The storm of the century hit New York City on Wednesday and it made me want to cozy up in a wine bar to dry off. Being a very quick run through the rain from the 14th St station, Vin sur Vingt at 201 W 11th St was an easy choice. Unless you’re directionally challenged like I am, in which case you’ll walk in about four different circles before finding it. So, despite my best efforts I walked, dripping, into Vin sur Vingt and was greeted by the cutest sight.
Vin sur Vingt is just adorable. It’s small and it looks just like a European café, which is fitting because it is a French wine bar. The floors, the bar, the small café tables, and all of the seating were made of dark wood and red was used as an accent color on the seating. It was tres chic! The walls were simply decorated with mirrors and a random sculpture of a bull’s head. Some bubbly jazz and French music was playing and I was instantly relaxed as I sat down at one of the little tables.
As I mentioned, this is a French wine bar, so all of the wines and waiters are from France and are listed by region on the menu. Glasses are between $9 and $18 and bottles start at a reasonable $40 with the most expensive being $475. They also offer a sommelier choice flight of 3oz glasses of wine that are $18 for 3 glasses or $28 for 5 glasses. In addition, you can order a wine and cheese pairing of 3 cheeses and wines for $29. I was a little chilly after being completely soaked on my way to the bar and I wanted a big red wine to warm up with. I was disappointed to see that there were so few wines available by the glass in general, specifically from Bordeaux. A red wine from this region would either be made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or a blend of the two depending on the village it’s from. I decided on the least expensive of the two wines from Bordeaux and ordered a glass of the 2009 Chateau Aimee Medoc.
The waiter brought out a glass and the bottle and gave me a taste of the wine before pouring the whole glass. Solid service. The Medoc was quite dry, which woke up my soggy senses a bit. It was spicy and tasted like cloves and a little bit like a spiced plum, although this wine did not have any sweetness to it. It smelled very warm, like nutmeg and fig. It was alright, but I don’t think it was worth $13 a glass.
Vin sur Vingt is a great place to come chill in by yourself. I even saw another customer doing some work on his laptop with a bottle next to him. The place is quiet, relaxed, and there is plenty of wine. If you have an afternoon to feel like a European work on a bottle, this would be the place for it. Since it is a little pricey for a glass, I feel that getting a bottle would be a better value and there are many more selections to choose from that way as well.
The service was polite and courteous, it’s a very cute café-style wine bar with a lovely atmosphere, and I was really feelin’ the music. I wish there were more by the glass options here, however. I give Vin sur Vingt a rating of 3.8 out of 5 glasses. Meanwhile, I’m going to book a flight to Paris…
Vin sur Vingt tucked away on a quiet street in the West Village
The French cafe style bar area...and me creepin on myself in the mirror at the top
The wine Cave
Random bull head