Capital, The
Address:
Capital Hotel, 22-24 Basil Street, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1AT
Phone:
020 7589 5171
Website:
Rating:
Good For:
Great Value, Champagne, Quirky, Old World, French
List Summary
STOP PRESS - like when unwrapping presents, WineChap is giddy to reveal the new pricing policy at The Capital with top wines anywhere between 25-60% less than previously listed (see selections below). Hearty congratulations to the Levins and their sommelier Joao Pires(who is sadly moving on to pastures new) for this bold and revolutionary move - may many more take up the banner...What was a slightly spartan but impeccably arranged list (like a balding gentleman with an excellent barber)has been expanded slightly; organised by region, sub-appellation, cru level and even varietal occasionally. Choices by the glass, including dessert wines, impress and the sommelier's recommendations at the front are always worth considering. A judicious smattering of wineries from most areas, even obscure ones, are listed, with an occasional focus on particular favourites (Champagne, St Emilion, Portugal, Dessert wines generally) or specific producers (Dageneau, Pavie, Grange etc). There is an exciting selection of rare magnums and some intriguing red halves (not parallelled in the whites). The list is concise but leaves little out and the new prices at the top end in particular are worth a visit alone. In a word, and appropriately for the Hotel: Boutique.
List Review Wine Key:
Sparkling
White
Rose
Red
Sweet
Fortified
| By The Glass { Most interesting available by the glass } |
|---|
| Le S, Ampelidae 2005, VDP de la Vienne, Loire Valley | £10 |
| Malbec Reserva 2006, Luigi Bosca, Argentina | £7 |
| By The Half { Most interesting available by the half bottle } |
|---|
| Domaine du Chardonnay 2007, Chablis | £20 |
| Gamay 2007, Levin, VDP du Jardin de la France | £15 |
| Value Option { Best under £35/$50/bottom 20% of list PLUS any particularly rare bargains at ANY price point } |
|---|
| Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Levin, VDP du Jardin de la France | £25 |
| Domaine des Roches Neuves 2006, 'Terres Chaudes', Thierry Germain, Saumur Champigny,Loire | £39 |
| 1st Date { Impressive but not too showy: circa £50 – but a wine that shows one’s connoisseurship rather than just size of wallet/expense account } |
|---|
| Pinot Gris 2004 Moenchberg, 'Le Moine', Marc Kreydenweiss, Alsace | £49 |
| Pinot Noir 2006, Mount Dottrel, Central Otago, New Zealand | £35 WAS £49 |
| New Zealand are turning out some very luscious Pinot Noirs and this one received 92 points from Robert Parker |
| Madiran 2002, Chateau Montus, Alain Brumont | £49 |
| Off the Beaten Track |
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| Dolium 2006, Escolha, Antão Vaz, Portugal | £29 |
| Selian, Carignan, Cantina Calatrasi 2003 Tunisia | £25 |
| Dutschke, Sun-Dried Shiraz, Barossa Valley NV (half bottle) | £39 |
| Samling 88 1991, TBA, Weingut Helmut Lang Neiederosterreich Austria (half bottle) | £69 |
| Ruländer, Beerenauslese, Oppenheimer Herrenberg, L. Guntrum Germany 1976 (magnum) | £185 |
| Ruländer is a German synonym for Pinot Gris, most commonly used when it is a sweeter style. |
| Old School Classic { Classic (usually French or Italian – depending on dominant cuisine), from the middle of the list – a good wine, with age to stick on expenses and impress crusty wine bores/board members } |
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| Savennières 2002 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Nicolas Joly | £105 WAS £125 |
| Château Léoville Poyferré 2 ème Cru Classé, Saint-Julien | £105 |
| Château Rieussec 1er Cru 1997, Sauternes | £95 |
| Treat Yourself { Remember when you used to get a bonus? not necessarily most expensive – but a real treat, rare, particularly good vintage etc } |
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| Dom Pérignon 1985 | £280 WAS £495 |
| Criots-Batard-Montrachet 1995, Domaine Olivier Leflaive | £260 |
| Chambertin 2002 Domaine Jean-Louis Trapet | £250 |
| Château Tertre Roteboeuf Grand Cru 1996, Saint Emilion | £195 WAS £325 |
| Over the Hill { Old Dogs (knackered, well past their prime) } |
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| Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru ‘Clos Prieur’ Domaine Jean-Louis Trapet 1959 | £260 |
| Crowd pleaser { Well known, trusted producer, region or varietal. No surprises, no disappointments } |
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| Sancerre 2008, 'La Moussière', Alphonse Mellot | £45 |
| Domaine de Fondrèche, 'Persia' Côtes du Ventoux, S.Rhone | £29 |
| House Wine Index
{ Number of House wines available by the glass & the mean price } |
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| 14 wines by the glass, average price £9.68 |
| Bollinger Index
{ Price of a bottle Bollinger } |
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| Bollinger “Special Cuvee” NV £76 |
