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About this Episode

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas travel down Highway 1 to West Hollywood, where they visit the legendary steakhouse on Sunset Boulevard, Boa. Boa provides an award-winning wine list and Grace is here to help us find the best bottles on the list, including a sparkling pinot from Oregon, killer chardonnays, and a few delicious value wines that don’t compromise on quality.

Wines reviewed include:

● Willamette Valley’s Soter Vineyard Brut Rose

● 2018 Groth from Napa Valley

● 2010 Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo

Transcript: Boa

Boa

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace, it’s great to have you!

GH: Hey Robert! Happy to be here :)

RT Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well… it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. So Grace - today we will be tackling West Hollywood hotspot Boa.

GH: You had me at West Hollywood haha

RT: Hahah I love it. What are your initial thoughts on the wine list?

GH: I’m loving this list! They have a very well thought out list that represents a lot of different regions, styles of wine and price points. Something for everyone here. They split it into their main wine list selections, but then when you get further into the menu, they have something called the Captain’s selection, and those are your special collectors edition bottles! Super interested to see what they’ve been curating at Boa

RT: I wonder who the captain is haha do we think he or she is the wine captain, or maybe a wine pirate? Haha!

GH: Jack Sparrow made the wine list, or was it black beard?

RT: Either way, they have a fantastic palate. Where should we start matey?

GH: With sparkling of course! And they have one of my favorite domestic sparklings on the menu – the Willamette Valley’s Soter Vineyard Brut Rose, made from super high quality pinot noir from oregon

RT: Love that. You don’t see a lot of sparkling pinot from Oregon do you?

GH: Not as much as you would think! Argyle is the most well known sparkling Oregon wine, but more vineyards are starting to realize there’s a market and a demand for domestic sparkling, so we will definitely see more in future

RT: Delicious. Looking forward to it. What caught your eye in the white wine section?

GH: For a lighter white, they have an Áustrian pinot gris which would be really refreshing. It's from a cooler climate and higher altitude so would just be a lot more crisp and slate stoney, rather than a pinot gris that grew in a mediterranean climate. RT: Maybe similar to an Oregon pinot gris?

GH: Yes exactly Robert! Look at you pulling out wine facts haha

RT: Hey I’m more than just a pretty face Grace haha

GH: Brains and beauty and Bordeauxs haha

RT: What are you thinking for a more decadent white?

GH: Well they’ve got a killer selection of domestic Chardonnays. This 2018 Groth from Napa Valley would hit the spot for those California chardonnay fans.

RT: An oaky buttery classic for sure. Now, there are a lot of amazing selections for reds. Where to start?

GH: BOA didn’t have to go this hard on the reds, but they did it for us and we thank them haha if you’re thinking of a lighter style red they’ve got a 2010 Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo from the famous Gaja producer out of italy.

RT: Ohhh I didn’t even see that one! Good looking out Grace. Gaja is always fabulous

GH: Don’t I know it! But if bouggie Italian isn’t your thing, you could go with this 2012 Cote Rotie from Delas out of northern Rhone.

RT: Hurrah for syrah!

GH: Say it louder for the people in the back Robert! But if the people in the back shout back “we want cabernet” then imma hit them with the 2001 Bond Melbury from Napa Valley.

RT: Aye Aye captain! Now what about some value bottles for our pirates on a budget?

GH: Argh matey I’ve got some selections if your dubloons are running low hahah for whites you could go with a 2020 Gavi from Enrico Serafina. And red, I’m looking at this 2016 Syrah from Penner Ash out of Oregon.

RT: And what about if you’re looking for buried treasure.

GH: The captain did not let us down. I spy a 1998 Perrier Joet Champagne that I would walk the plank for. Or this 1980 Cune Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja, I would go to Davy jones locker for

RT: Hahah I love it. Grace, thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at Boa West Hollywood. To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules. If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: Info@CorkRules .Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. Follow us on social media @CorkRules and @wineswithgrace

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End