@small_h asked about a wine list in my NOLA 2024 thread, and since I wasn’t all that impressed, I thought I’d highlight a wine list that does impress.
We were first introduced to Racines, the predecessor of Chambers, by the owner of a wine shop for which we had created and managed a website. The occasion was the shop’s annual holiday dinner. When we arrived, the owner seemed to know almost everyone in the room, distributors, sommeliers, and others in the wine trade made up about 90% of the house that night.
The owner ordered some outrageously expensive bottles, which drew a steady stream of people over to taste, say hello, and share a pour of whatever they were drinking. By the end of the evening, I was doing relatively well in terms of sobriety, but then, about 30 minutes before closing, a distributor arrived with a $1,000 bottle that we simply had to finish. And, as Forrest was wont to say, that’s all I have to say about that.
Over the years, I had many similar experiences at Racines, so it was tough to hear the news of their closing. However, when Chambers opened and it was announced they’d retained Racines’ incredible wine list and its beloved wine director, Pascaline Lepeltier, I was intrigued. Reports of improved food (albeit at a higher price point) trickled in, and my hopes were restored.
Since then, I’ve attended several fantastic wine dinners at Chambers, but I haven’t been back since Pete Wells crushed it:
I suppose this is my long-winded way of saying: If you’re in search of a broad, deep and interesting wine list, look no further than Chambers. Here’s a link to their current list:
