Botanical’s stunning wine list has a little of everything – the benchmarks, the hipsters, the traditionalists, the popular, the pioneers and the stars. Incredibly, it manages to achieve all this in a list which hovers around a relatively modest 900 wines. Expect to find New Zealand sauvignon blancs next to some Didier Dagueneau, Ochota Barrels young vintage gewürztraminer off-set by older Alsatian examples such as a 2008 Domaine Weinbach’s Furstentum Grand Cru, or Penfolds Grange alongside Guigal plus Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay followed by some Raveneau. The adventurous will be attracted to Niepoort Redoma, a Pyramid Valley chardonnay or a Swiss pinot noir. The by-the-glass list is diverse, different and pitched perfectly to the Mediterranean and French accented menus. All up, 26 wines take centrestage, not too many and everything appeals. Anyone who enjoys a digestif, fortified or dessert by the glass or bottle will be thrilled by the choices, including Joh. Jos. Prüm Goldkapsel rieslings or several Château d’ Yquem vintages. For the record, The Botanical makes a wicked negroni.
Botanical
169 Domain Road, South Yarra
(03) 9820 7888
CUISINE European
WINE LISTPeter Baker, Peter Marr & Michael Gibb
WINEs ON LIST 912 (26 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$$ ($20-$9.50 by the glass)
Hall-of-Famer The Botanical keeps working hard to improve its list. This year we see more wines and a vast array of gins, 79 in all. At its heart, this is a world wine list with a strong European bent, putting forward some big names and some exciting brands that you will want to get to know. There's a wine education here for those who embrace it, from an Aussie sparkling red to an Austrian grüner veltliner or maybe a flight of 2013 Victorian pinots. Prices are reasonable.