By Cristina Ng (cityweekend.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-06-13 10:50

With wine nights happening all over the city, we were eager to check out the newest wino haven on the Taikang Lu strip.

On opening night, we joined the crowd sipping complimentary 2000 Chateau Saint Pierre, a dry California red. The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (48 yuan per glass) was bland, and we worked our way through some passable whites until we found our favorite, the 2006 LV Macon Blanc Villages (398 yuan for a bottle), perfect on a balmy night with crisp refreshing grassy notes and a full and almost buttery body.

The wine list offers many choices which range from 298-1,280 yuan. The bar itself is quite narrow and intimate with a classic exposed-brick décor. Although the staff tried their best, we still felt a few opening night kinks in the service. Everyone spilled onto the lane until the rain pushed us into the attached Tai Music store.

Later, management whisked us upstairs where we enjoyed the balcony (once the rain let up) for many more hours--and bottles.

Tai Wine
Add: No. 38, Lane 248, Taikang Lu
Tel: 6473-3001