re: Fine Wine in BR

Notiger-

That's the beauty of wine. Just because a bottle is expensive doesn't mean its good. What's good is what YOU like no one else. Just because you like something dosent mean its good and just because you don't like something dosent mean its bad. Taste when it comes to wine is very personal. The cool thing is once you become educated on what YOU like in wine then you can make educated purchases at a value. The key is finding someone that can find those value wines and stock a wine store as well as educate the buyer.

One of the best wine shops I've ever encountered (and worked at) was a tiny, focused one in rural Lexington, VA (population 6,000). You can sell good wine anywhere. Now difference is, they were the only game in town. In BR, you are going to compete with Martins, Whole Foods, Calandro's, Marcello's (the old Cuban Liquor). Places that are engrained as the spot to buy your booze from.

A strictly wine shop probably wont make it. You will need the margins on liquor to make rent at first. But it isnt inconceivable that what you want to do would work in BR. If you make it back down this way, check out Keife & Co. which just opened in downtown New Orleans. It is a model that is built to succeed.

On a related note I'd like to see Joseph Kent w/ some more reasonable and accessible offerings here in Louisiana

I'm a certified sommelier working on my advanced and running a restaurant with a 300 bottle selection. Baton rouge is a new world oriented city. Luckily I experience a bit more than just that in here and am allowed the diversity I have. Outside of that though, I do some private seminars and tastings, a FOH finisher course at the LA culinary institute and some other things on the side. To solely think u can get by going one thing is hard in this market. A bigger city is what is needed.

You should look up lilwineman, he is the sommelier at Mansurs.

eta Got in late, I see you found him.

I had a Miner Pinot Noir Gary's Vineyard and a Sangiovese this weekend and they are some fine wines. I've had several and Miner is on the January visit list.

I'm a big Dave Phinney fan and have a bunch of his Beau Vigne and I have about a dozen Mercury Heads. Great wines. I believe he is in France now. For those who don't know he created The Prisoner and Pappilion among others.

And for those who don't think Baton Rouge is a wine town it's because they themselves aren't wine people. This is a great wine town with good selections and good opportunities. These people have money and spend it on good wines. I buy probably eight to ten cases a year.

There is a reason Sparky and his mom brought Mollydooker tastings here which was sold out and Clark Swanson of Swanson, who makes great wines makes regular stops here. Because they move their wine here. Mollydooker didn't go to New Orleans.

Ahhhh a fellow Mercury Head fan. Tough to find.

Cleaned out the metroplex of the 2009 a few months back.

Martini-

Send me an email and I will set you up with a tour at miner conducted by yours truly. My.email is bryan@minerwines.com. I love seeing people from the south at the winery it warms my heart and makes me feel at home. I can also set you up with some good spots you may not have heard of.

Well you are up early. We like the January trip because less crowds, cooler and we meet a lot of owners and winemakers. And our small group buys a lot of wine. We aren't tire kickers.

Had a very nice Burgess the other night. We met Jim Burgess on our last visit and had some great Library Reserves.

I'll shoot you an email. Are you from BR?

We hit Hunicutt awhile back while they were building their caves and i have some of their wine. It was not great when I opened a year ago but had one last week and it's gotten much better. I'll let it sit.

Met old man Hendry at his winery and he gave me a recipe for each wine. Old guy in his coveralls cooking and drinking his arse off. His reds are nice. Didn't care for his whites. I think he makes too many but that's just my thought.

I was there for a quick few days last month but I had business in San Jose so it was not as productive from a wine standpoint. Quick dinner at Mustards. Wanted to hit Goose and Gander but just couldn't fit it in.