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Wine Spectator awards 91 points to Château Mercian Mariko Omnis 2015, and 90 points to Château Mercian Mariko Merlot 2016!

Five wines from Château Mercian score over 85 points

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January 28, 2020

Mercian Corporation

Wines from Mercian Corporation (President: Michio Nagabayashi) were listed in the January edition of Wine Spectator Online. These online ratings are published by Wine Spectator, the American specialist wine magazine with the largest circulation in the world. Château Mercian Mariko Omnis 2015 scored 91 points, and Château Mercian Mariko Merlot 2016 scored 90 points.

A rating in the 90s is a sign of status in the wine world, and the only Japan wines to score this high are from Château Mercian. The latest ratings see the simultaneous entry of the first two wines from Château Mercian to break through the 90-point barrier, including the first of the Terroir series to be awarded over 90 points. Three other wines were awarded 88 points, a superb showing for Château Mercian and their philosophy of bringing Japanese Finesse & Elegance to wine.

  • 91 points: Château Mercian Mariko Omnis 2015
    • Summary:The word Omnis in Latin means “everything”. Made with grapes from the Jinba plateau in the Maruko District near Ueda City in Nagano Prefecture, where the Mariko Winery was opened in 2019 in the middle of the 29 hectares of the Mariko Vineyard, this iconic wine showcases the potential of reds from this region.
    • Wine Spectator tasting notes:This red is expressive and graceful. The polished texture seems almost weightless, as black cherry, cola, licorice and spice notes mingle harmoniously over bright acidity. Elegant. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2023.
  • 90 points: Château Mercian Mariko Merlot 2016
    • Summary:Made from Merlot grown in our own Mariko Vineyard on the Jinba plateau in the Maruko District near Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.
    • Wine Spectator tasting notes:Firm and sleek, this red delivers black cherry, blackberry, cocoa and smoky flavours, with blood orange acidity and ripe tannins. Fruit-forward, balanced and lively. Drink now through 2026.
  • Wine Spectator ratings
    Boasting the largest circulation in the world, the American specialist magazine Wine Spectator has considerable influence in wine markets. It also rates wines from all over the world out of 100 (explained below) and makes the results available online.

95-100 Classic : a great wine
90-94 Outstanding : a wine of superior character and style
85-89 Very good : a wine with special qualities
80-84 Good : a solid, well-made wine
75-79 Mediocre : a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
50-74 Not recommended

  • Ratings for Château Mercian wines this round
    Château Mercian Mariko Omnis 2015: 91 points
    Château Mercian Mariko Merlot 2016: 90 points
    Château Mercian Tamamoro Koshu Kiiroka 2018: 88 points
    Château Mercian Fuefuki Koshu Gris de Gris 2017: 88 points
    Château Mercian Mariko Syrah 2016: 88 points

True to our wine business slogan of “Creating a pleasant future with wine,” Mercian Corporation will continue to offer wines that bring people together to enjoy each other’s company and spend quality time.

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