Quick restaurant review

Recently in the South Bend, Indiana area, a new wine bar/bistro opened up: Wine Down. Mrs. WineGeek and I dined there last night for the first time. Overall, a positive experience. The wait staff was appropriately attentive and knew the menu and wine list. The entrees were nicely done and flavorful. I had the filet mignon and she had the duck breast. No complaints about either, and the presentation was a nice plus. The wine list is fairly extensive, albeit small by some standards. There are approximately 75 wines on the list, with about 36 available by the glass (not including three ports). The wines ranged from a Woodbridge to a David Bruce Pinot Noir. For those who really want to splurge, they have a selection of three different bottles that get into the three figure range quite nicely. My one complaint about the wine list is that it lacks information on the origin and vintage. If you don't know that David Bruce Pinot Noir comes from California, you're out of luck. And it's always a pet peeve of mine when vintages are omitted. I started off with a Cuvee Anne Laure Gewurtztraminer, which was pleasantly acidic and spicy. It accompanied the Caesar salad nicely. To accompany the filet, I had a glass of the Vega del Rio Crianza Rioja, which was outstanding. Both wines struck me as being reasonably priced. The stemware (an even bigger pet peeve of mine) was appropriate. Whites were served in a tulip shaped glass with room to swirl (but not too forcefully), and reds were served in a large onion-shaped glass with plenty of room to swirl. So, for the South Benders looking for a change, check out Wine Down at 1213 E. University Drive (to the east of the Super Target). As for me, I will plan on stopping in regularly to at least have a glass of wine, if not a full meal.