Brut
Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: (214) 827-2788
02/10/2008 Posted by FunkBlaster
I have been to Brut many times. And, what keeps me coming back is the amazing selection of wines and the easy-going air of the place. Alfonso, the owner, is a very kind, warm, and exceptionally knowledgeable guy (with a suave Spanish accent). He owns, operates, and serves at this quaint, cozy, and cool little boutique and does so with the humility of a waiter and the confidence of a sommelier -- what a balance. The shop is a bit on the small side, but the location at Hwy 75 and Mockingbird is excellent, given that it is central to the more traveled Dallas hang-outs and sits in between the extra hip Palomar Hotel and the still up-to-par Trader Vic's. Though Brut has a vast selection of champagne, it has an equally fine selection of sparkling wines from all over the world. Prices for both champagne and sparkling wines range from the $30s into the hundreds. Tell Alfonso what you like and how much you would like to spend and he will tell you straight. I have not been disappointed in any of my choices or in those recommended by the owner, who has a true gift for divining the wine a customer wants from but a few disjointed descriptors. Brut does have a romantic aspect to it, but it is also a place to meet with friends and to try wines that you will not get the opportunity to try anywhere else in Dallas. Food is not served there, except for some high-end chocolates that make for a nice coupling with the champagne. The lack of anything to eat as you drink (e.g., nuts, crackers, cheese, etc.) is its only real draw-back. For what it's worth, Alfonso is also the owner and chef of Hola!, a wonderful Spanish tapas restaurant located at McKinney and Monticello. I mention this less to tout Hola! than to tout Alfonso himself, who, I have come to realize, is a true expert in both food and wine. Brut is great. If you don't have like it, it can only be because you happen to own your very own champagne shop in France itself. I am the FunkBlaster, and I do not lie.
Pros: Selection is top shelf
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