New on Wine List Confidential: Chez Bruce

Chez Bruce – Wine List Confidential Score: 91.2

One of the most poised and balanced wine offerings in London with an admirable section for off-dry Rieslings, so rarely given pride of place on a list. A great sparkling selection and good coverage given to dessert wines, with France and Italy majoring.

The directors of the restaurant are self-confessed ‘fanatical’ wine lovers and take great pride in their cellar – and justly so. Head sommelier/buyer Sara Bachiorri maintains the list, which while covering every classic, Old World base, is totally on point when it comes to the most interesting winemakers making waves within their respective regions.

With well over 100 references from Burgundy alone, it’s a selection that might require some prior familiarisation, unless you want to bore your fellow diners to death. By the glass offerings are boosted by the use of Coravin – treat yourself to 125ml of Hermitage 2000 from Jean-Louis Chave for £30 or a rich, off-dry Burg 2008 Cru d’Alsace from Marcel Deiss for £18.50.

There’s a great little magnum selection – interesting older vintages of some of the world’s most celebrated estates, JJ Prüm, M Chapoutier, the list goes on – while the new wave of winemakers from New World countries also get a look in – Pieter Walser, Craig Hawkins and JH Meyer from South Africa; Mac Forbes, William Downie and Adam Castagna from Australia, for example. All in all, a bit of a classic from Chez Bruce.

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