Lucky for Some! Table 13 in Addison Boasts One of the Best-Priced Wine Lists in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area
- andychalk
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
by Andrew Chalk
Periodically in your food travels you run into an unexpected discovery. That happened to me this week at Table 13 in Addison. I always look at the wine list where I eat, but the most common result, prices 3x, sometimes 4x, retail, and often unexciting wines, leaves me buying the least uninteresting choice by the glass. Its effect on my broader restaurant choice habits is to steer me to BYOB establishments.
This week's find was a list of some 400 selections where the markup is, across the board, substantially less. A bonus was that this restaurateur, Charles Bruen, had a clearly focused approach to building his list, seeking out interesting names from the US and abroad. Here are some examples that show that the markup varies, but is consistently below the Dallas norm. In some cases there are veritable bargains. Throughout, I use the national average price reported by wine-searcher as the retail comparison and calculate the ratio of Table 13 price divided by retail price, converting it to a percentage for cross-wine comparisons.
SPARKLING WINE
Among sparkling wines, Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant d’Alsace, Alsace, France (a Champagne-method non-vintage sparkling wine from Alsace) was $46 on the list, versus $23 average retail. A price 209% of retail, or roughly twice retail.
Roederer Estate Brut, Anderson Valley CA was $64 list, $31 retail. At 206%, about the same as the French wine.
SWEET WINE
For those with a sweet tooth, Chateau d’Yquem Sauterne, France 2004 (the world’s most expensive sweet wine) was $650 list, $450 retail. At 144% of retail, a price much closer to buying on the street.
WHITE TABLE WINE
Chalk Hill Chardonnay, Chalk Hill, Sonoma Co. CA 2023 a 90-point (wine-searcher) wine that one would expect to be excellent with Chalk in the name [Ed: This is a weak attempt at a joke] was $42 versus $22 retail, a 190% ratio.
PINOT NOIR
Sea Smoke Ten Estate Pinot Noir, Ste. Rita Hills, 2021 was $149 vs. $138. A 108% ratio to retail. Maybe Charles Bruen got lucky here and passed the savings on to his customers, this is an incredible price.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON AND BLENDS
Leviathon, Oakville, CA 2021 is made by renowned winemaker, Andy Erickson. He made wine for Screaming Eagle, Harlan, and Ovid. This pocket-money-priced (in Napa terms) wine scores 93-94/100 among well known critics. It is $59 versus $40, a 148% ratio and a stunning value.
Crowd pleaser Silver Oak Vineyards, Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is going to please the Table 13 crowd even more with a price of $145 versus $105 retail, a ratio of 138%.
THE SECRET LIST
Sometimes Charles finds bargains, in which case he passes the savings on. Sometimes he wants to move a vintage off his list to make room for new arrivals. Either way, the dismissed wine moves to a separate list headed “Featured Bottles”. Current offerings on it include Lanson Black Label Brut Champagne for $69 versus $52. A 133% ratio and worthy of a toast!
Pine Mountain Vineyards Ampère Cabernet Sauvignon, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, 2016 made by wunderkind Thomas Rivers Brown (TRB to the cogniscenti) and is (are you seated) $99 versus $79, a 125% ratio. No wonder people who taste this wine while holding a one volt battery say ‘watt’!
THE FOOD?
Deserves more than an afterthought so we will review it separately. Suffice to say, head to Table 13 for a great wine selection at some of the best prices around town.
