2023’s Best Bars and Wine
Sip back and relax
The final instalment of 2023’s Year In Review. I often bar-hopped around Dubai, but I admit that I am not elbow-rubbing in its bar scene like I used to be. Dubai’s bar scene is alive and well, with visits this year from Salmon Guru to Galaxy Bar to Niko Romito, Zuma, Ergo (when it was in Dubai Edition), MASTI, Papadom Botanic, February 30 and Black Flamingo, among others.
So, here’s the list!
2023’s Best Bars
BOCA. To be clear, BOCA is a restaurant first, but I always stop here for a drink when I find myself in DIFC. Its wine programme is superb under the capable hands of Head Somm Shiv Menon. Shiv’s passion for wine is palpable and contagious. BOCA boasts one of (if not) the most extensive wine-by-the-glass menus in Dubai, offering real value to customers in a part of town rarely known for consumer value. It is also featured on Dubai’s Star Wine List. The cosy roundtable of the downstairs wine cellar is legendary. BOCA hosted 7 Mixologists - both international and domestic - for a series of weekly takeovers in 2023. Come for dinner, come for lunch. Just leave plenty of time for aperitifs, digestifs and everything in between.
Electric Pawn Shop. Strangely located in the H Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, Electric Pawn Shop stands out with its cocktail selection and house DJ’s spin on R&B and hip-hop classics. A bar bathed in red lighting; it’s the sort of place you could include on a bar crawl if you have the strength: suits couples, friends and large groups.
Honeycomb Hi-Fi. There is every chance Honeycomb Hi-Fi is Dubai’s favourite bar. Slipped behind a record store inside the Pullman Business Bay, Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s dark, intimate space reveals itself. An L-shape bar churns out cocktails with throwback tracks and remixes to old hits. It’s cool without being painfully pretentious. There’s seating available, but good luck getting it. I usually perch up against the bar with a glass of Bread and Butter Pinot Noir.
2023’s Top 10 Best Wines
Undoubtedly, the best wine pairing and menu I enjoyed this year was at Alchemist in Copenhagen, and this list reflects it. In Dubai, BOCA and Ossiano can fight it out as sporting the best wine lists in Dubai, although Dinner by Heston is hot on their heels. These wines are my highest rated on Vivino in 2023. Yes, you can follow me here on Vivino. All prices below are based on global averages on Wine Searcher.
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</div>Château d’Yquem, Sauternes 2006, Sauternes, France (Alchemist): A powerhouse of a dessert wine that delivers on both the nose and palate. Think marmalade, orange peel, honey, butterscotch, caramel, ginger spice, apricot and peach. It coats the mouth all sticky and sweet with a long, dried fruit finish. Outstanding exceptional wine. $460 a bottle.
Vega Sicilia, Unico Reserva Especial Edición, Ribera del Duero, Spain (Alchemist): An excellent Spanish Tempranillo with a pronounced nose of oak, pine, anise and lots of lush dark fruit on the nose and palate: plum, liquorice and spice. It shows a very long finish. I held onto this glass, drinking it for over two hours to experience the evolution. $570 a bottle.
Jacques Selosse, Initial Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Grand Cru 'Avize'N.V., Champagne Grand Cru 'Avize', France (Alchemist): Probably the best champagne I’ve ever had. A blanc de blanc Grand Cru champagne. Near amber colour, with a pronounced, slightly oxidative nose of toast, brioche, wax, apples and lemon. It’s dry with a lively mousse and a fruit-forward, savoury palate with pear and chamomile. Simply outstanding. $513 a bottle.
Klein Constantia, Vin de Constance (Natural Sweet) 2017 (Row on 45, read the review here): Is this my first South African dessert wine? A deep golden colour, all viscous, thick and rich with toffee, ginger, orange, unripe peach and a broad stone fruit note. The finish is long. One to enjoy with rich date puddings or gingerbreads. It’s outstanding. $102 a bottle.
D'Oliveiras, Verdelho Madeira 1973 (Alchemist): Ooof! A beautiful amber colour and prominent oxidative nose with toffee, fig, raisin and orange peel. It tastes the same but with more ginger, nutty, walnut notes - with a long finish. It’s not very often that I get to enjoy this kind of vintage! $340 a bottle.
Francoise Bedel Comme Autrefois Champagne 2007, Champagne, France (Noma, read the review here). The most exciting glass at the Noma wine pairing! A golden to amber champagne with a pronounced nose of brioche, toast, baked apple and oak. It’s spent an astounding 13 years on lees (yeast). The palate reflects the nose, pronounced, plus cream and green apple freshness. It has a long finish; it’s extraordinary and exceptional. $117 a bottle.
Heymann-Löwenstein, Stolzenberg 2010, Mosel, Germany (Geranium, read the review here): Powerful ripe fruit that shows sip by sip the deliciousness of good Riesling. A golden Riesling Auslese with pronounced apricot, petroleum and ripe pineapple. It’s sweet, high acid with a long finish — tasty, tasty stuff. I’d fill a bath with it and never leave. $87 a bottle.
Domaine Bruno Clavelier, Vieilles Vignes Corton Le Rognet Grand Cru 2017, Corton Grand Cru’ Le Rognet et Corton’, France (Alchemist): Double Ooof, a really beautiful Pinot Noir: ruby with a nose of red cherry, strawberry, anise, liquorice and dried leaves. Outstanding. $215 a bottle.
Lustau, San Emilio Pedro Ximénez Sherry (Solera Reserva) N.V. Pedro Ximénez Sherry (PX), Spain (BOCA and Ossiano, read a review here): The only sherry on this list! It is so decadent I might start dabbing it behind my ears and stand upwind. A lovely nose of tobacco, mango, fig, dark marmalade and prune. It’s sweet, full-bodied and mouth-rinsingly thick with pronounced fruit intensity that matches the nose, plus chocolate and toffee notes. I could drink an embarrassing amount of this. $38 a bottle.
Domaine Weinbach, Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Schlossberg Vendanges Tardives 2020, Alsace Grand Cru, France (Ossiano, read a review here): Another spectacular Riesling from Alsace. Think ripe pear, apple, distinct wet stone and just a bit of petroleum on the nose. It’s off-dry and has enough acid to stand up to rich dishes. It’s an excellent wine. I would definitely drink this again. $52 a bottle.
BOCA is an all time fave (of course), but I was truly delighted with Honeycomb this year. Also, VERY impressed with your wine diary/note taking skills!