High aspirations

Lakeforest Wines in Gurgaon is a good place to browse for wines, and it comes well recommended.

With the Haryana government now allowing the retail of wine (and beer) at private stores, buying wine "" my own poison (or health drink) of choice has become infinitely more pleasant in the NCR.

But while many stores and hypermarts in Gurgaon have sections devoted to it, Lakeforest Wines is a dedicated (private) liquor store that has been recommended to me by respected denizens of the wine community.

If you don't know where to find it, it is not exactly easy to spot "" sitting in a corner, on the first floor of the MGF Megacity Mall, itself rather obscure. (There is an outlet at the Galleria market too, I find out later.) Mid-afternoon, we are the only customers and can indulge in leisurely browsing. I am immediately taken in by the range of products.

There are several racks of wine, separate sections devoted to Bordeaux, Indian brands and so on. And there is other fancy liquor too "" imported malts and all. Labels and prices are neatly and clearly put up.

As I enter, the man in charge (whom I later identify as owner Sanjeev Mehta, also an importer), points out a rack in front with ongoing "schemes". But I am looking for "only Champagne", I tell him in my imitation of a rich but aspiring south Delhi wife.

After leaving me to browse for as long as I want, Mehta attempts to help me by first asking me for my price range ("No price," I tell him) and then suggesting that perhaps I'd like to go for something sweeter than the common Moët brut. "Is that a demi sec then?" I ask him, looking at the bottle in question and he hastily says he's merely using common parlance "" it is "sweeter" ; not "sweet".

"Do you have any vintage?" I ask him and he honestly tells me that no one in India buys vintage Champagne. I point to a label (a German one!) with "vintage" on it and ask him innocently whether that's not it "" he remains honest and says it's not even Champagne! I move on to the Bordeaux and after a brief discussion, announce that I can't make up my mind and will call him. Mehta is game enough to say that "if the order is significant" he'll have it delivered to Delhi. Wish the office was paying!

Score: 9/10. Good product range, comfortable ambience, knowledgeable staff. At last, here's a decent place to buy your wine from!

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