My work travels took me to Tampa and even though I'm vegetarian, the allure of the legendary wine list at Bern's was too much to resist.
I immediately went from the airport, checked my suitcase in, and sat at the bar.
This menu is absolutely massive, with a robust list of global wine bottles, and so many by the glass. Interestingly, they don't use a Coravin by the glass, except for one wine, the Vérité La Joie.
Service is fantastic, people are so nice, and it's a friendly community there.
I decided to sit down and have two glasses of wine.
First up was a fifty year old wine for $19/glass!
1974 Inglenook Vineyards Petite Sirah
Definitely well past its peak, but still an enjoyable glass.
Mostly tertiary notes on the nose with leather, forest floor, wet moss.
On the palate, nice acidity, tart cherry, prunes, slightly herbal.
I don't think I'd drink an entire bottle of this, but for a capsule in history under $20 a glass, I'm glad I tried it!
89 points.
Next up was from one of my favorite wineries in Sonoma! And at $60 a glass, it's actually not crazy expensive.
2011 Vérité La Joie
Was really excited for this because I absolutely love Vérité. But this particular glass fell a little flat for me. I don't know if bottle variation or something else.
Wasn't flawed, not corked, no VA, and doesn't have the feeling of a wine that's been opened too long.
On the nose, a little muted with dark plum, cherry, and tertiary notes including forest floor.
But on the palate, felt a little off. Acidity and tannins quite balanced, but slightly medicinal, which is unusual. Also, not much fruit on the palate, which is unusual for Vérité, and I've had older vintages.
At the end of the day, it's fine, decent even. But not what I was hoping for or expecting. I hope this was a flawed bottle, given the other reviews. I know 2011 was a slightly off vintage, but I've had good Napa from 2011.
89 points.
From here, I did a kitchen tour, no photos because I didn't have a desire to take photos of steak, then onto the cellar, which is lovely. Tons of bottles there and they claim between the restaurant and the nearby warehouse, they have nearly 1MM bottles of wine, which would be the largest collection for a restaurant in the world.
They also have wines that go back to the 1800s including the 1898 Lafite on the menu I took a photo of and apparently a Larose 1845 for a mere $49K per bottle!
After that, went to the dessert bar, where they have 100+ dessert wines by the glass.
Overall, what an amazing experience, I'll definitely be back and won't let the disappointment of the Vérité keep me away.!
by rnjbond
7 Comments
It really is an amazing experience. I dined there several years ago and would love to go back again.
Insanely cool place.
They had an 1865 Lafite until I drank it. 🙂 Absolutely shocking the number of bottles of Caymus they sell in here. You are at a restaurant with the best list in the country and you order Caymus?
I love it there soooo much!!!
It is a very special place. Love the deserts room upstairs
Sounds like a great visit!
2011 was a tricky year in California. Knights Valley and Bennett Valley, where Pierre predominantly pulled from, were dealing with the same shit as Napa mountains in terms of trying to achieve both physiological and phenolic ripeness.