WINES The philosophy behind the wine list at Café Boulud is to offer our neighborhood and international clientele a broad selection of styles, regions and price ranges, while concentrating on wines that are very versatile. Our wines by the bottle range from a delicious Bethel Heights Pinot Gris from Oregon, an excellent value at $30, to a 1982 Pétrus for $3,950. Over 50% of our bottles are priced between $30 and $80. We offer 20 wines by the glass, including sparkling and dessert wines, from an $8 Cave Springs Riesling Reserve from Canada to a $40 Taylor Fladgate 1970 Port. Our wine list choices are greatly influenced by varietal character and the reflection of terroir in any given wine, meaning that we search for wines that best represent the true flavors of the grapes that they are made from and regions where they are grown. Many classic examples of the world's greatest wines find a home in our cellar, from a rustic Provençal Domaine Tempier Bandol to a mouth-filling and complex Austrian Brundelmeyer Grüner Veltliner. Much consideration is also given to handcrafted winemaking and organic production, making for interesting pairings with dishes from the Potager menu heading, a trove of entirely vegetarian dishes focusing on seasonal, organic produce. What could be better with a chilled vegetarian soup such as Fennel with Anise Hyssop and Lemon than a richly textured and bright flavored Forreau Vouvray Sec from the Loire Valley? An earthy Château de Beaucastel matches well with Cassoulet of Root Vegetables, a rustic and hearty vegetarian dish full of heady garlic and herbs. In keeping with the menu and ambience of Café Boulud, the wine list leans towards French and American selections. The Tradition part of the menu is devoted to updated time-honored French preparations like those served at the original turn-of-the-twentieth-century Café Boulud located near Lyon and tended by Daniel's great grandparents. Guests can enjoy the classic choice of a Châteauneuf du Pâpe with a Côte de Boeuf, or try a California Rhône blend, such as Edmund St John's Côtes Sauvages for a twist. We treasure both our classic French wines, such as Ducru Beaucaillou 1982 from the St Julien region of Bordeaux and Batard Montrachet 1996 from Domaine Ramonet, as well as newer American finds like the Quintessa 1995, a Bordeaux Blend from the Rutherford area of Napa, and Paul Hobbs Walker Station Chardonnay 1997 from Sonoma. While the focus on French and American wines reflects the main influences of the Café, the four hundred selection list spans the globe with representation from all major wine growing regions. One of the challenges, and certainly one of the most enjoyable aspects of the wine list at Café Boulud, is finding wines to match the dynamic and ever-changing menu, especially the Saison and Voyage sections as they change monthly. The Saison menu, highlighting the freshest seasonal produce, seafood and game, and the international Voyage heading constantly encourages our sommelier to rethink traditional wine and food pairing ideas. For Mole Style Mexican Braised Short Ribs, our sommelier may suggest a soft, rich and spicy Australian Shiraz or a Spanish Ribiera del Duero, while a refreshing and floral California Viognier or a Northern Italian Traminer Aromatico might prove the perfect foil for Louisiana-Inspired Red Snapper with Crawfish Etouffé. Our diverse cellar extends into dessert wines including Ports, Sherries and late harvest wines from around the globe. For one of Jennifer Reed's chocolate desserts, such as the Chocolate Bombe with a Chocolate-Cinnamon Crème Brûlée Center, try a Lustau Deluxe Cream Sherry whose intense flavor matches this decadent dessert wonderfully. A Côteaux de Layon from the Loire Valley is delightful alongside exotic fruit desserts such as a Passion Fruit Tart with Nutmeg-Coconut Ice Cream. We boast a full selection of digestifs including vintage Calvados, Armagnac and super-premium Cognac.