Michael Landry
I am often asked how we come up with our wine list. Actually, there were only a few simple guidelines we wanted to follow.
First, we wanted it to be international. Having spent most of my adult life seeking out investment opportunities all around the world, it seemed to make most sense not to limit the list to just domestic wines. We believe that since our food offerings are global in nature so should our wines. Also, many of our American guests although very familiar with California wines, are reluctant to try an offering from another region in the world because of a lack of familiarity. However, it is always gratifying to get feedback from our servers who tell us how much a guest liked their recommendation for an imported wine.
Our choice of wines within any one country is rather eclectic. In many cases, the choice may be because Barbara and I visited the winery. Or it could be because we simply like a particular wine type. For this reason we have always included a Pommard or a Puligny Montrachet from Burgundy. Or because we have come to know the producer. You may have noticed that we always carry a wine from Chateau Figeac, the largest estate in Saint-Émilion and one of its most famous. That is because the owners of the property, the Manoncourt family, invited myself and a few other hoteliers to dine with them at their elegant chateau. Also, many of our selections are the result of suggestions from guests who discovered a special wine on their own travels. We taste them ourselves and if we like what we experience we add it to the list. Generally, we try to be different from our competitors. Recognizing that some clients are most comfortable with what they know best, we always include some familiar names. In this regard, we depend on our wine wholesalers to inform us on what is currently trendy and selling best.
We acknowledge that many of our guests are looking for an opportunity to pair a delicious wine with their food without having to break the bank. Some though, do want higher priced offerings as a rule or on special occasions. With this in mind, we include wines from the low $30’s to about $400. The good news is we are in the process of increasing our ability to properly store more wine. This will make it possible to add new and even better wines in the future. Of course, serious wine connoisseurs interested in drinking the likes of a Chateau Mouton Rothchild Pauillac 1986 or a Chateau La Mondette Saint- Emilion 1996 can always bring their own bottle and pay a reasonable corkage fee.
I hope this sheds some light on our wine selections. Please feel free to provide feedback. That’s how we get better.