This is extreme in every sense. Extremely rare- from an extreme oceanic climate from an extremely small single vineyard estate farmed to exacting beyond organic principles. Takahiko Soga founded this tiny estate in 2010 in Hokkaido Japan a place famous for its volcanoes and hot springs lending this vineyard its volcanic andesite soils. His philosophy on farming is to develop as much life in the soil as possible and do no harm to the flora and fauna around the vineyard which he hopes and we believe also give this wine abundant character and sense of place. Fermented in large neutral tanks then aged in French oak barrels (15% new). His wines are known for their decidedly umami quality a perfect complement to this favored taste sensation in Japanese cooking which he helps to develop by including the stems in fermentation giving the wine notes of mushroom forest floor and miso.