Kenzo Winery, Napa Valley: Wine Styles, 10 Best Bottles to Buy (2024)

Nestled in the hills above Napa Valley, Kenzo winery produces exciting Bordeaux-style wines.

This Napa winery was founded by the Japanese wine enthusiast Kenzo Tsujimoto, and today, it’s one of the largest wine estates in Napa county.

Their flagship wines are the refreshing Asatsuyu Sauvignon Blanc (handcrafted by winemaker Heidi Barrett) and the elegant Rindo Red Blend.

In this article, we’ll tell you all about Kenzo winery, 10 delicious bottles to buy in 2024, their investment potential, and Kenzo Estate’s vineyards and winemaking.

A Quick Intro To Kenzo Winery

The sprawling Kenzo Estate Napa winery lands were initially home to the Wild Horse Valley Ranch, a well-known equestrian center.

However, in the 1990s, Kenzo Tsujimoto’s affinity for the California wine country and vision to build an outdoor retreat led him to acquire this property atop Mt. George.

Today, it’s a pristine 3800 acre estate located at Monticello Road with a 150-acre vineyard mainly planted with Bordeaux varietals.

Besides its flagship Asatsuyu Sauvignon Blanc and Rindo Red Blend, Kenzo winery also produces:

• Asuka Cabernet Franc
• Murasaki Cabernet-Merlot red wine blend
• Ai Cabernet Sauvignon
• Yui Rosé
• Muku Sauvignon Blanc 

The estate also features a tasting room designed by renowned architect Howard Backen. 

In 2016, Mr. Tsujimoto opened Kenzo Napa, an upscale Japanese restaurant located in the heart of downtown Napa.

10 Best Wines From Kenzo Winery

Here are the most exquisite wines from Kenzo winery:

• 2016 Kenzo Estate Rindo, Napa Valley, USA ($177)
• 2008 Kenzo Estate Ai Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($474)
• 2019 Kenzo Estate Asatsuyu, Napa Valley, USA ($95)
• 2006 Kenzo Estate Murasaki, Napa Valley, USA ($204)
• 2018 Kenzo Estate Asuka Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, USA (160)
• 2014 Kenzo Estate Yui Rose, Napa Valley, USA ($36)
• 2018 Kenzo Estate Muku Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest, Napa Valley, USA ($95)
• 2017 Kenzo Estate 'Ren' Sparkling Semillon, Napa Valley, USA ($166)
• 2015 Kenzo Estate Murasaki, Napa Valley, USA ($349)
• 2017 Kenzo Estate Yui Rose, Napa Valley, USA ($91)

1. 2016 Kenzo Estate Rindo, Napa Valley, USA ($177)

This fine wine has notes of sun-ripened raspberry, cedar, rose petal, baking spice, and wild honeysuckle with lush tannins. 

2. 2008 Kenzo Estate Ai Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($474)

Here we have a great wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot packed with cedar and black licorice aroma.

3. 2019 Kenzo Estate Asatsuyu, Napa Valley, USA ($95)

A favorite of Thomas Keller (Chef Keller of the Bouchon Bistro and Bouchon Bakery), this wine offers a palate of melon, lime zest, and barrel-aged vanilla.

4. 2006 Kenzo Estate Murasaki, Napa Valley, USA ($204)

This Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend has balanced acidity and smooth tannins and aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and plum.

5. 2018 Kenzo Estate Asuka Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, USA (160)

This Napa Valley wine is medium-bodied and reveals a bouquet of black pepper, spice, blackberry, blueberry, cocoa, and granite. 

6. 2014 Kenzo Estate Yui Rose, Napa Valley, USA ($36)

The 2014 Yui Rose showcases bright acidity and a rich palate with a nose of watermelon, orange zest, melon, persimmon, and white peach.

7. 2018 Kenzo Estate Muku Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest, Napa Valley, USA ($95)

This Northern California wine opens with lychee and ripe pear aromas. The palate offers apricot, zesty citrus, and candied guava nectar flavors.

8. 2017 Kenzo Estate 'Ren' Sparkling Semillon, Napa Valley, USA ($166)

This great wine has a floral bouquet, followed by citrus, vanilla, peach, and papaya flavors, with a hint of roasted pear.

9. 2015 Kenzo Estate Murasaki, Napa Valley, USA ($349)

This Kenzo Estate wine is a peppery and spicy blend of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot with a smooth and rich palate.

10. 2017 Kenzo Estate Yui Rose, Napa Valley, USA ($91)

The 2017 vintage Rose has bright acidity, a rich palate, and great freshness with watermelon and peach aromas.

Investing In Kenzo Estate Wines

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These Napa Valley wine styles have great aging potential and good price appreciation. For example, the 2015 Kenzo Estate Murasaki price increased by 41%, from $264 in 2020 to $374 in 2021.

Kenzo wines have also received great critical acclaim:

• The 2018 vintage of Asayatsu Sauvignon Blanc received 95 points by Wine Enthusiast, while Wine Spectator gave the 2019 vintage 92 points. 

• The 2018 vintage of Asuka Cabernet Franc was awarded 94 by The Wine Advocate.

Additionally, these wines perform well at auctions. 10 magnums of Rindo, vintages from 2009 to 2018, were sold for $16,000 at Zachys in 2021.

The Kenzo Estate Vineyards And Winemaking

The Kenzo Estate’s vineyards are spread across 150 acres (4%) of the total landholdings. They have vine plantings of:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cabernet Franc
• Malbec
• Petit Verdot
• Merlot
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Semillon

How are the Kenzo wines made?

The wine production team consists of viticulturist David Abreu and winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett (known for crafting renowned wines like Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle). Together they curate wines that are a refined combination of California sophistication and Japanese tranquility.

White wines are made by gently pressing the whole grape bunches and fermenting them in neutral oak barrels or stainless tanks. 

To make red wines, the grapes are first carefully sorted by hand and pressed. 

The juice is fermented in stainless steel or concrete tanks. Here, the juice is gently pumped over or punched down daily for two weeks.

The wines are aged in caves built directly into the hillside, adjacent to the winery, maintaining a cool temperature between 57 and 62 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Indulge In Exquisite Wines From Kenzo Winery

The Kenzo winery produces estate-bottled wines made with grapes sourced from their own premium vineyard lands, showcasing the unique characteristics of the diverse terroir.

If you want to invest in any age-worthy wine from the Kenzo Estate winery or elsewhere in the world, visit Vinovest!

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