Natalie
A wine bar recommended by a friend who is a regular customer. Located on the 4th floor of a distinctive flat building, the cozy and high-quality space was filled with a love for wine. The owner, who is a knowledgeable sommelier, had a badge shining on his chest. The view of Kyobashi Station from the window was not what I remembered. The iconic commercial facility "Daiei" had disappeared and transformed into a mall called "FULALIKYOBASHI". Let's start with a crisp Chardonnay. The wine recommended by the owner based on my preference was Villa Maria Reserve Chardonnay 2019 for 1,300 yen, apparently produced by a premium winery in New Zealand. Cheers for the second time today! This wine is not like water, it has a refreshing and substantial taste. We ordered the owner's favorite food: Homemade Pork Pate for 1,200 yen, served with baguette, whole grain mustard, pickles, and spices. With this, I can probably have three glasses of wine. So, for the second glass, I ordered a Pinot Noir, and the owner's choice was Burgundy Cote de Beaune 2018 for 1,400 yen, a light yet robust wine with a good balance of acidity and fruity flavors. It was delicious. The owner's selections were impressive. We talked about the wine industry and sommeliers in Kansai, including people we know or knew. The owner's network seemed extensive due to the narrow industry. In the midst of this conversation, I mentioned the most expensive wine I had ever drunk, Chateau Petrus 1989. I remembered vividly that it cost 320,000 yen when I drank it in Kitashinchi over 20 years ago. The owner casually mentioned, "I have a wine made by the former winemaker of Petrus." We were intrigued and requested to try it. The bottle was uncorked, revealing Chateau Yon La Fleur 2019 for 2,000 yen, made with over 90% Merlot, similar to the original Petrus. It had a floral name and a vibrant aroma, full-bodied with a hint of depth and bitterness, and a pleasant cherry aftertaste. It was an exciting experience to have a wine with a connection to Petrus in Kyobashi. The last drink was a fortified wine as a nightcap, Barbeito Madeira Wine Malvasia 10 Years, with a dessert wine-like sweetness and a strong 19% alcohol content. It had hints of honey and vanilla. We enjoyed it greatly and reluctantly left as it was time to go home. I wished there were wine bars like this in Honmachi or Umeda, but my visits to Kyobashi have certainly become more enjoyable. Grateful to my friend, the Kyobashi patrol ended successfully.