Popination Bibulation

a series of unhinged personal essays disguised as pub reviews. Today: Uncorked Kitchen & Wine Bar.

I added this place to an errand run on a whim before I took the next couple weeks mostly dry. It’s a Popination Past, just not that far past. I was down at the craft shop to get some paper flowers I could pass out in the beginning of my upcoming burlesque act (see about that event and popination here), and I noticed that this place called Uncorked looked pretty close by. So I thought I’d add it to my queue of popinations, get a few tasks out of the way in one trip.

Unhinged & Uncorked

It was very close to the craft shop, but what a squirrely walk it was to get here (this is definitely a car neighborhood and it shows). I had to duck under some low pines, walk at an angle on a lawn with trees on one side of me, a busy street on the other with no sidewalk. But then I found a sidewalk and at least one of the sides of the street had a pedestrian signal, so I made it to the front door of the place unscathed.

It didn’t look like a wine bar, more like a cooking school or wholesale kitchen equipment store, which the former I learned it actually was. But the hostess was sunny and courteous, and led me on a strange climb up a tall staircase, to the wine bar part of the place. And it was lovely—the bar faced a wall of bottle butts as decor, and there were a very few elegant and minimalist two and three-tops along the long L-shaped room. As I looked around, too, I noticed that wrapping itself around the room and then the bar as the inner layer, a high balcony with an actual view of the mountains; not something you see a lot of way down here in South Denver. It was a little too cold and also sunny for me to want to sit outside, but I bet it’s a nice rooftop bar in amenable weather. 

I felt like an intrepid explorer or high end food blogger, as the environment was what I’d call semi-posh, and the elegantly black-clad, long-aproned servers practiced a particular level and tone of friendly/polite. I’m still getting myself accustomed to accepting service like that—it’s been a learning process for me, accepting that it’s okay, I deserve nice things. It’s okay, if I have the means, to do something nice (even fancy) for myself. I was thinking, as I sat poring over the long wine list, about some of

david roberts

’ recent personal writing about money and privilege and complex feelings about same. He’s coming at those topics from the opposite direction and world than I am but it’s interesting, isn’t it, the sorts of reason-webs we put ourselves through when it comes to luxury? Or is that just people like us, who are always thinking really hard about everything (sometimes too much, amirite David)?

The staircase was long but actually remarkably comfortable, even for my old worn out knees.

Since I’d be drinking wine later that night to accompany my Shakespeare reading event, I decided I should do wine here, though it looked like they have a good selection of cocktails and even a couple craft beers. But eh. It’s a wine bar. Wine it is.

I’m no connoisseur (though I was taught a couple things back in the ‘90s by a good friend who had undergone training as a sommelier. During Acting school. Don’t ask me how he managed that). But, Columbo-like, I’ve been dabbling: especially by following André Mack on YouTube—I dig his expert yet n00b-friendly tasting note descriptions. Sometimes he even rates his tastings using emoji. 

What a classy joint. And look at those legs!

I was pretty excited to embark on a wine tasting adventure, so I took some time looking at their extensive menu (avoiding the selective bottle list on the flip side—I was indulging myself, but those were beyond my resources). I thought it’d be reasonable to slowly move through 3 selections, along with a happy hour snack. And so I began. My selections included the following:

• Krasno: a red blend from Slovenia 

The Krasno lists Merlot first in all the blends noted, but it tastes much earthier and more mineral-y than that. But it is a blend, so, I guess I’m just not getting it forward as much. It’s nice—it’s not funky and brickish the way Bordeaux can be. 

• Tooth & Nail ‘The Stand’: CA (Paso Robles, not Napa)

This one’s got a nose like loam or soil or moss, but then after, it’s like a giant blueberry on the tongue. Wow. That’s good. I’m a sip this one slow.

Their happy hour snax (and small plates, it looks like too) are actually pretty wide ranging and decently priced, as near-posh as they seem. I got myself a mini charcuterie on a tiny board: 1 meat & 1 cheese with olives, beer mustard and crusty things to eat it with in the perfect amount. I got gouda & prosciutto, and it was DELISH and just the right amount.

• Lastly, I ordered a third red called La Chiazza, SUUUUPer Tuscan! (emphasis my own): Tuscany, natch

And ooo wow is that super peppery! funky and almost iffy on the nose, jazzy on the palate. I think even my difficult-Bordeaux-loving Father-in-law would dig this one. It almost smelled off putting but then just became this nice spicy peppery end of my adventure. 

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It’s only just a few years ago I wouldn’t have been able to afford doing such a fun little whimsical trip on my own. I’d have had to plan it, save up, and rely on my partner’s generosity. But it’s funny—ever since I quit [UNIVERSITY NAME REDACTED], I’ve been weirdly way more productive, even prosperous. Of course, I’m also way more broke, but as you can see, kinda not? And now I can qualify for health insurance instead of being told I make too much. I do rely on my partner, of course, but my whoel situation is a lot healthier in a lot of ways—I know that sounds odd, or like I’m trad-wifing, but that's not it. It’s… it’s a different way of looking at what it means to support and be supported, without that crippling scarcity mindset that I was raised with in the trailer park. It’s counter-intuitive but it’s real. And it’s powerful. Will. I still be consumed with Irish working class guilt every time I do stuff like this? Ehh, maybe. But then again, here I am, doing stuff like this. And I can always talk myself out of such a mindset, especially now I I have you all here expecting stellar popinations from me. So thanks. And yer welcome.

I did like the bottle mosaic decor. Pretty cool. And they served their water out of wine bottles too, as you can see here.

Well. That was a lovely little outing, and a tasty. Once Moist March has wended its way back to a Slightly Wetter April, I gotta bring my partner over here. It’s the perfect spot for a post-Guitar Center shopping nibble. Maybe next time I’ll try some whites.