The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is celebrating new recognition by Wine Spectator magazine, as the publication has awarded its prestigious 2015 Best Award of Excellence to CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar. Receiving the award for the second year in a row, CORE is among only 13 Arizona establishments to be so honored.
“We are truly grateful to be recognized by Wine Spectator, and thrilled that our wine program has again been recognized nationally,” said Liam Doyle, General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. “While we have created a wine offering that we believe can serve true aficionados, it is also a joy to see casual diners asking to learn about wines or sample labels on our CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar menu. Guests are truly enjoying the resort’s accessible beverage experience.”
Led by sommelier Mike West, the wine program at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain features 6,200 bottles, with a focus on coveted, hard-to-find labels and vintages. Among these are CORE’s own Dove Mountain Cuvée, a proprietary, custom Russian River blend produced at the Dutton-Goldfield facility co-developed by Mike West and Dan Goldfield, offered only at the property. Other national exclusives on the restaurant’s wine list include by-the-glass offerings of Epoch Estate and Ledge California Soul. CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar is also the only restaurant in Arizona to offer rare bottles such as Philip Togni Estate from 2005, Ledge Vineyards by Mark Adams and sought-after back vintages of Justin Smith’s Saxum. Additionally, Dove Mountain Cuvée II will be introduced later this year, presenting a new and different Russian River blend again developed with Dutton-Goldfield. CORE guests are currently enjoying the first Dove Mountain Cuvée, which is drinking exceptionally well and should be available for another few months.
Guests and area residents wishing to sample the resort’s wines also have access to the popular CORE Wine Experience, presented every Friday at 5 p.m. Priced at $20 per person, the CORE Wine Experience features a sommelier-guided tasting journey through some of the world’s most notable wine regions. Three different labels are served, accompanied by tasting notes, food pairing suggestions and complimentary charcuterie. The offering is designed and led by the wine program’s Mike West, who has also just been named general manager/wine director for CORE Kitchen and Wine Bar.
