"Prior to dinner, we were invited to Bar 45, by a “member,” and had a wonder pre-dinner wine experience. The Bar is elegant, and understated, with rather limited seating, in the bar area. We were seated at one of the bistro tables, beside the smallish bar. The décor is attractive, and a bit like a modern take on a “gentlemen’s club,” with a lot of more contemporary straight lines. It seems geared more to private functions, but does offer an abbreviated bar menu, “Rough CUTs” from the Wolfgang Puck CUT on-property. We were there only for the wines, so did not get to sample any of the food items. With two glasses of the Jean-Louis Chavy, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Les Champs Gains”’14, a glass of Drappier, “Signature”, Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne, and a Ginger Beer on ice, in front of us, we found that the noise level was quite low, and some pre-dinner business could be easily conducted. The surfaces of the room appeared to absorb the noise from the other patrons very well, though it probably helped that most were speaking in rather hushed tones. The room just seems to make that appropriate. Our service was friendly, and efficient. Though probably geared more to cocktails, I was impressed by the wine list. As I found on almost the entirety of this visit, many more wine lists in London are adding some excellent USA wines. This has been both a change, and a surprise from most of our visits. Bar 45 was a prime example of this, with many very good, to excellent USA producers, even in the B-T-G selections, and then on their “bargain” list, called “CUT’s 60 Under 60,” with bottles at, or below £60 – a very nice touch. Over the years, our UK board members ask why I never order USA wines, and until now, my comment was always along the lines of “the USA wines, that find their way to London, are not ones, which I would serve, or drink. Also, the prices are far too high. I will serve USA wines, when we have you to my country, for the board meeting.” Well, the times, they are a changing, and Bar 45 is a prime example of how much. We will return, and maybe even explore those USA wines, but only for my UK board members, as I get those at “home,” but cannot get such lovely Montrachets there. We also want to return for the bar menu too."
