They all have their unique little twists, things that set each one apart. If you went to a wine tasting, you would expect to get this information. This is something I feel very strongly about. Narcisse customers get a 15-page wine list, and descriptions can run to four lines. Aromas range from honeysuckle to citrus to white fruit, making it the ideal accompaniment to raw shellfish and lightly spiced Asisan food.
Connoisseurs note that the wine reaches 'soulmate' status when paired with the best caviar.
Michael Merriman, director of beverage operations for California Cafe Corp., however, argues the opposite side. In addition to pointing out the unfeasibility of massive descriptive wine lists in multiunit chains, he says today's knowledgeable consumer renders such description unnecessary. We have a smart clientele. I'm not going to tell them that a wine is like honeysuckle and peaches. So based on those wine sales, we decided to put a Napa Valley Grill there.