Bottle Rock Wine Bar in downtown Culver City just opened this week. Part wine bar, part retail shop, they offer many wines by the glass ($5-14), any of which may be selected as part of a flight (3 for $12). I can tell you right now, Bottle Rock has replaced Ford's as my Culver City choice of cocktail hour/ bar scene. Better wines for less, and more generous portions of cheese and meat (including an excellent handmade salami by Paul Berlotti). 14 cheeses to choose from (3 for $12, 5 for $15, 7 for $20 or 10 for $25), we choose a triplecreme (of course), from Cowgirl Creamery, a smooth and soft sheep's milk cheese from Holland, and a nice runny Epoisses, a cows milk cheese from Burgundy. Paired with 2 kinds of toast points, quince paste and Mostarda, almost a meal within itself.
After our complementary glass of La Tordrea Prosecco (my first brush of blogging celebrity: free stuff and great treatment - although I wasn't the only one treated well), we ordered a flight of 6 wines, and let the owner, Adam, choose for us. A nice Viognier, a wonderfully minerally French Rose and a pleasantly surprising, un-California tasting, California Chardonnay. The reds were easy going, from a barnyardy Pinot Noir from Sonoma to a deep dark Australian Shiraz. I like his taste. They offered 7 wines for a mere $5 a glass, 8 for $10, and 4 for $12, and one for $14 (The Prisoner, 2004, Napa). Their wine and food menu changes frequently, it already changed twice in their first two days. Aside from the cheese and salami, they offered Marcona almonds ( a small remekin for $5), marinated anchovies, and pan au tomate. They will make a panini sandwich with any of the cheese, including a black truffle cheese (which I will be ordering next time). Chef Jason Travi, formerly of La Terza, is guiding the kitchen during these early days in business.
Hurry up and make it over there before all the blurbs and profiles start appearing in the newspapers and magazines. I have said it before (re: Wilson, Ford's and Tender Greens), and I will say it again. Bottle Rock is another well needed addition to the Culver City food scene and nightlife.
Bottle Rock
3847 Main Street
Culver City, CA 90232
310-836-WINE
4 comments:
I went to Bottle Rock's unofficial opening a few weeks ago. The owners, Adam and Keith, have an amazing passion for and knowledge about wine! They are true, unpretentious connoisseurs. It's a great, casual place to enjoy and learn about wine and cheese. They sell wines I have not seen anywhere else in America.
I like your blog, and work in the business myself. Forgive me for saying it, but as a friendly suggestion, you should learn to spell-check in French: it's "ramekin" and "Epoisses" for example. If you want your blog to garner business for a private chef, you'll want to get your French terms spelled correctly to imply experience. That said, thanks for the Bottle Rock write-up; Adam is a great guy, so many of us in the wine world are hoping he'll succeed in Culver City! And good luck to you, too.
Merci vraiment.
VERY DISAPPOINTED! I went to Bottle Rock last weekend after reading excellent reviews expecting to be impressed, but the service was dismal. We did not even get a greeting upon arrival, the staff was clueless and slow, and couldn't locate the wines we ordered. Other in the bar were complaining too about the slow service and rudeness of the staff. When we politely asked to speak to the manager, he was defensive and not open to suggestions. I would stear clear of this place!
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