|
The hotel seems to have an excellent wine list-too exhaustive in fact, for the style and class of the hotel and my guess is that either they don’t stock a lot of the listed wines or they must have built up a huge inventory with so many labels. However, the hotel has been good enough to pass the customs duty and excise duty benefits to the consumer and keeping a hefty margin for themselves. The hotel also shows that if there is a will, prices can be kept reasonable for the consumer to order wines.
There are a large number of wines by the glass. I could have sworn that there were over a dozen wines listed at Rs. 300 a glass (150mL) translating into a wonderful Rs. 1500 a bottle. But the list sent by the hotel does not indicate any of those prices and despite my efforts to cross-check, I have not been able to confirm what I saw. As you may find it difficult to negotiate through the city to reach the hotel just for wines, I have chosen to select the wines out of the list sent to me. Perhaps, you may still find the list at Rs. 300 a glass which is fantastic for the hotel.
Champagnes
The hotel lists the maximum number of champagnes I have seen in any Indian wine list-at least in the NCR region. Though they have kept a ceiling on the floor prices, following may be ordered here:
104 Louis Roederer brut premier 7500
105 G. H. Mumm cordon rouge 7500
105 117 Laurent Perrier brut 7000
This Champagne is not being imported so you’d have to be careful about its provenance.It may or may not be available.
You cannot go wrong ordering any of the Champagnes at Rs. 7500 but Louis Roerder is my first choice at this price. VCP is slightly over-priced at Rs,9000. Rose Champagnes are not so attractively priced. But if you have to have a decently priced one,try:
127 G. H. Mumm rosé 8900
Sparkling wine
153 Carpene malvolti prosecco italy 3500
The oldest winery in Conegliano in Veneto makes this sparkling which is light but flavourful, and really delicious. Be warned you cannot stop at one glass
White Wine
300 Muscadet Sèvre-Et-Maine Sur Lie 2010 2400 gadais pere et fils
This wine made from Melon de Bourgogne grape variety which has nothing to do with Melon or the grapes of Burgundy, is a Muscadet variety. It lacks the flavour concentration but the acidity is quite high, making it an adequate grape as an aperitif
209 Chablis domaine long - depaquit albert bichot 2012 2700
Domaine Long Depaquit owned by Albert Bichot makes a complete range of Chablis-including a Grand Cru Chablis. Well made dry, steely wine with green apple flavour is my all-time favourite-both as an aperitif and with dinner focusing on light textured dishes and the vegetarian fare.
375 Mouton Cadet baron philippe de rothschild 2012 2100
At this price this branded dry white wine from primarily Semillon grapes is a no brainer. If your guests don’t know much about wines, tell them it is made by Chateau Mouton Rothschild, one of the 5 First Growth Bordeaux Chateaux.
407 Villa Bianco marchesi antinori 2012 1800
Made from50% Tuscan Trebbiano and Malvasia, 35% Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grigio and 15% Rhine Riesling, this is the entry level from a well-known producer. Citrus and orange flavours. Light bodied wine is easy on your pocket and decent aperitif
811 Riesling chateau ste-michelle 2010 2100
Fans of Riesling who like slightly sweet wines, especially from the US will like this wine from Washington State
952 Sauvignon Blanc Fairview charles back 2011 1800
South African wine lovers would find this wine very attractive even though a bit too sharp in its acidity levels. Would go well with fried foods-like fish and chips
1002 Sauvignon Blanc “casa lapostelle” rapel valley 2012 1800
One of the good producers of Chile, delicious and vibrant
902 Sauvignon Blanc saint clair marlborough 2012 3000
You are paying slight premium for Brand New Zealand but still a delicious wine that continues to wine awards all over the world
Red Wines
Surprisingly, the red wines have been priced outrageously. It has been very difficult to pick-out wines for recommendation, keeping our usual cap of Rs.5000 a bottle for the recommendations. Anyway, I could pick the following out of the attractive heap that sees a beautiful chateau leoville las cases 1995 that retails overseas at $200-250, priced at a ridiculous high price of Rs. 90,000!
1239 Moulin a Vent georges duboeuf 2009 2200
A cru Beaujolais from one of the most popular village of the 10 villages designated
for the top appellation even though the producer is a mass producer though very
popular
1909 Nebbiolo Di Alba “Michet” marchesi di barolo 2010 3600
Barolos and Barbarescos are also made by the same producer but are expensive.
The quality and popularity of Nebbiolo d’Alba has been gaining grounds
1952 Valpolicella Bonacosta masi 2011 2100
Everyday easy drinking wine from a reputed producer. Light and fruity
2026 Merlot “Danzante” frescobaldi mondavi 2011 1800
2056 Garnacha Merlot “Mas Rabell” torres penedes 2012 1800
2057 Gran Sangre De Toro torres reserva catalunya 2010 1800
Grenache, Carignan and Shiraz (Rhone) blend is warm but fruity on the palate
3214 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 2300
brand's laira coonawarra laira vineyards
3219 Cabernet Merlot “Stamp of Australia” hardys 2012 1800
3253 Pinot Noir saint clair marlborough 2012 3500
3304 Pinotage master reserve nederburg 2012 2100
3334 Escudo Rojo baron philippe de rothschild 2010 2200
This wine, Made by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, comes from the best vineyards in two of Chile's most highly reputed winegrowing areas, the Maipo valley and the Rapel Valley. Complex, elegant, fresh and generous wine with Berry notes and flavours
Indian Wines
This is one hotel where even the Indian wines which do not enjoy any special benefits have been priced at very reasonable price. ‘Har wine milega 2000’ seems to be the mantra here. However, my personal favourite if I were to pick out two are:
White
1106 Chardonnay fratelli akluj 2013 2000
1103 Sauvignon Blanc sula vineyards 2013 2000
Red
3375 Cabernet Shiraz “La Réserve” grover vineyards 2011 2000
3376 Shiraz “Dindori” sula vineyards 2012 2000
Based on certain parameters we rate the wine list at Taj Vivanta at 
Subhash Arora
Restaurants already covered:
Hyatt Regency Delhi
Radisson Blu Plaza
Taj Palace
Diva |