Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

Founded in 2020 on the quiet slopes of Mount Tsukuba, Le Bois d'Azur is guided by a simple, poetic ambition: to craft wines that will still feel at home in this landscape 100 years from now. Farming is thoughtful and restrained, without chemical fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides, allowing the vines to root deeply and express their place with clarity.

In the cellar, nothing is forced. Fermentations rely solely on indigenous yeasts, with no fining, filtration or added sulphur. Time in barrel allows the wines to settle and reveal themselves slowly, shaped as much by patience as by hand.

The driving force behind the domaine is Makoto Aoki, a winemaker of rare pedigree. He trained in Beaune before working alongside respected natural producers including Domaine Petit-Roy and, most notably, Domaine des Miroirs, the celebrated Jura estate of Kenjiro Kagami, whose wines are among the most sought-after in the natural wine world. Aoki absorbed that philosophy of radical precision and minimal intervention before returning to Japan to establish Le Bois d'Azur. The influence is unmistakable in every bottle.

Mon Petit Rouge 2024

The 2024 season was demanding. Rain, heat and mildew pressure required rigorous sorting in the vineyard, but careful harvesting delivered healthy, estate-grown Kyoho with real concentration and character. Fully destemmed and macerated for three weeks in stainless steel, the wine was then aged for ten months in old barrel, with indigenous yeast throughout and no additions of any kind.

The result is a wine of vivid personality. Bright raspberry and acerola lift from the glass, edged with ume-shiso and a delicate floral thread. The palate is juicy and alive, with fresh red berries, lively acidity, a savoury broth-like nuance and a gentle, balancing bitterness that is distinctly Japanese in character. It is light on its feet but serious in intent.

Le Bois d'Azur produces tiny quantities and allocations to Australia are extremely limited. This is a wine that is genuinely hard to get, and we are proud to have it.