Gallery
Feature | 28 Excellent Value Daily Wines (2) Wine Market PARTY, Hideyuki Numata's 7 Selections
The first time I tried this Spanish Cava, I thought, “Is this better than Champagne…?” and I’ve been buying it ever since. What’s so remarkable is the “terroir” that allows you to directly feel the grape’s inherent flavor! It’s super dry because it’s made with minimal added sugar, relying on natural processes. It’s a taste that even beer lovers will appreciate, and it pairs wonderfully with carpaccio and vegetable dishes. The intense minerality, the characteristic Cava bitterness, and the vibrant energy are superb.
Eduardo Molla Massana
Cava Familia Brut Nature NV
2,415 yen
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I discovered this deeply flavorful Pinot Noir at a wine market I stumbled into. Its transparent texture and the acidity of red fruits reminiscent of cherries and raspberries are captivating, offering a comforting flavor akin to the dashi broth in Japanese cuisine. This natural wine, which gently soothes a tired body, is sure to awaken your palate to its deliciousness as you drink it. When enjoying it at home, I pair it with chicken wrapped in pickled plum and perilla. It also surprisingly pairs well with sushi.
Nana Vins et Compagnie
You Are So Beautiful 2010
2,450 yen (price before tax)
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This is a bottle from Loire Valley producer Benoît Courault that I could drink every day. Made from Chenin Blanc, it’s a mellow, natural sparkling wine with gentle alcohol content. It offers notes of green apple, honey, and pear, with a lingering finish of oak and concentrated fruit aromas… The more you drink it, the more addictive it becomes! Even those who don’t usually drink wine might get hooked on this one? I’d recommend drinking it casually, without overthinking it. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water (laughs).
Benoît Courault
Le Petit Chemin NV
2,450 yen (price before tax)
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I searched high and low for a delicious organic wine that I could drink every day, and finally found this. It’s a delightful white wine with a richness and umami reminiscent of dried pineapple, a hint of oak aroma, and the well-ripened character typical of Australia. It would pair well with creamy pasta or fish baked in foil, but as I live alone, I enjoy it with Comte cheese while watching TV (laughs).
Organic One
Organic One Chardonnay
1,690 yen
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This wine, made from Tokai Rosso grapes from Italy’s Veneto region, has a finish reminiscent of a top-tier French Rhône wine. It’s truly delicious! The pure fruitiness, as if from naturally fermented grapes, is exquisitely balanced with a flavor that spreads with notes of brown sugar, spices, and nutmeg. I’ve been drinking wines from this producer a lot lately, partly because they share the same name as my favorite natural wine bar in Kichijoji. Friday calls for a little indulgence, doesn't it?
La Biancara
La Biancara So San 2006
7,500 yen
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This is incredibly delicious on the third day after opening. It’s a white wine with such presence that you’ll find yourself exclaiming, “What is this?!” repeatedly as you drink it. The color is deep, and it’s cloudy. Initially, the power is dominant, with a playful interplay between the umami, fruit, and alcohol volume (laughs). Wines that become overwhelmingly better on the second day than the first, and on the third day than the second, are what’s trending now as “leave-it-open” types. It’s a term that’s become popular among my friends recently. In this wine’s case, the third day, when the aroma fully blossoms like ripe quince juice, is the best! …Although, it’s still delicious if you leave it for another week (laughs).
Dario Princic
Vino Bianco 2010
3,150 yen (price before tax)
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Marc Kreydenweiss has been a favorite Alsace producer of mine since I became a sommelier. When in doubt, I look for his wines. This particular one is the pinnacle of dry Pinot Blanc! It has a pleasant sweetness, a mellowness like ripe pear and white peach, and a complexity with lemon-like acidity. To think a Pinot Blanc with honeyed notes could taste like this… It pairs perfectly with pork shabu-shabu or seafood hot pot, enjoyed while watching TV on a Sunday. It’s the perfect bottle for the coming season.
Marc Kreydenweiss
Kritt Pinot Blanc Marc Kreydenweiss 2009
2,795 yen
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