St. Cousair (Nagano, Japan), Zion 2007: ★★　(6/3/09)

Today we bring you a treat from the great prefecture of Nagano. St. Cousair winery has been around since 1990 and they are hard focused on making some of the best wine in the prefecture. Unfortunately, we were a little disappointed with the Zion, which is basically a Chardonnay with a different name. (Zion is the name of an employee's child). The wine does go down smooth in the summer, but not without a hard grape aftertaste with every sip. Note: if you like a musky flavor this wine might be ideal for you. Several foods were paired with the wine, but the duck pate seemed a natural fit for a medium body. If you are in the Nagano area, you might stop by the winery for a taste of this and others. (Japan Retail: 2,200 yen/bottle) - Lloyd & Company