Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Grace Koshu 2023 – Yamanashi GI, Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
Produced from 100% Koshu, Japan’s signature indigenous white grape, this wine is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel to preserve purity and transparency. Grown in the elevated vineyards of Katsunuma, Yamanashi, it beautifully expresses the restrained elegance that has made Grace Wine an international benchmark for Japanese fine wine.

Aromas & Flavors
Yuzu, lemon peel, green apple, white peach, Asian pear, and delicate white flowers lead into subtle mineral notes with hints of wet stone and citrus zest. Delicate rather than aromatic, everything is driven by finesse.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, a steely mineral backbone, and exceptional precision. The texture recalls the purity of Chablis with a subtle sake-like silkiness, finishing remarkably clean, refreshing, and focused.

Food Pairings
Sashimi, sushi, crudo, oysters, grilled white fish, tempura, steamed shellfish, or lightly seasoned Japanese cuisine.

Verdict
An elegant expression of Japan’s flagship white grape that prioritizes freshness, balance, and precision over power. Refined, mineral-driven, and wonderfully food-friendly, it stands comfortably among the world’s finest delicate white wines.

Did You Know?
Koshu has been cultivated in Japan for nearly 1,000 years and is believed to descend from ancient grapes that traveled along the Silk Road before adapting to Japan’s humid climate. Today, Yamanashi is considered the spiritual home of premium Koshu wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
One of the purest and most distinctive white wines I’ve experienced. Its combination of crystalline freshness, mineral precision, and understated elegance makes it a benchmark not only for Japanese wine, but for delicate, terroir-driven whites anywhere in the world. It has earned a permanent place among my favorite food wines. — 3 hours ago

Kyle Katterjohn

10

From Julius. Omakase — 2 years ago

Jennifer

9.0

From Jones & Co. premium cottage case. Enjoyed it very much. Lots of fruit, black cherry. — 5 years ago

Rola Haddad

9.6

Happy 14!!!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 — 8 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.2

This is what affordable American Lager should be. It doesn’t taste like corn syrup, which is a plus as well as a rarity these days. Light enough that you can drink a bunch of them with the flavors I imagine the myriad of independent regional American lagers of the ‘50’s and 60’s might have exhibited. Loved this one. — 8 years ago

Neil Shah

9.3

Opening night at Nobu in Palo Alto earlier this month — 9 years ago

Lunett/ Yosshi

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

8.9

Isojiman Tada Nobuo/ Isojiman premium sake brewery co Ltd.,/ Shizuoka prefecture/ Yamadanishiki/ junmaiginjo Nakadori selected — 9 years ago

em g

10

Perfect fine bubbles. Shared with the wags at wreath making night — 7 months ago

Norman

9.4

Katafune “Tobin” Daiginjo
• Brewery: Takeda Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. (Joetsu City, Niigata, Japan)
• Classification: Daiginjo (the highest polishing class under Junmai/Daiginjo styles)
• Rice Polishing Ratio: 45% (meaning 55% of each grain was milled away)
• Alcohol: 16–17%
• SMV (Sake Meter Value): +2.0 (mildly dry)
• Acidity: 1.3 (on the low side for sake)

The term “Tobin” refers to tobin-kakoi, a premium bottling method. After fermentation, the sake is bag-pressed and allowed to drip under gravity into 18-liter glass bottles called tobin. Only the free-run “nakadori” fraction—considered the cleanest and most balanced—goes into the final blend. This was all part of our Sake Day 2025 experience. We only tasted 60ish sakes out of an estimated 450, so a small fraction of what was available. While I attempted to rinse the glass with water and stay hydrated it’s difficult to fairly rate in this environment and I use it solely as a time to try a wide variety and interact with the brands. This was one of the best and I’m saying that with it being at the end of the night so the bar went up. Very nice. — 9 months ago

Jennifer

9.5

From Jones & Co. premium cottage case. Enjoyed very much. — 5 years ago

Robert S.

9.3

Only received one bottle in my allocation. Kinda hate I didn't wait another couple of years to open. Drinking wonderfully now. Forty five minutes to an hour decant and get ready to really enjoy a premium zinfandel blend. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Rich reddish Gold. Aromas of Molasses and Burnt Sugar. A smooth rich palate giving plenty for its 37.5% Alcohol which is not high for a dark rum. “Filtered through Coconut Shell Charcoal to capture the true taste of Fiji” is the evocative statement on the label. Clean and easy to drink with 1 Block of ice. An excellent lighter style of Rum. — 9 years ago

Yuri

9.0

New brand from Nishi shuzo. Gift to my father:-) — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.6

Bent Water Brewing G.O.A.T. Premium lager

Rose Gold half opacity with a snowy bucket. Arched lacings eyebrow bullseyes in rushing tribute salutes hash marks and laurels. Nose shows yeasty citrus shimmers deep reed echoes and Indian gum as well as flaky croissant. Bold and generous palate with real resonance, astounds on entry. Toasty sesame, toasty toast and tasty, yeasty blood orange and round citrus echo the rhino-impressions. The finish smacks of the lightest oak. Solid.
I see a future KC collab with Brady and Mahomes. A double Bock perhaps? I know,; sacrilege.

#BentWatwrBrewingCo #BentWater #BentWaterGOAT #GOAT #GoATpremiumlager #premiumlager #lager #TomBrady #MAbeer #LynnMA #beer #bier #biere #birra #crrveza #patriots — 8 months ago

Norman

9.3

I bought this years ago for my dad since its “made” in San Carlos. He told me he liked his Jack Daniel’s better… Given dad’s gone and mom doesn’t drink bourbon I’m drinking it now and enjoying it! It’s got some power, mainly on the front of tongue/lips. Finish goes for a while and the flavors are nice. Light wood and sweetness. Cheers Dad! Btw the price on this thing now (not at all what I paid) would have sent him through the roof. — 10 months ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

This is the rum the locals sip in Fiji. Very delicious. Clean and smooth. — 4 years ago

Dennis Hogenkamp

9.0

At Alpen Rose Vail, CO — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Again, I did not take notes but remember liking this wine. It was full bodied with lush ripe dark fruit with edgy minerals and a well polished finish. Good but not as special as their El Cerro Gualtallary.

Jeff and his partner make a number of small production wines under a few different brand names. Vivo o Muerto are their ultra premium wines. They both worked at Catena Zapata for 15 years. They gained a lot of valuable experience but, yearned to make their own wines. They’ve found great sites and great fruit grower relationships. Their wines are beautifully elegant and polished with nothing that bites backs.

Photos of Co-owner Jeff Mausbach hosting our tasting and a couple shots of their cellar.

This was our last visit in Argentina. — 8 years ago

Christopher Zulueta

9.1

Koshihikari has supposedly the best rice in all of Japan. Premium lager. — 9 years ago

Nick Jones

9.3

Crisp / refreshing — 9 years ago