Sommeliers are some of
our favorite people. The good ones can
make a good meal great. The great ones
can open your eyes to wine choices that
you didn't even know existed. They awe
us with their dedication; they inspire
us with their imagination. In each issue,
the Wine Skinny will spotlight one Sommelier
who we think is doing a tremendous job.
The sheer enthusiasm here
for good quality wines at extremely good
prices is downright contagious. From owners
Grant Cooper and Charles Clark (one of
the friendliest executive chefs you’ll
ever have the pleasure to meet!) to each
and every waitperson on staff – these
people love good wine.
It’s hard to know whether
to start with the selection or the prices
– both are jawdropping. Well let’s
do it this way. We’ll start with
my favorite example – the one I point
out to the various companions I’ve
hustled over to Ibiza recently. It’s
the Caymus 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
Valley. When it was released last year
(to rave reviews and outstanding scores),
the suggested retail price was $70. Wanna
know how much Ibiza charges for a bottle
today? $87. E-i-g-h-t-y—s-e-v-e-n.
$87! How can you resist something like
that?
I’ll tell you how.
You read the rest of the list and just
glaze over at the possibilities. Then
Ford (great guy – ask to be seated
in his section…) comes over and asks
if we’d be interested in some off-the-menu
wine that just came in today. "Just
have one case," he says conspiratorially.
Turns out to be the 1989 Beringer Knight’s
Valley Cabernet. And, they’ve decided
to sell it at the same price as the 1997
vintage that’s already on the list.
$39. $39! Okay, so you know that ’89
wasn’t the best year for California
Cabs, but at that price, it’s worth
a try! (Turned out beautifully, I might
add.)
And there’s the point.
At these prices, it’s all worth a
try! Wines you might not even consider
ordering in other restaurants, are suddenly
within the realm of possibility at Ibiza.
All the big names are there, without the
usual BIG price tags – Merryvale,
Far Niente, Joseph Phelps. A nice selection
of wines from around the world (France,
Italy, Chile, and an especially nice mix
of Spanish wines) are there, too. Same
tremendous deals.
If you’re curious about
the food that goes with this terrific
wine list (did I mention that it’s
updated weekly?) – then check out
our restaurant
review. Whaddaya think? We’d
highlight a wine list without raving about
the food, too?
2450 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77006
Telephone: 713.524.0004
To read up on our past Sommelier
picks - click here.
