Chanudet - Domaine J. Chamonard - La Madone - [gamay]

2005 - USD 20 - aromas of black cherry and roast beef - ripe black cherry and roast beef, flower, does not dry tongue or palate, firm

Japan importer: Vinorum 1 - 16 - 1 Ginza Chuouku, mail

Japan, Tokyo, Sou-Wine

French wine values tasted in 2008

 Côtes du rhône - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Le Pape noir

2006 - USD 11 - served at a cool temperature, this wine has more intensity of fruit than Le Pape noir 2005 tasted at the same age - the nose primarily shows black fruit and 'garrigue' - the mouth is dense (but less so than the 2005), showing black fruit and spice, the wine feels round, tender (no tanins), supple

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Vin de pays de l'Ardèche - Le Mazel - Saint-Philippe - (syrah)

2005 - USD 17 - red fruit jelly dominates the nose - onctuous, red fruit jelly, the wine is not drying the palate

Japan importer: Nagoya 464 0850, 1-19-4 Imaike, Wine Plaza Marumata, phone: +81 52 733 52 55

French wine values tasted in 2007

 Côtes du rhône - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Cuvée des copains

2006 - USD 8.4 - yummy served at a cool temperature - red fruit, a note of blackberry sorbet - red fruit, a note of blackberry sorbet, a vegetable hint, does not dry the mouth, easy and round (little acidity)

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Vin de pays du Pont du Gard - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Cuvée des galets - Non filtré

2006 - USD 9.3 - serve at a cool temperature - red fruit - red fruit, shows the biggest body from this cooperative, dense, dries the teeth, round

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Côtes du rhône - SCA les Vignerons d'Estézargues - Le Pape noir

2005 - USD 11 - serve at a cool temperature, no vanilla, nor tar, nor stewed fruit, nor smokedness - blackcurrant - blackcurrant or blackberry, does not dry the mouth, round : little structure or acidity

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Vin de pays de l'Ardèche - Jérôme Jouret - Domaine Les Clapas - Pas à pas - [80%] carignan, [20%] alicante

2006 - USD 13 - shows a great aromatic intensity even if served slightly fresh - a nose of black fruit, with a note of roastbeef and a hint of thyme - black fruit, neither heavy nor aggressive, but firm (too bad it is sometimes corked!)

Japan importer: Nagoya 464 0850, 1-19-4 Imaike, Wine Plaza Marumata, phone: +81 52 733 52 55

Japan importer: Nomura Unison

 Morgon - Geneviève et Jean-Claude Chanudet - Domaine J. Chamonard - [gamay]

2005 - USD 18 - intense blackcurrant, a note of roastbeef, candied fruit - onctuous, intense blackcurrant, a note of roastbeef, there is no banana but the candied fruit typical of a wine that has not encountered sulfites, easy but firm - drink this year and in ten years!

Japan importer: Vinorum 1 - 16 - 1 Ginza Chuouku, mail

Japan, Tokyo, Sou-Wine

 Cheverny - Hervé Villemade - Domaine du Moulin - [60% sauvignon-blanc, 40% chardonnay]

2005 - USD 14 - apricot dominates the intense aromas which differ strongly from those of the Domaine du Moulin 2004 - more onctuous than the 2004 vintage, intense, apricot, almond, toffee, fresh

A wine shop in Tokyo, Japan: Shinkawa

Japan importer: RACINES

Price figures are only very rough estimates of the US retail tags, at the date of the tasting.

Wines are selected on personal criteria.

There also are excellent wines with no sulfites in Tokyo, Japan.

You may also read reviews on recommended wines available in China, India, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, or you may request another location at the bottom of this page.