Japan Trip - Chateau Mercian Tokyo Guest Bar

JC wanted to try as many Japanese wine as possible, so we visited Chateau Mercian Tokyo Guest Bar in Roppongi.

They offer wines by a glass (120 ml)  or half a glass (60 ml).
Our choice was Koshu, Merlot, and Muscat Bailey A.

Three wines, half a glass

Here's JC's tasting note:
Chateau Mercian Koshu Taru Jikomi (Koshu Barrel Fermented)
Bruised apple/pear, fresh dill, grass, citrus, fresh watercress, under-ripe yellow peach.
Medium plus body. Smooth. Oily and creamy texture.

Chateau Mercian Yamanashi Merlot 2014
Roasted and fresh bell pepper. Pyrazine. Red cassis, raspberry, plum, vanilla, brioche.
Light sweet pipe tobacco. Red cherry.
Medium minus mineral. Medium Tannin.

Chateau Mercian Hosaka Muscat Bailey A Selected Vineyards
Ripe/ overripe blackberry.
Passion fruit, cranberry sauce, pastry cream, vanilla custard.
Sweet baking spice, clove.
Acid is high but soft. Medium plus body.
It's complex and Zinfandel-like.

All the wines we tried so far were from Yamanashi, which is in central Japan.
We enjoyed them but wanted to try something different, so we ordered another glass from northern part of Japan.
I didn't know that wine grapes were grown in those areas.

Chateau Mercian Omori Riesling
Grapes come from Omori, Akita.
Aroma reminded him of Mosel.
Honey wax, light tropical fruit such as mango or passion fruit, chestnut, lemon, lime, candied citrus.
Preserved peach, fresh green shiso.
Medium plus mineral. Flint, oyster shell, petrol. High acid.

I thought Akita was too cold to grow wine grapes, but this wine surprised me in a good way.

It was lunch time so we ordered food.
We came here for wine, but food was good, too.

JC enjoyed Japanese wine so much that he went back to this Bar next day and tried Sparkling Muscat Bailey A (Hosaka no Awa) and Chateau Mercian Hosaka Muscat Bailey A.
He liked them both.