domaine tetta
Niimi, Okayama

Grapes: Chardonnay
Type: White
Style: Dry, medium-bodied
Colour: Pale gold
Alcohol: 12%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 15 ppm 
Filtered: Yes (coarse filter)
Serving temperature: 10-13°C
Production: 1,069 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
Aromas of apple and pear are joined by apricot, loquat and other yellow fruits, along with a touch of pineapple. On the palate, sharp, vibrant acidity forms the backbone, complemented by a pleasant mineral bitterness that gives the wine a dry and focused character. Juicy fruit is balanced by the clean, refreshing style of stainless-steel ageing. The finish carries lingering acidity and minerality, together with a sweet citrus nuance and gentle bitterness reminiscent of biting into a honey-preserved lemon. A Chardonnay that combines freshness and a firm mineral character with the richness of ripe yellow fruit. Enjoyable over several days after opening.

Food pairing
Salt-grilled horse mackerel, sea bream cured with kombu, lemon-steamed oysters, sake-steamed clams, wild vegetable tempura, grilled bamboo shoots, shio-koji grilled chicken, roast pork with fennel, asparagus risotto, white fish acqua pazza, prawn and celery dumplings, steamed chicken with spring onion and ginger sauce, fresh goat’s cheese.

Winemaking
Chardonnay 2024 is made from 100% Chardonnay grown in the estate’s limestone-rich vineyard in Tetta, Niimi, Okayama—a relatively rare soil type in Japan. The 13-year-old vines are planted on a south-west-facing slope at approximately 430 metres above sea level.

In 2024, the grapes were left on the vines until the latter half of October, with the timing of harvest determined by the condition of the fruit. They reached 21° Brix at harvest, lower than in a typical year. In contrast to the richer, more generous style of some recent vintages, the 2024 shows a more pronounced expression of acidity and minerality, resulting in a dry and focused wine.

The grapes were neither destemmed nor crushed, and both fermentation and ageing took place in stainless steel. By avoiding oak, the wine retains a direct expression of Chardonnay’s fresh fruit, vibrant acidity, and the mineral character associated with the limestone-rich vineyard. Only a small amount of sulphur dioxide was added at bottling.
Rather than emphasising weight or oak-derived character, this Chardonnay focuses on freshness, vibrant acidity, and minerality, offering a clear expression of both the 2024 vintage and the distinctive terroir of Tetta.

Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 73 kcal
Fat: 0 g
 - Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 2.0 g
 - Sugar: 2.0 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Salt: 0g