Black Samurai is a brand created by Rui Hachimura, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, the most successful team in NBA history.
Rui Hachimura's passion as he continues to challenge himself and strive for greater heights in the top level of the NBA has now been expressed in the form of wine, which has finally been released.
The winemaker is Joe Harden, who is also the winemaker for Nickel & Nickel, a renowned limited edition product from the Single Vineyard Series, founded by Far Niente, a popular winery in Napa Valley.
The powerful fruitiness of black fruits such as black currant and blueberry is accompanied by aromas of herbs, cocoa, and elegant oak.
The taste is a harmonious blend of concentrated fruitiness and silky, fine-grained tannins, with a mellow aroma and a long finish.
Located in Coombsville on the southeastern edge of Napa Valley, the vineyards were planted in 2013 and are dry farmed (non-irrigated) and organically grown.
Because it borders San Pablo Bay, the area is cooler than other parts of Napa Valley, with daytime temperatures sometimes being 3 to 5 degrees Celsius lower than in other AVAs.
The soils are mainly volcanic rocks and sedimentary soils.
After overnight harvest, the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks.
After fermentation, the wine is soaked for 21 days under temperature control, carefully pressed, and then aged for 21 months in French oak (55% new barrels).
Black Samurai, a brand created by Rui Hachimura, a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, based in Los Angeles, California, USA, has released a wine! In June 2019, Hachimura was selected ninth overall in the first round of the NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, making him the first Japanese player to be selected in the first round.
He made an immediate impact as a rookie and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
In January 2023, he made a surprise transfer to the prestigious Lakers, becoming a top star player in both name and reality.
He has now launched his own brand, Black Samurai, and is active as an icon not only in Japan but around the world.
Black Samurai's wines are brewed by Joe Harden, winemaker at Nickel & Nickel, a Napa Valley winery founded by Far Niente.
In addition to Rui Hachimura, Joe has worked on projects for numerous NBA players, including Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson.
2019 will be the first vintage, and it is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Coombsville AVA in Napa Valley, California's renowned wine region.
Rui Hachimura's passion as he continues to challenge himself and strive for greater heights in the top level of the NBA has been embodied in the form of wine, which has finally been released in Japan.