Kai Shiogai
At Kai Shiogai in Beaune, in Burgundy, Japanese precision meets one of Europe’s most demanding wine landscapes. Originally from Japan, the winemaker studied in Beaune and Dijon, gained experience with names such as Pacalet, Rousseau and Roulot, and now builds his own Burgundian handwriting in tiny quantities.His micro-cellar sits on the outskirts of Beaune, yet the work reaches into parcels across the Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits, Chablis, Beaujolais and Mâconnais. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling are not treated as prestige markers, but as sensitive instruments for limestone, marl, altitude and vintage.
Shiogai represents a new Burgundy without theatrical volume: small lots, precise picking, sensitive oak, fine reduction and an almost crystalline idea of fruit. The wines feel like sketches made of light, stone and discipline, shaped by respect for tradition and the freedom of an outsider.
