tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post5968285183044630640..comments2023-09-27T14:44:36.183+01:00Comments on Gnaws: L’Ortolan take IIUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-2199199366416579052009-06-29T10:09:01.609+01:002009-06-29T10:09:01.609+01:00Lisa, exactly right!, the mark-ups on wine have gr...Lisa, exactly right!, the mark-ups on wine have gradually been creeping up over the last few years as margins elsewhere in the restaurant business have been squeezed. It is coming to a point now where most of the time I just feel ripped off, and find myself eating at home much more because of it.<br /><br />You are also right that there are some bargains to be found out there (that's half the fun of being a wine geek!), but I have seldom found value at the cheaper end of restaurant wine lists; I reckon most of them are "supplied" from distributors who look to maximise their own margins rather than hand picking the wines based on someone's tasting experience.<br /><br />PS. it sounds like your mother had the right approach!Steve Borthwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361597018502017407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-90131118961545443202009-06-29T09:31:33.830+01:002009-06-29T09:31:33.830+01:00*I'm* an american with a bit of an appreciatio...*I'm* an american with a bit of an appreciation for fine wine, but then my mother collected fine bordeaux all my life, and as children we had little cordial glasses of the stuff on holidays, so that may have helped. :-)<br /><br />Now, I HATE that resturants jack up the prices of wine so much. There's no necessity to make such a grand profit from something to which you have added no value.<br /><br />AND it doesn't even seem to be an issue of demand price, since people who are price conscious will just order a cheaper wine, not decline to order altogther - and why would someone creating lovely cuisine wish to have that happen? Why not have the whole experience be the best that it can be, including the libations that complement the food (of course I realise there are wonderful cheaper wines, but I am making an overall point)?<br /><br />Having said that, once I was in Paris with a friend who doesn't drink alcohol, and when he ordered a coke, the waiter replied: Ah, oui, le vin americain!Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-51631023855168292932009-06-20T22:15:59.375+01:002009-06-20T22:15:59.375+01:00E, I'm sure a keen student of scepticism like ...E, I'm sure a keen student of scepticism like you wouldn't "just believe" anything without evidence, quite a few glasses would need to be evaluated surely?<br /><br />;-)Steve Borthwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361597018502017407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-74477611917850745892009-06-20T21:31:53.431+01:002009-06-20T21:31:53.431+01:00I meant "being an American is no excuse for n...I meant "being an American is no excuse for <b>not</b> appreciating fine wine"..Steve Borthwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361597018502017407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-49372678424999463922009-06-20T20:58:07.778+01:002009-06-20T20:58:07.778+01:00Yeah, I know about Robert Parker but that doesn...Yeah, I know about Robert Parker but that doesn't mean I can understand a thing that he writes. Put a glass of horse wee in front of me and tell me it was a fine year, and I'll believe you.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15855325002260654089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-15208204169560661922009-06-19T16:41:12.321+01:002009-06-19T16:41:12.321+01:00E, yes surprisingly around 75% full.
Being Americ...E, yes surprisingly around 75% full.<br /><br />Being American is no excuse for appreciating fine wine!!, did you know that the most famous & powerful wine critic in the world is an American! (Robert Parker) and you've got California producing some pretty decent wine, unlike poor old England!Steve Borthwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361597018502017407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-72136959598407655582009-06-19T16:22:29.229+01:002009-06-19T16:22:29.229+01:00Good reporting. Was it crowded or does it seem lik...Good reporting. Was it crowded or does it seem like the recession has hit there too?<br /><br />The food sounded great. Being an American, I have no appreciation for fine wine so will have to take your word for it.<br /><br />No wonder you had a bad head this morning!Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15855325002260654089noreply@blogger.com