Last Bern's trip

I'm not sure that we ever really hit the hey day of this restaurant. Suspect it was more like 20 years ago before we were drinking fine wine (and perhaps just barely really starting to drink). Still, we've had some really fun and memorable visits over the last 5-7 years thanks to visiting friends who live in Tampa. This round was a friend's 30th who had always wanted to go and so we opted to do another trip.

• 1981 Pol d'Ambert Champagne Avize - Brut Vintage

  France, Champagne

  Off the list at Berns. We had been eyeing a few different US sparklings that seemed interesting and while those were all gone (the story of the Bern's wine list these days unfortunately), there was this item that wasn't on there that was available. It's a totally reasonable aged champagne. Nothing that makes you write home, but if you like the slightly more oxidative, slightly more aged style then at least for the price point in a restaurant it wasn't terrible. Paired with caviar and that made it quite delicious.

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• 1983 Weingut Adolf Rheinart Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  I'm not always a huge fan of aged riesling since I seem to be getting more and more sensitive to that petrol flavor. This was though relatively fresh and drinking pretty well. I'm not sure I'd say a great wine, it didn't grab me completely, but it was a nice background wine and had stayed in a good spot.

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• 1978 Messire Louis Revol Crozes-Hermitage

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  I was very skeptical of this wine. Had tried a Cote Rotie by a Revol at Berns a few years ago and found it very disappointing so I wasn't totally sure on this. But whether it was great vintage or this Revol happened to be in a different spot or great bottle I will say this was drinking pretty nicely. Again, not a blow you away wine, but certainly something that was fun to get to try.

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• 1940 Château Haut-Brion

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  In every trip to Berns we've had an old Bordeaux that just stunned us. Something that wasn't clearly going to be great maybe because the year was off or whatever, but a good producer and so one we've taken a flier on. This was that bottle. More expensive than many in the past, but my theory was I've never had a bad HB and we were celebrating. I'll say I've still never had a bad HB. This was a very good wine. Clearly the best at the table. Worth the extra money? Unclear. I think Bern's has up'ed their prices quite a bit on some of these and so finding the really great deals and also a good name is basically impossible. Still, this was my WOTN and memorable even if not quite as good as the '43 Ausone or '16 Conseillante from dinners past.

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• 1989 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Brunate

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Tried a Giacosa but unfortunately bottle was corked and so we moved to our second choice. Birth year vintage for friend celebrating the birthday and there is always something very fun about that. This was also drinking pretty well. Not blow you away, but sold in every respect and unlike the last note suggested this bottle was definitely not on the down swing. Not sure it was going to improve much more though either. Classic barolo which is a flavor I really enjoy.

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• 1978 Ridge Coast Range

  USA, California

  Maybe my favorite of the whole line up (taking into account price tag as well). This was just drinking great. All fresh and young and hard to tell that it is 41 years old. More interesting and even a bit of complexity (something that was missing in the older 'fun' wines we had been trying). Ready to go although I don't think the wine is going anywhere very fast. Very interesting to try. Every time I do I think I should keep an eye out for some of these old Ridge ones. They are special.

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• 1989 Domaine Pichot Vouvray Moelleux Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Old Vouvray is quickly becoming a category that I think I need to spend more time with. The wines we've had have always been really interesting and the QPR is excellent. This was no different. Quite fresh even with the age. Drinking very well for what it is. Not one that totally jumped out of the glass at me, but very sold and drinking well and well priced at least in the real world (even if Berns has not hesitated to go to a closer to 3-4x mark-up on value).

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Overall, I think it's fair to say that the fun might be over now. Cellar fairly well picked over (although the list I think perhaps on purpose doesn't keep up). There's some 'dorky' wine that's interesting to try (although I'd argue at the price tag if you are active in the auction market you can find similar wines for much less money). Here if you want the great stuff you really pay for it. If you want to stay more reasonable (all relative... one of our bottles was right at the edge of the 4 digit craziness), you will be drinking stuff that is fine. Perhaps even a very good bottle for what it is. But not something to blow you away. And that whole thing where the mark-up is less than other restaurants is just gone. For the oddball wines the mark-up has increased (think sometimes even 10x auction) but always at least 3-4x which I'd guess is high for the Tampa area. Esp because they are serving steak at NY prices and I'd venture you've had a better steak (or 20). So I'm afraid we truly have hit our last dinner at Berns and that's ok.

That being said, it was an amazing night. Fun to spend with friends that we don't get to see enough, enjoyable to go across a range of different places. Interesting to get some wines where I'm sure we'll never see them again. And always fun to celebrate someone who is important to us.