Any Gems in this Wine List?

WINE TALK
1

My wife and I have plans for our 4th Anniversary dinner next week at BOCA in Cincinnati, and I’m pouring over their wine list now. As far as the French and Italian selections, some folks on here clearly have a better eye for the gems (and the relative “bargains,” if any) than I do. I’d love to get some feedback as I see wine lists posted on here from time to time. Budget is negotiable, but we’re probably not going to drop much over $150 on a bottle unless it is really special.

http://bocacincinnati.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/boca_wine.pdf

Thanks! [cheers.gif]

2

for my palate would go with the '10 Alain-Graillot…
and the pricing isn’t out of whack…quick look at retail is $38-40

3

At quick glance, the Larmandier-Bernier Champagne would be my choice. They are much better qpr at retail, of course…

4

In a sea of crappy wine lists, I like the list. Lots of 2-2.5x markups. Lots of variety without being a telephone book. Something for everyone.

5

I don’t know your preferences, but for reds I’d get the Breton Bourgeuil Galichets, or the Lapierre or Thivin Beaujolais.

6

Lots of decent values, but the Sigalas Assyrtiko and Vajra Langhe are two of my favorites and sit squarely at the bargain end of the range. The higher end stuff strikes me as too young for the most part, often with too great a premium relative to the laydown bargains, but I am sure there are some nuggets in there somewhere. Enjoy!

7

I’ve had the Pian dell’Orino brunello. It was chewy but wonderful. Call ahead for a decant if you want to go Italian.

8

I won’t pretend like I recognize most of the list but I can tell you that this is really, really good cava. Very unlike the sea of $8 stuff I usually associate with the stuff.
CAVA, Raventós i Blanc “de Nit” Brut Rosé, Catalonia '10
$59 here. I paid about $22 retail, so not bad. Sparkly and celebratory.
Probably not a beer night but that Jolly Pumpkin Cabeza de Oro would be calling my name.

9

The 2002 Unico is like 1.5x retail…

10

Not a bad list. These looked nice to me:

NERELLO MASCALESE, Pa s s o p i s c i a r o ‘09 89

BOURGUEIL, C . & P. B r e t o n “ Le s G a l i c h e t s” ‘ 10 60

MORGON, Ma r c e l L a p i e r r e ‘ 11 64

RIOJA, Lopez d e H e r e d i a “Vi ñ a To n d o n i a” Re s e r v a ‘01 11 3

MALBEC , C h . L a m a r t i n e ’ 10 45

11

I don’t know about the wines, but I’d start with this:

THE VIOLET
He n d r i c k ’ s G i n , C rème de Vi o l e t , L i m e Ju i c e , B l a c k b e r r i e s

12

If you like Nebbiolo, this blend from the Alto Piemonte region is excellent: Le Piane “La Piane”, Boca ‘06 $94

Disclaimer: I’ve sold this wine and various other La Piane wines but they are very good. The '06 is in a good place with a solid decant. I sold it for $60 retail so this markup is very reasonable. I’ve tasted a vertical of these wines going back to '04 (as well as tasted the previous owners wines in '89 and '90), and they are all excellent quality.

13

On Burgundy, Red, the A. & P. d e Vi l l a i n e “ L a D i g o i n e” looks interesting. Only a bourgogne rouge, Villaine is in charge of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. You don’t see it so much and probably a 100-150% mark up. It’s on the reserve list; I myself have never had the wine.

Josh

14

The GATTINARA, Travaglini ‘07 is a lovely, drinkable now nebbiolo.

15

The Morgon for me, but I am also a sucker for Jura wines.

k.

16

That sounds like dessert almost…

17

+1

Or the '10 G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo.

18

The Dogfish Head and the Assyrtiko and the Gruners

19

Isole e Olena Chianti would be a nice choice.
These markups seem quite reasonable especially given Ohio’s retail pricing.

20

Thanks everybody. The few that I noticed from a mile away seemed to indicate a rather high markup on some wines (Failla Sonoma Chard @ $124? Martinelli Sonoma Pinot @ $149?), but it is good to hear that some of the rest of the list is more reasonable. Not sure what we will end up with, but I’m a sucker for good Beaujolais, I’ve never had any wines from Jura, the Lopez de Heredia caught my eye, etc. so there is no lack of good choices.