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Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar

A Tiki Bar with good wine????  I know that it sounds unlikely, but I’ve discovered one and it will knock your socks off!

Located in Cape Canaveral, FL, Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar is the real deal.  They have plenty of indoor seating, along with a great outside deck and bar where one can eat good food, drink some great wine, listen to fun live music, all while enjoying the water front view.

I’ve visited Grills a few times over the years, and I remembered that they have some darned good wines on their list, served in nice glassware (not the typical Tiki Bar plastic cups).  My most recent visit was this past weekend, and I was surprised that I hadn’t remembered another important thing about their wine list:  the prices!  I was with a good-sized group, so we got to try a few different bottles.

First up was a 2012 Cakebread Chardonnay.  This is light and crisp, unlike the oak bombs that one often comes to expect from Napa Chardonnay.  With citrus, pear and ripe green apple, this wine was a great way to start the day of tasting.  Its lively acidity makes it a great pairing with many of the items on the Grill’s menu!  Oh, and did I mention that the list price is $55?

The second wine of the day was a 2010 Swanson Merlot from Oakville in Napa for $36.  This wine is composed of 83% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petite Verdot.  On the nose are plum and coffee.  The palate has blackberry,  black cherry, the plum and soft tannins.  It has a very pleasant mouth feel and a good finish.  It’s definitely a winner, especially at this price point!

Next up was the 2005 Opus One.  We couldn’t believe that they have the ’05 Opus on the menu for the very consumer friendly price of $150 per bottle.  We ordered two!  This Bordeaux blend has 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 
1% Malbec.  There is licorice on the nose, along with some mint, blackberry, plum and violet.  The palate sang!   It is beautifully balanced with chocolate, black fruit, black olive and an Old World earthiness.  Interestingly, I tasted the ’05 Opus at the winery in February and it was going for $225 a bottle!  Can you see why I love Grills???

Last but not least was the 2005 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon, made of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc.   On the nose are dark cherry and vanilla.  There is still a lot of fruit on the palate, especially blackberries, sweet currant, ripe plum and even cassis.  This wine was a lovely way to end the tasting.  All of this for $85.  In a restaurant!!!!!

The evening itself ended out back with a gorgeous sunset.  What more could we ask for???

I’m almost afraid to post these prices because I don’t want them to jack up the costs on the wine list.  I have heard, however, that the owner of Grills is a huge wine lover (obviously) and that he loves to offer these lovely wines at a price people can afford.

So … if you live in Florida, or plan on visiting anytime soon, be sure to stop by Grills for a casual bite and a nice bottle at a very fair price!  Now remember, it’s a Tiki Bar!  Grills is laid back and a bit rustic.  Don’t expect anything hoity toity here!  I do, however, think that they could almost be renamed “Grills Seafood & Tiki “Wine” Bar”!!!

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