Our policy is to get great-tasting, food-friendly wines into the customer's
glass; not languishing in our wine cellar. For that reason, you'll notice that
our pricing on wines is well below the usual and customary mark-up for
restaurants. It is our hope that by passing our low market cost on to the
customer, the customer will explore wines of types and varietals that price
would normally prohibit them from trying. Just because a wine is value-priced
doesn't mean it's not world-class with the requisite balance of austerity and
drinkability to please all wine drinkers whether novice or oenophile.
I bring you this hand-picked list of a handful of the market’s best values, with my best
wishes for your enjoyment!
Gekkeikan Draft (Small Carafe – Hot) .......
3.50
Gekkeikan Draft (Large Carafe – Hot)........
7.00
Ozeki Extra-Dry (Individual – Cold)............
7.00
Superbly dry and
slightly perfumed, a refreshing alternative to sake served hot.
Drink on the rocks or neat.
Ozeki Karatamba “Country”
(Individual – Cold)....................................... 15
The epitome of the
sake-maker’s craft, this elegant sake starts smooth and dry with
flower-petals on the elegant finish. Distinctive hand-painted
pottery bottle you can take home.
WinEs
Our wine list is in
flux right now. At one time we got a bit ambitious and acquired a
lot of different wines which led to a lot of confusion. Right now we
select excellent values and don’t mark them up the way most
restaurants do. We want our wines in your glass, not on our shelves!
HOWEVER, IF YOU DON’T SEE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE, BY ALL MEANS ASK
FOR PAUL, THE GENERAL MANAGER, WHO WILL SUGGEST WINES FROM OUR VAST
COLLECTION WHICH ARE NOT LISTED HERE.
REd Wines
1. Merlot NV “HMS Rex Goliath” Central Coast,
California 20
BY THE GENEROUS GLASS...................... 6.50
No one wants to
believe us when we tell them that they can have this wine for
under $40.00 This is a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon with structure
and concentration. Dark and intense in color. Hints of cedar and
oak, with layers of raspberry, plum, mocha, and currant. Firm
tannins with big fruit flavors lead to a lengthy and persistent
finish.
2. Cabernet Sauvignon NV “HRM Rex Goliath”
Central Coast, California 20
BY THE GENEROUS GLASS......................
6.50
Soft, supple,
and complex. There is a certain elegance to this wine that fits
our vision of the perfect Merlot: Pretty and seductive with a
decidedly spicy nose of black cherry, cassis and cedar. Very
ripe and round, almost like a Jolly Rancher candy. Mouth-filling
flavors of plums, cherries and wild red berries dominate from
start to finish. Good seam of acidity paired with soft tannins
make this a wonderful wine for our Chengdu duck and similar
gamey or spicy dishes.
202. Pinot Noir ’06 “Private Selection” Robert
Mondavi Vineyards, Central Coast, CA 25
Mondavi’s
critically-acclaimed “Private Selection” is chewy and austere,
with rich oak integration and a burst of black raspberry fruit
with hearty nutmeg on the long, memorable finish.
203. Valpolicella ’05 “Mara” Vino di Ripasso
Cesari Vineyards, Italy 35
We call this
delightfully dry Italian with many layers of fruit (ranging from
new plums to ripe figs) a “Baby Amarone” because it rests in
Amarone casks before being bottled. Enjoy a truly superb,
critically acclaimed example of the Italian winemakers’ craft.
205. Zinfandel ’05 “Old Vine Zin” Gnarly Head
Vineyards, Lodi, CA 30
This Zinfandel
is a “best buy.” It rivals Zins at twice the price. The
hand-picked fruit comes from 80-year-old vines in Lodi, CA and
is carefully crafted to exploit the fabulous flavor. The result
is an archetypal Zin with plenty of austere fruit and a
thrilling, spicy finish which includes licorice and pepper.
Blush Wines
12. White Zinfandel ’06 Sutter Home Winery,
CA 20*
04. Plum Wine NV “Akadama” Napa, CA
(Glass) 7
By the glass
only, this delightfully refreshing is not cloying like its
Japanese equivalents. Napa plums and wine make it a home run!
WhitE WInes
1. Chardonnay ’06 “Papio”
............................ 20
BY THE GENEROUS GLASS...................... 6.50
Crisp,
refreshing and fun, Papio Chard has luscious fruit flavors with
a hint of vanilla resulting in a balanced wine without being
overwhelmingly oakey. This vineyard in the Central Coast of
California is a relative newcomer, putting out great product at
superb values
15. Sauvignon Blanc ’07 “Valley Oaks” Fetzer
Vineyards 20
BY THE GENEROUS GLASS...................... 6.50
Fetzer’s
Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t take itself too seriously. Don’t look
for flint, new-mown grass or other special effects. This is a
light-hearted, refreshing wine that’s a superb sushi wine.
16. Pinot Grigio NV “HRM Rex Goliath” CA.. 20
BY THE GENEROUS GLASS...................... 6.50
An Italian-style
wine from California’s Central Coast in an Asian restaurant? How
could this not work?! The preponderance of garlic in our foods
calls for a wine of this style for a taste experience that’s
familiar yet also a “walk on the wild side.”
108. Grüner
Veltliner ’05 Hoepler Vineyards,
Austria.......................................................... 30
We invite you to
be enchanted by this serious yet subtle wine which starts with
lovely mango and white-peach fruit which lingers on the palate
for a moment and then the refreshing finish lingers with a whiff
of minerals. Hoepler is the finest of the flock of Gruner
Veltliners now becoming popular. THIS IS A BEST BUY!
