Would you like some cheese with that wine?

Why, yes, I think I would! And some crunchy bread and maybe some olives...and doesn't the Lobster Cavatappi look delish...

Name of Restaurant: Uncorked
Location: Blue Back Square, West Hartford
Day / Date / Time: Saturday, July 9, 4 p.m.
Type of food: Wine and charcuterie
Occasion / Event: Catch up with a good friend
Dined with: Jean
Ambiance / Entertainment: Great company and really good people watching
Wine / Cocktails: Wine, wine, wine!
Appetizers: Charcuterie: cheese and meat - both served with a crunchy sliced baguette as well as marinated vegetables
Entrees: Very limited but fun menu - very reasonably priced (clearly their menu changes, because what was on our menu today is different than what's on the menu)
Desserts: Chocolate!
Average price range: Charcuterie and chocolate are $8, dinner starters are in the $12 range, entrees range from $16 - $25, wine has too big of a range to describe here...see below, or their menu.
House favorites / Signature dishes to reorder: My very first deal from Groupon, with many thanks to Pelly, was a $50 gift certificate to Uncorked that I got for $25. I was so looking forward to trying it and knew that Jean was the perfect partner. Neither of us was disappointed! In fact, we're both looking for a reason to go back. Twist my arm...

The premise is this: Uncorked offers more than 70 different wines, and offers tastes (1 oz.), half glasses (3 oz.), and full glasses (6 oz.) of wine. They serve wines and from regions I am completely unfamiliar with, so it's a nice way to try something new.

We decided to stick with reds, of which full glasses range from $7.50 to $35.50, with tastes and half glasses a little more than 1/6 and 1/2 the cost of a full glass, respectively...clearly, if you find a wine you like, a full glass is the most cost effective way to go.  This is what we tried...

We eased in with a few "tastes"...
#32 - Jean tried a taste of this Chianti...sadly, I cannot remember exactly what she said about it.  But I know she liked it!
#33 - My "good friend" Rachael Ray raves about Brunello di Montalcino, so we both tried a taste. It was outstanding...crisp, mild flavor with no after taste.  It was also the priciest, at $35.50 a glass!  We settled for a taste and moved on.
#53 - I tried Chakalaka from South Africa because a) I've never had South African wine and b) I love the name!  It was very tasty!

Our waitress then recommended her favorite - I jumped in and got a full glass, Jean started with a half glass:
#48 - Oltre…, Pio Cesare a Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Italy . It was outstanding!  Fruity but not sweet, oaky but not tree-y...nearly perfect.  And it was $12.75 a glass - reasonable in comparison. (Needless to say, we both had a second glass.) The hunt for a bottle will begin tomorrow!
We also enjoyed the Roaring 40s Blue cheese with crusty bread and a bowl of marinated olives. There was so much cheese that we had ask for more bread.  Each appetizer is $8, or you can get 4 for $28.  Two people could easily make a meal of 4 apps.

The total bill was $88.  Minus the Groupon and inclusive of a tip on the original amount, we each put in about $28. Not bad for a lovely Saturday afternoon!