#252
Bottega Louie
Latest Episode
- 2/15/23 | 4:56
About this Episode
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head downtown to Bottega Louie, where it is all about food. It’s a restaurant, gourmet market, patisserie and café, and they offer a well-rounded wine list to complement whatever takes your fancy; bubbles with breakfast, snacks and sancerre, or Bordeaux and we’ll take one more bottle to go.
Wines reviewed include:
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2019 Four Graces in the Willamette Valley, Oregon
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2018 Brunello di Montalcino from Piancornello, Tuscany
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2018 Elizabeth Spencer Special Cuvee, Napa
Bottega Louie
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: Bongourno Roberto!
RT: Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine list’s 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 what are we reviewing today?
GH: Today we are chatting about LA hot spot Bottega Louie. They have 2 locations – one in West Hollywood and one in the downtown district. I had the pleasure of dining at their downtown location the other night and had a fabulous time! The ambiance and food were both lovely and delicious
RT: Sounds like a great time Grace. What did you think of their wine list?
GH: Very easy to navigate! It’s just one page broken down by style etc. we ended up getting the oldest red on the list – the 2013 Barbaresco Nebbiolo blend from Castelle de Nieve and once it had time to open up, it was real tasty
RT: Oh nice. Love a Barbaresco with some age on it. Would love to get some of your other hot takes on the Bottega Louie list!
GH: Totally! If you were thinking of starting with bubbles, I would go with the Nicolas Fuelliant Rose, or the Tattinger Prelude Grand Cru.
RT: Can’t go wrong with either of those! How are they looking in the whites?
GH: They’ve got a nice mix of French Italian and American. A few that caught my eye for the lighter Styles were the 2021 Pinot Gris from Kings Estate in Oregon, as well as the 2020 pecorino from Abruzzo. It’s not just the name of a cheese, ya know!
RT: Yum. And I can only assume they have some chardonnays on the menu – I feel like Governor Newsome makes it mandatory for California restaurants
GH: Hahahah he probably does! For my California Chardonnay drinkers they have either Kistler or Gary Farrell, and then for my fellow White burgundy drinkers they have Domaine Michel Gros or a la Chablisienne
RT: All sound delicious. Thanks for that Grace. So since we’re at an Italian restaurant, I can only imagine they have a killer red selection.
GH: Oh they absolutely do. Starting with some lighter styles. They have two 2017 Barolos from two of the most prestigious and well-known Italian wineries – Vieta and Pio Cesare – either of which would be spectacular. Or if you wanted to go the pinot noir route – they have two 2019 vintages – 1 from the Four Graces in the Willamette valley, as well as a one from Faille out of Sonoma coast
RT: Very nice. Any of those would be a great choice. Now what about some bigger bolder reds for our tannic earthy drinkers out there.
GH: Well to start with on the Italian side, they have a 2019 Gaja Red Blend from Tuscany that I am super curious about. But if you wanted something tried and true they have a 2018 Brunello di Montalcino from Piancornello, as well as a 2019 Rosso di Montalcino, both out of Tuscany
RT: I’ll take one of each hahah what about some California cabs?
GH: They’re reppin Napa real hard at Bottega Louie haha They’ve got the 2018 Elizabeth Spencer Special Cuvee, as well as a 2018 Stags Leap. But if it’s me choosing, I’m going with the 2016 Opus One. And done!
RT: I love it – Grace, thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at Bottega Louie. 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
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