Wine
SPARKLING / CHAMPAGNE
Voga Prosecco Veneto, IT 9/34
Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant D’Alsace, FR 12/46
JCB Brut No. 21 Burgundy, FR 16/60
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley, CA 64
Lanson Black Label Brut Reims, FR NV 69
Piper Heidsieck Brut Reims, FR NV 74
*Roederer Estate Apple Alley Brut Anderson Valley, CA 85
Veuve Cliquot Reims, FR NV 99
*Perrier Jouet Flower Bottle Epernay, FR 225
Dom Perignon FR 2013 325
Cristal Reims, FR 2013 399
DESSERT
Far Niente Dolce Late Harvest Napa, CA 20/140
*Chateau d’Yquem Sauterne Bordeaux, FR 2004 65/650
OTHER WHITES
Gemma di Luna Moscato Veneto, IT 9/34
Lucien Albrecht Riesling Alsace, FR 10/37
Les Sarrins Rose Cotes de Provence, FR 10/37
Ferrante Pinot Grigio Terre Siciliane, IT 11/42
Savee Sea Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, NZ 13/49
Cloisonne by Fulcrum Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley, CA 13/49
Jaboulet Parallele 45 Blanc Cotes de Rhone, FR 39
Pine Mountain Rose Pine Mountain, Ca 45
Chevalier de la Cree Montagny Premier Cru Burgundy, FR 54
Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc Vegan Marlborough, NZ 59
Massican Italian white Blend “Annia” California 62
Greco di Tufo Cutizzi White Blend Sorbo Serpico, IT 65
Sancerre Loire, FR 69
*Wonderment Sauvignon Blanc Hyde Vineyard, Napa, CA 75
*Chimney Rock Elevage Blanc Napa, CA 85
*denotes Charles personal selections
CHARDONNAY
Chalk Hill Russian River Valley, CA 11/42
Damien Martin Macon La Roche Vineuse vin de Bourgogne Burgundy, FR 14/54
Sanford Estate Sta. Rita Hills, CA 16/60
*Cloisonne by Fulcrum Alexander Valley, CA 52
ZD Coastal California 64
Stonestreet Alexander Valley, CA 69
*Famille Vincent Pouilly Fuisse Marie Antoinette Bourgogne, FR 69
GRO Haspel Vineyard Mt. Veeder, CA 74
Burly Napa, CA 79
*Sangiacomo Sonoma Coast, CA 89
Far Niente Napa, CA 99
Krupp Brothers Napa, CA 99
*Kosta Browne One Sixteen Russian River, CA 116
PINOT NOIR
Banshee Santa Barbara, CA 2022 10/37
Rodney Strong Russian River Valley, CA 2023 12/45
B2 by Eugene Wine Cellars Willamette Valley, OR 2021 15/57
Wente Riva Ranch Monterrey, CA 2020 45
Cloisonne by Fulcrum Russian River Valley, CA 2022 47
*Eden Dale by Sangiacomo Sonoma Coast, CA 2019 59
*Sanford Estate Sta Rita Hills, CA 2022 65
*Wonderment Dutton Campbell Russian River, CA 2017 69
Fulcrum Gaps Crown Sonoma, CA 2021 79
*Convene Sonoma Coast, CA 2019 89
Sangiacomo Roberts Road Petaluma Gap, CA 2019/2022 99
*Summer Dreams by Hundred Acre Stargazing Sonoma Coast, CA 2022 99
Sea Smoke Ten Estate Sta. Rita Hills, CA 2021 149
MERLOT
Raymond Lot 2 CA 2022 12/46
Swanson Napa, CA 2021 16/60
Fableist 395 Paso Robles, CA 2021 39
*Silverado Mt. George Estate Coombsville, CA 2019 69
Rombauer Napa, CA 2022 84
Duckhorn Napa, CA 2020 89
*Robert Craig Howell Mountain, CA 2021 130
OTHER RED
Locations California by Dave Phinney California NV 39
Messina Hoff Private Reserve Tempranillo High Plains, TX 2022 39
Transit 3 Shiraz by Caymus South Australia / California NV 49
