So I walk into this little store that has some wine in the window and start looking around. Nice gourmet food stuffs - olive oils and prosciutto and cheese - and about a dozen bottles of wine up front. We are invited to a friends house for dinner tonight, so acquiring a bottle to bring is on my list of things to do. After a bit of looking at the rather small selection, I notice there is more wine in the back. Ah ha! Much better selection. I've lucked into a good spot.
The proprietor tries to start a conversation, but he only speaks French. All the wines are Italian, and he is watching me with great curiosity as I browse (I'm hoping it is curiosity because it also could have been something like mistrust). Then he points up above the shelves to where there are lots of empty bottles on display and he says something in French I don't understand. But I recognize some of these bottles and they are better than what's on the shelf (which is pretty good already.) After a few stabs at hand gestures he understands that I am asking whether full versions of those bottles up there are available for purchase. He smiles and points to the floor. Then after another few minutes of him watching me pick up certain bottles for closer inspection he is definitely in the curious camp and he waves me over with a little smile and points to a staircase in the corner with a "you want to see?" look on his face. I nod my head vigorously and follow him down the stairs into an amazing wine cellar.
A '95 Dal Forno is the first thing that greets my eyes as they adjust to the gloom of the basement. "Tres bien" I say, pointing at the brown labeled bottle. He smiles like I've just complimented him on something very personal, and crouches down to open a case filled with them, carefully cradling one for my inspection. I rub my thumb and forefinger together in the international sign for beaucoup de bucks while giving him my best "if only!" look, and with a chuckle he understands that my resources are not that vast. But I spend a very enjoyable half hour perusing what must be the best Italian wine cellar of any retailer in Geneva. I end up spending more than I meant to, but for sure not as much as I might have, on a '99 Montefalco Rosso Riserva from Paolo Bea.
Worth a look if you are ever in Geneva: La Cantina Del Buon Gustaio. 12, rue des Paquis, Geneve. 022 732 45 91
ok, is that near ave b?
99 bea rocks i bet, now with great bottle age how much??...skinny
$30 swiss francs which is pretty much exactly $30 US. I believe that's a little less than it would be in the States (I know it's on the list at Inoteca for $99.) Unfortunately we didn't drink it at the dinner to which we brought it. Next time I'm in town though.
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The proprietor tries to start a conversation, but he only speaks French. All the wines are Italian, and he is watching me with great curiosity as I browse (I'm hoping it is curiosity because it also could have been something like mistrust). Then he points up above the shelves to where there are lots of empty bottles on display and he says something in French I don't understand. But I recognize some of these bottles and they are better than what's on the shelf (which is pretty good already.) After a few stabs at hand gestures he understands that I am asking whether full versions of those bottles up there are available for purchase. He smiles and points to the floor. Then after another few minutes of him watching me pick up certain bottles for closer inspection he is definitely in the curious camp and he waves me over with a little smile and points to a staircase in the corner with a "you want to see?" look on his face. I nod my head vigorously and follow him down the stairs into an amazing wine cellar.
A '95 Dal Forno is the first thing that greets my eyes as they adjust to the gloom of the basement. "Tres bien" I say, pointing at the brown labeled bottle. He smiles like I've just complimented him on something very personal, and crouches down to open a case filled with them, carefully cradling one for my inspection. I rub my thumb and forefinger together in the international sign for beaucoup de bucks while giving him my best "if only!" look, and with a chuckle he understands that my resources are not that vast. But I spend a very enjoyable half hour perusing what must be the best Italian wine cellar of any retailer in Geneva. I end up spending more than I meant to, but for sure not as much as I might have, on a '99 Montefalco Rosso Riserva from Paolo Bea.
Worth a look if you are ever in Geneva: La Cantina Del Buon Gustaio. 12, rue des Paquis, Geneve. 022 732 45 91
- jim 9-01-2010 12:52 pm
ok, is that near ave b?
- bill 9-01-2010 1:57 pm [add a comment]
99 bea rocks i bet, now with great bottle age how much??...skinny
- linda 9-03-2010 3:42 pm [add a comment]
$30 swiss francs which is pretty much exactly $30 US. I believe that's a little less than it would be in the States (I know it's on the list at Inoteca for $99.) Unfortunately we didn't drink it at the dinner to which we brought it. Next time I'm in town though.
- jim 9-03-2010 4:55 pm [add a comment]