‘Beste’wijnbar

Waar tref je de beste wijnbar in de wereld? Daarover zijn de meningen verdeeld. Maar er zijn proevers die volhouden dat je daarvoor in Moskou moet zijn. Waarom? Omdat er nauwelijks een uitgebreider aanbod van wijnen per glas mogelijk is, vindt de man achter het Amerikaanse wijnblog Vinography. Een paar landen vindt hij mager vertegenwoordigd en de prijzen soms exorbitant. Maar er is keuze en er zijn ongekend veel mogelijkheden. Daarom dus.

I like wine bars. I wish there were more of them around when I was single and had the energy to go out and spend hours on the town with friends. These days I don't get to visit many, thanks to the crazy day job and the little one at home. But if I do end up having a drink after work, chances are, you'll find me at a local San Francisco wine bar, with several glasses in front of me.

Right now, however, the wine bar I want to visit most in the world is in Moscow.

Why? Because I've never seen a wine bar that has a better selection of wines by the glass. Anywhere.

My friend Bert Celce went to Russia recently, and wrote an article about it, but I didn't notice the wine list until my friend Jack who runs the web site Fork and Bottle sent me a note about it being, well, the best wine bar in the Universe.
If you're a wine lover, take a gander at this list, and what you can get by the glass. (I've run the list through Google translate so some of the text on the side is in English). The prices range from moderate ($12 a glass) to pricey ($96 a glass), but the selection of more than 200 wines is purely unbelievable.

Here are a few highlights:

SPARKLING

NV Jacques Selosse Blanc de Blancs "Initial" Brut Champagne, France

2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne, France

1997 Diebolt-Vallois Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne, France

1991 Philipponnat Sublime Reserve Demi-Sec Champagne, France

2007 Bellavista Franciacorta "Curtefranca", Italy



WHITE

1994 Pascal Bouchard Chablis Grand Cru "Vaudesir", Burgundy, France

2003 Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Burgundy, France

1996 Domaine Antonin Guyon Meursault Premier Cru "Le Charmes Dessus" Burgundy, France

2001 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc 'Shante-Alouette' Rhone, France

2004 Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume 'Pur Sang', Loire, France

2003 Nicolas Joly Coulee de Serrant, Loire, France

2004 Miani Sauvignon Blanc, Friuli, Italy

2001 Valentini Trebbiano D'Abruzzo, Italy

2000 Benanti Pietramarina, Sicily

2002 Weingut Brundlmayer Riesling 'Alte Reben' Zobinger Heiligenstein, Germany

2001 Giaconda "Nantua les Deux" Chardonnay, Australia



RED

1996 Chateau Beausejour-Becot. St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France

1996 Domaine de L'Eglise Bordeaux, France

2000 Chateau Calon Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

2005 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Cuvée Réservée", Rhone, France

2002 Nicolas Potel Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Burgundy, France

1996 J. Raphet Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Burgundy, France

1998 Faiveley Corton Clos de Cortons Burgundy, France

2001 J. Grivot Vosne-Romanee Burgundy, France

1992 Chapoutier Hermitage Le Pavillon, Rhone, France

2000 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino, Italy

1998 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino, Italy

1999 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico, Campania, Italy

1994 Ornellaia Masseto, Toscana, Italy

2005 Prunotto Barolo "Bussia," Piedmont, Italy

1998 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella, Compolongo di Torbe, Italy

2000 Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Villa Gemma, Italy

2003 Jermann Pignacolusse, Friuli, Italy

1997 J. Drouhin Pinot Noir "Lauren," Oregon

2003 A. Palacios Les Terrasses, Priorat, Spain

1999 Vina Mayor Secreto Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain

I'd call any wine bar that had even half of these wines by-the-glass a world-class destination. Granted, the list is a little weak when it comes to California, Spain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Austria and Germany. But it's all relative. And yes, paying $55 a glass for a 2005 Prunotto Barolo is a bit excessive. But the point is that you can if you want to.