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rloomis -> RE: I just ate.................. (8/7/2008 3:11:11 PM)
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I agree, $50 is a lot and I do hate to think I'm contributing to the encouragement of such usurious corkages. But, I've studied the wine list prices and if you want to eat here, you've got to pay -- one way or the other. I've pretty much concluded that except for a few of the most extremely rare and expensive wines on their list, anybody with a clue about the kind of wine they should bring to a place like this would be much better off bringing their own.
The French Laundry does offer its wine list online (all 100+ pages) so you can see if they already offer something you might want bring in yourself. This is what the list says about corkage:
The French Laundry offers wine service
for bottles not represented on our list.
$50.00 fee per 750ml bottle
Nulli Secundus
Service Included
Elsewhere on the FL web site, you can browse a sample of the tasting menu to see what kinds of foods to expect to be served. With 9 or so courses of food, but a small party and limited budget, I figure a blanc de blancs Champage and a good Burgundy are a good way to have the widest compatible food-wine pairings requiring the minimum number of bottles.
The restaurant seems to have figured that out too; based upon their particularly strong Champagne prices and the staggeringly impressive number of 1er cur and grand cru Bourgognes included in their list.
Here's a few of the Champagnes from the list:
Veuve-Clicquot 1999: $32 by the glass
Moët et Chandon, "Dom Pérignon," 1999: $55 by the glass or $510 for a bottle, WOW!
Krug, "Brut," 1995: $685 bottle
Krug, "Clos d'Ambonnay," Grand Cru 1995: $9,120 bottle, that's right, almost ten grand, baby!
I have a bottle of 1995 Dom in the cellar that I picked up a few years ago for about $90. Even with $50 corkage, I'm way ahead; and a $140 total is still a pretty good price by today's standards.
But ths brings us to their choice of words: "represented on our list". Is DP "represented" on their list even though it is a different vintage? Hmmmm.....
As an alternate/back-up, maybe a white Burgundy?
Their list offers Louis Carillon, "Les Perrières," 1er Cru 2005: 295 for the bottle.
So as long as that doesn't mean my 2005 Domaine Jomain Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières is "represented", I can bring mine, add $50 corkage, and still come out for almost 1/3 their wine list price.
Still kinda sucks to pay as much to drink the bottle as I paid for the bottle though.
For the reds they have:
Clos St. Denis
Domaine Dujac, Grand Cru 2002 for $480
I have a 2002 Olivier Guyot Clos St. Denis for about 125+50=$175.
Reading restaurant reviews from other patrons, I've seen several of them post that the staff have been pretty cool and opened things for customers even if they were on the wine list. I found this one on their list:
Clos Vougeot, Gros Frere et Soeur, "Musigni," Grand Cru 2005 $360
Which I've seen for sale at a local shop for what now seems like a paltry $175. Man, I should just go buy 2!
But there might actually be a few good deals hidden in the FL wine list. If price is not an issue, I found this
wine on their list:
La Tâche Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Grand Cru 2005 $3,035
Which I found listed at several wine auctions for over $4000. Hey, maybe I should order that one, I'm saving over a grand!
There's about 10 pages of Bourgognes in their list and to someone really familiar with these wines, there might be a few other hidden deals in there at a more modest price point. Maybe cgrimes, serge or one of the other CT Bugundy experts can spot something? (keep it under 300 to do me any good) here's the link to the wine list:
http://www.tkrg.org/upload/fl_wine.pdf
Oh, and Serge, good news the oaky pinot noirs of St. Innocent didn't make the list, so you're free to bring in your own bottles!
The Oregon:
Beaux Frères, Yamhill County 2005 185
Beaux Frères, "Beaux Frères Vineyard," Yamhill County 2005 205
Beaux Frères, "The Upper Terrace," Yamhill County 2005 250
Soter, "Mineral Spring Vineyard," Yamhill-Carlton District 2005 170
Ken Wright, "Freedom Hill Vineyard," Willamette Valley 2005 150
Ken Wright, "Freedom Hill Vineyard," Willamette Valley 2006 155
Ken Wright, "Guadalupe Vineyard," Willamette Valley 2005 150
Ken Wright, "Guadalupe Vineyard," Willamette Valley 2006 155
Ken Wright, "Savoya Vineyard," Willamette Valley 2006 155
Ken Wright, "Shea Vineyard," Willamette Valley 2006 155
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