In tomorrow's AJC I have a review of Vine & Tap , Ian Mendelsohn's new Buckhead wine bar. I gave it a grade of 2 stars.
Located in the Lenox Village shopping complex, it sits a peaceful distance (just over mile) from the hubbub surrounding Lenox Square Mall. With a relaxing outdoor patio and a neutral decor, save the spidery webbing of drop lighting wires, the restaurant has broad appeal.
But it’s the travelers and explorers who will most value this spot. Inspired by Barcelona Wine Bar’s success with selling non-traditional varietals, Mendelsohn put together such a list that will satisfy your itch to travel beyond the Loire Valley and Piedmont to places like the Basque region of Spain with the 2013 Uriondo Bizkaiko Txakolina ($8 glass/$34 bottle) or Lebanon with the 2009 Chateau Musar Hochar Pere Et Fils ($51).
At Vine & Tap, wine is king. The kitchen has been entrusted to craft simple, gently flavored dishes to serve as a neutral backdrop for the varied varietals. You’ll find items like goat-cheese stuffed squash blossoms ($12) fried in a light tempura batter and meaty confit artichokes served with the bright Meyer lemon aioli crunchy with salt crystals and glints of bottarga ($6). And while most of the dishes do a serviceable job of filling bellies, some need a boost to bring them to the level of the beverage program.
Subscribers can read the full review on myajc.com .
--by Jenny Turknett, Atlanta Restaurant Scene blog
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