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Wine List Confidential: The River Cafe
The River Cafe is simply one of the most outstanding Italian restaurants in London, with an exceptional wine team.
A truly comprehensive list with wines from the tip to the toe of Italy. Regions such as Piedmont are given great coverage, with listings split into the main communes of the region. There are wines here with some good bottle age too, like Massolino’s Barolo- Parafada 2006 and Aldo Conterno’s 1989 Granbussia Barolo.
Tuscany gets due reverence with extensive Chianti listings, wines from Bolgheri and Brunello from the likes of Fuligni. The by-the-glass selection is consistently one of the most exciting in London, with wines like Tenuta San Guido’s Guidalberto often featuring, or perhaps a 1990 Vernaccia Riserva from Contini. The crack sommelier team is always engaging, enthusiastic and at the top of its game. Its menu changes daily, but is always a delight. Expect dishes such as spaghetti alle vongole with clams, parsley, chilli and garlic – chargrilled squid with chilli and rocket, and English asparagus with anchovy butter and parmesan.
CURRENT POSITION ON WINE LIST CONFIDENTIAL: 35
CURRENT WINE LIST CONFIDENTIAL OVERALL SCORE: 91.4
Expert wine picks
• Bellavista, 2011, Gran Cuvee, Franciacorta – Italy – Sparkling – £78
• Isole e Olena, 2015, Chardonnay, Tuscany – Italy – White – £84
• Greco di Tufo, 2014, Pietracupa – Italy – White – £57
• Elio Altare, 2006, Barolo, Piedmont – Italy – Red – £150
• I Pastini, 2014, Primitivo-Arpago, Puglia – Italy – Red – £42
• Paolo Bea, 2004, Sagrantino di Montefalco, Umbria – Italy – Red – £140
Wine List Confidential, brought to you by the drinks business, is the first platform to rank London’s restaurants on the strength of their wine list alone, providing a comprehensive guide to the best restaurants in the capital for wine lovers.
Restaurants are graded on a 100-point scale based on five criteria: size, value, service, range and originality. For a full guide to London’s best wine lists visit winelistconfidential.com