The winemaking, tasting salon and vineyard teams at Kenzo Estate congratulate the team at sister restaurant Kenzo Napa as they are awarded their 7th consecutive Michelin star in 2024. Owner & CEO Natsuko Tsujimoto and chef Kenji Miyaishi have been working together delivering exceptional traditional kaiseki menus and service since 2017, when the first Michelin star was awarded. Today, the team is augmented by General Manger Juan Pena, who brings his humble omotenashi to every visit. Congratulations Kenzo team on a year well done and another well deserved accolade! ***To experience Kenzo Napa's exquisite cuisine with Kenzo wines, make an appointment at Kenzo Estate and order the Bento Pairing at least 3 days in advance.
Kenzo Estate is sad to share the news that the architect behind the quiet elegance of the Kenzo Estate winery and tasting room design has passed at the age of 88. His aesthetic that seamlessly incorporated the stunning natural beauty of Napa Valley into its structures is iconic now in the region, bringing the outdoors inside, and preserving the valley's incredible views. Mr Backen is included in the "AD100 Hall of Fame", an elite group of architects selected by Architectural Digest for their influential designs. For more on Mr. Backen's contribution, see the Wine Spectator memorial, published 7.26.2024.
Thank you, Chef! Read Galerie magazine's interview with Chef Thomas Keller of Napa Valley's The French Laundry, where chef reveals his enduring affinity for Kenzo Estate asatsuyu as a stand-out wine from the AVA.
Writer Jennifer Boden corrals a busy Marc Nanes for insight into Kenzo winemaking and running the elite Napa Valley Estate and Winery. Interview appears on BestWineries.com.
6.3.2024 UPDATE: Natsuko & Kenzo Tsujimoto's Kenzo Estate LOT #10 garners a winning bid of $195,000 at the Auction Napa Valley on June 1, 2024. Congratulations to Collective Napa Valley on a successful event raising funds for the children of Napa! Learn more results, total raised and details on participating in next year's Auction weekend (June 6-7, 2025) at CollectiveNapaValley.org
5.31.2024 "Auction Napa Valley" Weekend took place with stunning events on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, including a Napa Valley Vintners Wine Barrel Auction (5/31) and a Dinner Auction (6/1) that organizers hope will garner funds to support Children's Mental Health Initiatives in Napa Valley. Millions have been raised in support of Napa Valley families in the past. Capcom CEO Kenzo Tsujimoto and his wife, the COO of Kenzo Estate winery, Natsuko Tsujimoto, watched bidding on the Auction Napa Valley's 14 wine & experience lots culminate in a LIVE auction. Their LOT 10: "A Global Gastronomy Expedition" is valued at more than $19,000. It includes culinary and cultural experiences in Kyoto, Tokyo and their winery and restaurant in Napa Valley, California. For the kids - bid early! Bid often!
Now Available by Popular Demand. Pair your Kenzo Estate wine tasting with a delectable Japanese tradition, the Bento Box, specially prepared by Michelin Star restaurant Kenzo Napa. Here you will blend Japanese culinary elegance, Kenzo’s exceptional wines, and Napa Valley's natural beauty. Our Bento tasting experience reflects traditional Japanese cuisine and the artistry of kaiseki dining to deliver an incomparable authentic experience. This pairing of fine wine and gourmet food encapsulates the essence of Napa's luxurious offerings, providing an unforgettable gastronomic journey. Reservations are required for this limited-offering experience.
SEE SAMPLE BENTO BOX MENU
Since its debut at the Tokyo Imperial Hotel in 2008, this remarkable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has captured the admiration of critics and enthusiasts alike. This latest edition of ai is every bit a classic, and it stands as a true testament to its heritage and Napa Valley pedigree. Blended with small percentages of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it pays homage to classic, bold Napa Cabs in its rich palate. Celebrating its 12th iteration, here's a glimpse into the history of ai Cabernet:
2008: ai is introduced in a presentation at the Tokyo Imperial Hotel.
