Does this happen to you too?
Whenever I make plans to go to a nice restaurant, one decision always seems to consume my mind. No, I'm not trying to figure out what to wear, or even what to eat... I'm just trying to figure out what to DRINK. You'd think that I'd be a pro by now, but the opposite is actually the truth.
Despite the fact that I should be worried about packing for my trip to Miami, my mind is preoccupied with figuring out which bottle of wine to order with a nice steak dinner Thursday night. Luckily the wine list is posted on the restaurant's website so I can plan ahead! (check out the wine list below)
Let's see... I'm going to be eating steak, so a full bodied red wine is a must. Price? That's a tough one. I've been known to splurge, especially if the bottle is reasonably priced considering the often ridiculous restaurant pricetags. I try to keep it less than $50/bottle unless there is something I HAVE to try or the occasion is special. At first glance, I think I may want to try one of the bottles from Orin Swift. I have heard a lot of people raving about "The Prisoner" but am also curious about "Papillon". Having never tried a wine from Orion Swift, I have no idea what I am getting myself into. Sure, the bottle of wine should NOT really matter, but I would just hate to pick something and be disappointed...
What would you pick?
SPARKLING & CHAMPAGNE
Trevisiol Prosecco, Veneto, Italy 8 / 28
Heidsieck and Co. Brut, France 10 / 39
Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvée, France 12 / 56
Schramsberg J. Schram, Napa Valley 95
CHARDONNAY
La Pampa Desierto, Argentina 8 / 26
Dierberg Three Saints, Santa Maria Valley 10 / 34
Newton Red Label, Carneros 11 / 37
Mer Soleil Silver, Santa Lucia Highlands 45
Peter Michael Belle Côte, Sonoma 95
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Vinoce, Napa Valley 9 / 29
Craggy Range, Martinborough, New Zealand 10 / 32
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre, Loire, France 11 / 36
Orin Swift Veladora, Napa Valley 38
MORE WHITES
La Cana Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain 8 / 26
Pazo San Mauro Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain 9 / 28
Pighin Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy 8 / 26
Etude Pinot Noir Rosé, Napa Valley 9 / 29
Schloss Vollrads Riesling, Germany 9 / 28
MERLOT
Merryvale Starmont, Napa Valley 10 / 34
Twenty Rows, Napa Valley 11 / 35
Swanson Oakville Estate, Napa Valley 12 / 37
Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre, Chile 13 / 40
Chappellet, Napa Valley 50
TEMPRANILLO
Arrocal, Ribera del Duero, Spain 9 / 29
Neo Sentido, Spain 11 / 38
Emilio Moro, Ribera del Duero, Spain 45
El Puntido, Rioja, Spain 88
Muga Prado Enea, Rioja, Spain 90
CABERNET SAUVIGNON & CABERNET BLENDS
Montes Alpha, Chile 9 / 30
B.R. Cohn Syrcab, Sonoma 12 / 40
Honig, Napa Valley 13 / 45
Mi Sueño El Llano, Napa Valley 14 / 48
St. Supéry Élu, Napa Valley 15 / 54
Arns Estate, Napa Valley 16 / 62
Odfjell Aliara, Chile 40
Vinum The Scrapper Cabernet Franc, El Dorado 48
Whitehall Lane, Napa Valley 50
Round Pond Rutherford, Napa Valley 75
Orin Swift Papillon, Napa Valley 82
Luca Beso de Dante, Mendoza, Argentina 90
Viader, Napa Valley 120
Duckhorn Estate, Napa Valley 125
Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina 140
Rudd Estate, Napa Valley 140
Bodegas El Nido, Jumilla, Spain 150
Caymus Special Selection, Napa Valley 195
Lewis Cellars Hillstone, Napa Valley 200
Joseph Phelps Insignia, Napa Valley 225
PINOT NOIR
Robert Stemmler, Carneros 12 / 40
Morgan Twelve Clones, Santa Lucia Highlands 13 / 44
Tantara Dierberg, Santa Maria Valley 16 / 56
Roar Garys’, Santa Lucia Highlands 78
Foxen Sea Smoke, Santa Rita Hills 96
MORE REDS
Catena Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 9 / 30
Errazuriz Carmenère, Aconcagua Valley, Chile 10 / 34
Layer Cake Primitivo (Zinfandel), Puglia, Italy 8 / 26
Orin Swift The Prisoner, Napa Valley 12 / 38
Elyse Korte Ranch Zinfandel, Napa Valley 14 / 46
Betts & Scholl The Chronique Grenache, Australia 15 / 52
Five Vintners Syrah, Napa Valley 11 / 39
Stags’ Leap Petite Syrah, Napa Valley 12 / 40
Luigi Bosca Reserva Malbec, Argentina 28
Gargiulo Aprile Sangiovese, Napa Valley 60
Treana Blend, Paso Robles 60
Linne Calodo Nemesis, Paso Robles 90
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8 comments:
all these choices (including some nice wines) and no vintages?
I know! Unfortunately, this was all I was able to find on the internet. It would be cool if there was one website that had ALL of the wine lists out there, including vintage info.
Is there a better way to find out what's on the list?
Cheers!
The fact that they have a whole section dedicated to the Tempranillo grape, tells me that this is a favorite of whoever put together the wine list, which means they probably have some good choices. So, I would go with the Emilio Moro.
Of course, it can't hurt to ask the Sommelier what he/she thinks.
I bet you are right! Do you think the fact that this restaurant is in Miami has any influence on the wine list?
Cheers!
I was going to say to go with a Tempranillo as well. I haven't found one yet that I didn't enjoy!
You know, I think I haven't had nearly as many Tempranillos as I would like... always seem to enjoy them.
Any good recs for Tempranillo?
Cheers!
First, realize the wine list at the restaurant may be different from what they have online. Far too many restaurants don't update their websites often enough.
Second, you could contact the restaurant and ask for them to email/fax you a copy of their current website.
Third, Tempranillo could be a good choice. The Moro for a less expensive choice, the Muga Prado Enea for a splurge.
That's a great idea... I don't think I've ever asked to be faxed a copy of the wine list, but I may have to try that next time, especially with those places that don't list their wine list at all on their website.
I think I am going to go with a bottle of The Prisoner, and maybe also the Moro... stay tuned!
Cheers!
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