Any Gems in this Wine List?

[Walt_Hoehler]

Not sure how anyone could decide without looking at the menu first…
http://bocacincinnati.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/boca_dinner.pdf

The Gattinara and Vajra are solid choices. I’m a sucker for Cepparello however.

[Howard_Cooper]

I really noticed the interesting Beaujolais section with the Thivin and Lapierre.

[Dusty_Gillson]

I’ve never had any Vajra, but I’m currently listening to the “I’ll Drink to That” podcast with about a 2 hour sit down with Guiseppe.

[Hank_Gillespie]

The list doesn’t provide any cuvee information regarding the Chateau Lamartine entry,
but the wines from that estate are exceptionally good. Certainly worth trying.

Hank

[Kevin_M_L]

@Dusty Gillson

I’ve never had any Vajra, but I’m currently listening to the “I’ll Drink to That” podcast with about a 2 hour sit down with Guiseppe.

Vajra is a consistently good value. The Langhe Rosso is one of the better $10-$14 wines I have found, and the Nebbiolo (on this wine list) is very good for slightly more money. The Barolo Albe also has become an excellent entry level Barolo, but I would not buy it at this restaurant. It is too young, needs significant air when opened, and is very overpriced relative to other options on this list (more than 3x its typical ~$30 retail). I have not tasted Vajra’s higher end Barolo but plan to do so the next time I spot a good deal.

[danupdike]

Some of the prices seem REALLY high unless they are leaving some detail out. $188 for Mont Olivet C-N-P? If that’s the regular bottling it sells for $35 here. The Papet bottling is only $60.

Depends what you like and are having for dinner. My selections for value/versatility and not being too grossly overpriced.

Raventós i Blanc “de Nit” Brut Rosé
MORGON, Marcel Lapierre ‘11
PINOT BLANC, Zind Humbrecht ’11
NEBBIOLO BLEND,G. D. Vajra, Langhe, Piedmont ’10

[Chris_Seiber]

@Loren Sonkin

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

Those are terrific recommendations. Lock the thread.

[Gerhard_P]

There´s nothing on the list I really WANT to have … so I would choose (relatively) low priced bottles, maybe the Viré-Clessé in white - and the Sablet/St.Gayan 09 in red - both could provide very nice drinking.

Just to give everybody an idea:
the CdP Mont-Olivet 2010 was some 20 € at the domaines shop last summer (a super value) - don´t tell me that it was more than 35-40 $ in retail - and here it´s 188 $

[Ken_V]

The pricing on that list seems very uneven to me. Some are good values. Some are ridiculously high.

[Dusty_Gillson]

That is exactly what I was seeing on the domestic wines, I’m just not as familiar with the imported stuff from a price standpoint. It seems like if the winery has a mailing list, they charge way more than is reasonable. As far as the food is concerned, I’ve only heard really good things, but they may be switching from their “summer” menu to the “fall” menu in the next week, so I didn’t want to count on any of the current dishes being available.

[Phil_David]

Tough list. What kind of loon drops that kind of money on reds that are years off being ready to drink? 08 Chave (weak vintage) for $400 - easy pass! As for 2011 Prum, should be illegal to offer them at that age.

Some good suggestions above for lower priced younger drinking wines like various Beaujolais and the Vajra Langhe. I’d steer clear of the Tondonia '01 - that’s a lot to pay for a mute wine.

Beer and cider list looks nice though!

[Gerhard_P]

@Phil David

08 Chave (weak vintage) for $400 - easy pass!

certainly pass at this price, and yes a minor vintage in the NRhone - BUT an outstanding wine and great success!!!

[Chris_Seiber]

Most wine lists have a lot of bad buys on them, and I’m usually happy if they have some good buys as well. Why dwell on the sucker prices?

The wines that Loren Sonkin recommended are great. I love Passopisciaro. And how often can you buy a wine the quality of Lapierre Morgon off the list of a nice restaurant for $64?

[Dusty_Gillson]

My wife had a glass of the Jura sparkler and I a glass of Cedric Vincent beaujolais that were both very good. Then we actually ended up taking a bottle of 93’ W-S Olivet Lane (shhhh) that just killed it. . . the somm gushed about it for 2 minutes when we offered her some. Really elegant wine and so youthful, I might have pegged it as only 5-7 years on if I tasted it blind. 13.7% alc.

The food and service was just over the top good, especially considering the prices. We ate and drank for 2.5 hours, left stuffed, and the bill was well less than $200.