*Buehler Zinfandel Napa, CA 2019 54
Fulcrum Landy Vineyard Petit Syrah Russian River 2019 65
*Scarlett Petite Sirah Rutherford, CA 2019 69
Rombauer Zinfandel CA 2021 74
*Pine Mountain Cabernet Franc Pine Mountain Cloverdale Peak, CA 2019 74
Wonderment Old Vine Zinf. Bacigalupi Vineyard, CA 2017 79
*Scarlett Petit Verdot Napa, CA 2019 99
Krupp Brothers Black Bart Syrah Napa, CA 2019 149
OTHER COUNTRY REDS
Cusumano Siciliane Syrah Siscily, IT 2020 9/34
Locations France by Dave Phinney France NV 10/37
Serbal Malbec Mendoza, AGT 2022 12/46
Jaboulet Parallele 45 Cotes de Rhone, FR 2021 37
Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia 2022 39
E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rhone, FR 2020 44
Bodega Lanzaga Rioja Rioja, SP 2021 47
*Shatter Grenache France 2021 49
Loveblock Central Otago, New Zealand 2021 51
Chateau Corbin Bordeaux Blend Montagne Saint-Emilion 2019 52
Chevalier de la Cree Cote de Beaune Burgundy, FR 2019 55
Clarendelle by Ch. Haut Brion Saint-Emilion 2019 59
*Bodegas Alto Moncayo Veraton Grenache Campo de Borja, Sp 2019 62
*Chevalier de Lascombes Margaux, FR 2022 74
Roger Sabon Chateauneuf du Pape Les Olivets Chateauneuf du Pape, FR 2021 79
Feudi San Gregorio Aglianico Riserva Taurasi, IT 2014 110
*Cannubi Marchesi di Barolo Barolo, IT 2018 159
RED BLEND
Decoy Limited by Duckhorn Napa, CA 2019 18/66
Neyers Sage Canyon Rhone Blend California 2021 49
*Leviathan by Andy Erickson Oakville, CA 2021 59
Monte Rosso by Louis Martini Sonoma, CA 2013 69
Spring Valley Frederick Walla Walla, WA 2018 74
*Ashes & Diamonds by Darioush Napa, CA NV 84
Symmetry by Rodney Strong Sonoma County, CA 2019 89
Two2 by Alpha Omega Napa, CA 2019 99
*Ellman Family Napa, CA 2019 99
Charles Krug Generations Family Reserve Napa, CA 2019 115
Stonestreet Farrier Alexander Valley, CA 2017 119
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Paso Cellars Paso Robles, CA 2021 11/42
Brendel by Heitz Organic Napa, CA 2019 14/54
*Scarlett Napa, CA 2019 23/88
Details by Sinegal Sonoma County, CA 2021 55
The McNab McNab Ranch Mendocino County, CA 2020 69
*Egelhoff Code Red Napa, CA 2021 74
Sinegal Estate Sonoma County, CA 2022 75
Klipsun Red Mountain, WA 2022 79
Foley Johnson Estate Napa, CA 2022 83
Five Vintners by Beringer & Raymond Napa, CA 2020 85
*Sinegal Estate Napa, CA 2021 85
Rodney Strong Reserve Sonoma County, CA 2019 89
*The Gryphon by Louis Martini Napa, CA 2021 89
Faust by Quintessa Napa, CA 2021 92
Caymus California 2022 94
Col Solare Red Mountain, WA 2018 95
*Ampere by TRB Pine Mountain, CA 2016 99
Ink Grade Napa, CA 2019 115
Krupp Brothers Napa, CA 2021 115
Sangiacomo Napa, CA 2021 120
The Pact by Faust Coombsville, CA 2021 125
Chimney Rock Stags Leap District Estate Napa, CA 2021 129
Silver Oak Alexander Valley, CA 2019 145
*Kinsella Jersey Boys Calistoga, CA 2018 149
Switchback Ridge by Peterson Family & TRB Napa, CA 2019 149
Veraison by Krupp Brothers Napa, CA 2021 149
Rombauer Proprietor Selection Napa, CA 2018 189
Stonestreet Rockfall Alexander Valley, CA 2010199
WINE RESERVE
