Schloss Gobelsburg’s Steinsetz Grüner Veltliner is new to the by-the-bottle [btb] list, $31.00 for the half bottle. It seems to make sense to offer more 375ml bottles on the list at Biwa. It gives our guests an opportunity to sample other libations and not be locked down to a 750ml vinous commitment. Order a bunch of items from the menu, drink some wine, enjoy some sake, sip on a cocktail, have an experience.

My tasting note for the Biwa staff: the region is Kamptal, the gemeinde [or village] is Gobelsburg, and the ried [or vineyard] is Steinsetz. This is a very graceful [and special] bottle of Grüner Veltliner [the grape].  Peach, lemon, green apple, Daikon radish, crushed stone minerality, white pepper and white flowers. The texture is viscous like a fine Chablis, but with a light prickliness on the palate, balanced with medium-plus acidity.

Also newly added by the half bottle is the remarkable Cuvée de Réserve Champagne Brut from Marc Hébrart. The bubbly is estate-bottled from the very best premier cru vineyard, Mareuil-sur-Ay, located in the Vallée de la Marne. Nice.

Anthony Garcia
http://twitter.com/wineisdivine

We are featuring the Thierry Véron Cave de la Bouquette Sancerre for $10 by-the-glass [btg] at Biwa. Guests seem to be enjoying  it.

My tasting note for the Biwa staff: classic typicité [a wine speaking of what it is and where it’s from, in this case a classic Sauv Blanc from the Loire]. Citrus [more on the grapefruit side of the spectrum], caraway seed and wet stones, medium-plus acid.  After the warm and atypical vintage of 2009, Sancerre is back to tasting like Sancerre. Nice.

From the new distributor-importer Petit Monde, great little portfolio of French wine.

Anthony Garcia
http://twitter.com/wineisdivine

A large gap in posts and posts to be provided less frequently only means one thing.  I am totally in the midst of studying for another turn at passing the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination, which I’ll sit for in early July, back in Texas. My life in Portland is working six nights a week: three at Noisette [French, fine dining] and three at Biwa [Izakaya, high volume, casual].  I enjoy the dichotomy between these two jobs, and I’m thankful for working only nights as my days are free to study.  My head’s down, tackling the material, spending more hours each day than I have in years past. This might all sound frenetic, but it’s oddly comforting [if not all too familiar]. I did have a great autumn break from the rigors, so I feel really good and lucid.

I’m also part of a weekly tasting group with some gifted somms. The last wine I blinded was this 1992 Jos. Christoffel, Jr. Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese from the Mosel.  Although I concluded properly on region, country and varietal, I TOTALLY missed the mark on vintage and sweetness level. The wine was super spritzy like a fresh wine, but deep in color like a white of age. I went down the wrong path and called it young Kabinett! Embarrassing, for sure, but a fine learning experience all the same. Thank you, Ole Thompson for presenting such a great wine!

Anthony Garcia
http://twitter.com/wineisdivine