With its eclectic, Old World-centric offering of roughly 140 well-chosen wines, including 50 by the glass, ranging from sherries dry and sweet to ports and Madeiras to sparkling and still wines in hues of red, white and several shades of rosé along with a policy of half-price wines during happy hour Monday through Saturday, Public Services downtown can be a great place to discover new wines for the curious oenophile or regular wine drinker.
One such find is Chateau d’Oupia Minervois 2013 that has been on their list for several months now. Made with 50% Carignan, 40% Syrah and 10% Grenache grown on very old vines – some reportedly over 100 years old – this is a medium- to full-bodied and deeply colored wine that is slightly aromatic, nearly elegant, pure and well-balanced with a long finish of cherry and dark fruits. It is a very pleasant wine. An earlier vintage was described by Robert Parker as, “produced the ideal bistro wine” rated it as a best buy. A glass is just $9 at Public Services, at the lower end of wine bar prices these days. With a fair amount of pleasing fruit and not overwhelming acidity or earthiness, this might also appeal to many regular New World wine drinkers.
Minervois (mee ner VWAH) is not a name that rolls easily off the tongue for most English speakers, which might give some a pause when spotting the name on a wine list. Added to that, it the wine is from an appellation in France’s western Languedoc (lahn guh DOC) that is rather unheralded, if vast, wine-producing region without any famous names. Don’t let these concerns stop you from trying this enjoyable and eminently affordable wine. A glass might even taste better at Public Services.
Public Services
202 Travis (at Franklin), 77002, (713) 516-8897
publicservicesbar.com
One such find is Chateau d’Oupia Minervois 2013 that has been on their list for several months now. Made with 50% Carignan, 40% Syrah and 10% Grenache grown on very old vines – some reportedly over 100 years old – this is a medium- to full-bodied and deeply colored wine that is slightly aromatic, nearly elegant, pure and well-balanced with a long finish of cherry and dark fruits. It is a very pleasant wine. An earlier vintage was described by Robert Parker as, “produced the ideal bistro wine” rated it as a best buy. A glass is just $9 at Public Services, at the lower end of wine bar prices these days. With a fair amount of pleasing fruit and not overwhelming acidity or earthiness, this might also appeal to many regular New World wine drinkers.
Minervois (mee ner VWAH) is not a name that rolls easily off the tongue for most English speakers, which might give some a pause when spotting the name on a wine list. Added to that, it the wine is from an appellation in France’s western Languedoc (lahn guh DOC) that is rather unheralded, if vast, wine-producing region without any famous names. Don’t let these concerns stop you from trying this enjoyable and eminently affordable wine. A glass might even taste better at Public Services.
Public Services
202 Travis (at Franklin), 77002, (713) 516-8897
publicservicesbar.com
