Think diversity and depth. Balance and joy. Approachability and excellence. Head sommelier Luke Collard has access to some 6,000 bottles, but showcases 1,600, making the list more manageable and user-friendly. The 70 by-the-glass offerings include vintage Taittinger, Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle riesling, South African chenin blanc, Huber Bienenberg pinot noir, Langhe nebbiolo and Kaesler Old Bastard shiraz. The wow-factor continues with an impressive collection of half bottles and magnums. The list glides through a stellar Champagne line-up to a classy tour of key varieties dominated by the French, although the white wine section leads with riesling, taking in Australia, France, Austria, New Zealand, USA, Italy, Chile, Slovakia and Germany. While there are terrific Spanish and Italian wines, alongside cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, the unequivocal stars are chardonnay and pinot noir. Those wanting to savour something different or rare will find it here. Jonah’s appeases imbibers who are fussy, curious, easy-going, aficionados and all else in between.
Jonah’s
69 Bynya Rd, Whale Beach, Sydney
(02) 9974 5599
CUISINE Modern Australian
WINE LISTLuke Collard
WINEs ON LIST 1630 (70 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$$ ($99-$10 by the glass)
Stupendous goes about halfway to describing this gargantuan yet brilliantly considered list. From enticing sherry flights to the superb digestif collection, there's an extraordinary wealth of wine and drinks, so much so that poring over this weighty tome is likely distracting for dining companions! A Coravin tool means that by the glass ranges from simple and delicious through to rare and complex, and allows diners to have an opportunity to see wines at peak maturity from oft-unseen producers. It's the tip of the iceberg though; the encyclopaedic list covers a true global span of the wine world, offering rafts of exquisite producers, and wines at the apex of their drinking. You could mention the colossal Burgundy listings, the horde of exceptional Champagne (from big house to unique growers), or wax lyrical about the jaw-dropping assortment of riesling, but there's so much here it's almost condescending to sommelier Luke Collard, a true pro, so leave your experience in his very fine hands. Everything about this wine program is brilliant.