2011: Earned 96 points from James Suckling. Read Review
2016: Earned 97 points from James Suckling. Read Review
2022: Achieved a perfect score of 100 points from California Wine Adviser. Read Review
TASTING NOTES & TECH DETAILS -> 2020 Kenzo Estate ai Cabernet Sauvignon
As we embrace this season, our primary focus in the vineyard revolves around the art of pruning. Picture a carefully orchestrated dance where we delicately trim away all canes from the previous year, leaving only the two most promising ones. These chosen canes hold the key to the buds that will blossom into this year's canes, playing a pivotal role in shaping the 2024 vintage. The inaugural phase of pruning unfolds in the Cabernet Sauvignon blocks, timed strategically due to this varietal's later bud break in spring. The early pruning of these vines is a subtle yet influential maneuver aimed at shaping the bud break schedule, ultimately ensuring prolonged hang times for the premium fruit on the vine. This meticulous process takes on heightened significance for the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the dedicated members of our vineyard team. It is their unwavering commitment and hard work that transform this intricate process into a reality, setting the stage for the exceptional quality that will define the 2024 vintage.
In her weekly wine newsletter, "Winespeed," respected critic Karen MacNeil approaches and dissects Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc wines. MacNeil is the author of the award-winning book, The Wine Bible, now in its third edition with over 800,000 copies in print.
Kenzo Estate asatsuyu: "96 points: Very pure tasting with a precision and freshness that is remarkable. Like an exotic lime tonic. Bursting with energy on the palate, and very elegant."
"Tour-de-force" is just one of the descriptions provided by the collector-reviewers at California Wine Advisors (CWA - "Tasted Blind, No Advertising") in their thrilling review of the 2018 murasaki Proprietary Red Blend, coming from the highly rated Napa Valley vintage and sourced exclusively from the finest barrels of Merlot, Cabernet, and the fine Bordeaux varietals grown on the Estate.
Kenzo Estate is pleased to release the 98-point ("Legendary") review for the 2021 vintage of asatsuyu Sauvignon Blanc. "Remarkably fragrant ... What really sets this apart is how elegant and balanced it is. This is an absolute pleasure."
WineTraveler announces "10 Must-Visit Napa Wineries: Boutique & Off-the-Beaten-Path", including Kenzo Estate.
"Japanese tech giant Kenzo Tsujimoto’s obsession with the 1976 Judgement of Paris led him to purchase this breathtaking parcel of land in Napa and has since brought on superstar winemaker Heidi Barrett to craft gorgeous wines available at top restaurants like Per Se.
Kenzo and his wife Natsuko’s heritage is integral to the experience as each wine bears a Japanese name that embodies the concept behind the wine. Sip on Asuka, a Cabernet Franc named for Kenzo’s hometown, or the rose Yui, which means unity. Natsuko has overseen the opening of Kenzo Napa, a sleek Japanese eatery. Visitors to the estate are offered different experiences, the star of which is a tour and wine tasting paired with lunch from Bouchon."
Wine critic Virginie Boone reviews Kenzo Estate's ai Cabernet and rindo Red Blend in the March 2022 issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine (reviews currently published online).
Kenzo Estate invites fans and friends of Napa Valley wines to take part in the exclusive wine auction highlighting unique and exciting vintages from more than 50 vintners - the "Direct from the Cellar" online auction via famed auction house, Sotheby's.
California Wine Advisors rates 3 Kenzo Estate wines 98 points, including 2018 rindo Red Blend, 2020 yui Rosé, 2020 asatsuyu Sauvignon Blanc. Details in the link.
100 Points, 2018 Kenzo ai Cabernet: "A masterpiece that must be tasted to believe the intensity of exotic fruit flavors and cashmere-like texture ... a captivating experience we highly recommend." Click the link for the full review.
As travel picks up in the US, those searching for where to go will find Kenzo Estate on this elite shortlist.
Senior Editor MaryAnn Worobiec provides a lilting review of our Sauvignon Blanc, for the Wine Spectator Insider.
"Gorgeously complex," comments Ms. Boone on 2017 murasaki, while 2017 rindo is "weighty and opulent."
Wine critic Virginie Boone awards 96 points to Kenzo Estate 2019 asatsuyu Sauvignon Blanc, and 93 points to yui rosé
Wine critic Jeb Dunnuck, on his website, reviews the 2018 asatsuyu vintage in "Napa Valley's '17s", giving it 91 points.
Wine Enthusiast magazine rated Kenzo Estate's murasaki, asuka and rindo in its "Best of the Year" edition.
Wine Enthusiast critic Virginie Boone reviewed the 2018 vintage of asatsuyu, providing a generous description and the label's best rating yet.
Writer Jill Barth names Kenzo Estate's asatsuyu as a global pick for Sauvignon Blanc sipping in August.
California Reviewer Virginie Boone scores five Kenzo Estate wines 90-plus points in the February, 2019 issue.