Quietly opening this month, Le Deck Wine Bar is situated amongst the busy patios of Tulo's and Turtle Jack's. Compared to the two, Le Deck is absolutely zen, with its whitewashed décor and no music blaring. Tucked into the bottom-right corner of the complex, the wine bar feels removed from the hustle and bustle, separated by shops and away from the heavy foot traffic.
The wine list is curated through Gibson Family Wines,
featuring bottles from France and Italy produced by small and organic wineries.
These aren't wines you'll typically find at the LCBO. Eleven are available by
the glass in three-ounce ($9-$26) and six-ounce ($18-$52) pours, making it easy
to sample a few. Many more are offered by the bottle, ranging from $80 to
$1,200. Indeed, Le Deck isn't where you'll find budget wines.
Stopping in for a glass, the 2022 Domaine Regnard Aligoté
($28 for 6 oz.) was recommended as an easy-drinking white. Served nicely
chilled without being overly cold, it was crisp, mellow, and restrained on its
own but paired beautifully with the charcuterie.
You're not coming to Le Deck for a filling meal. The menu
consists of four charcuterie boards ($32-$95) along with light snacks like
roasted nuts ($12-$14), chips ($6), and mixed olives ($8). Despite there not
being a Spanish wine on the menu, we opted for the Spanish board ($52)
because it promised Serrano ham. The biggest surprise was how much I enjoyed
the chorizo. It was flavourful with just a hint of heat, yet never
overpowering. It's not normally a meat I enjoy on its own, but this was
delicious. Turns out everything is sourced from Toronto's Cheese Boutique, the
mecca of charcuterie.
Rounding out the board were two cheeses (olive Manchego and
a six-month-aged Manchego), crackers, crostini, a few gherkins, and a lovely
fig jam that wasn't overly thick or sweet. It was a great choice. Our server
explained that the Italian board leans towards salami and Parmesan, while the
French board features softer cheeses.
Admittedly, a glass of wine and a nibble isn't inexpensive
at Le Deck. But you're paying for the premium Port Carling location and its
tranquil setting. Being tucked into the shade also creates a lovely cross
breeze, so even during the July heat wave we stayed pleasantly cool.
And thanks to its location beside the public docks, you can
arrive by car or by boat. If that's not quintessential Muskoka, what is?
Situated in the heart of Port Carling's main strip, there are plenty of shops
and attractions nearby (I highly recommend pursuing the Port Carling Locks) to
explore after to work off all that wine.
Le Deck isn't trying to be the liveliest patio in Port Carling. Instead, it
offers something increasingly rare: a quiet place to slow down with a
thoughtfully curated glass of wine. Sometimes that's exactly what cottage
country calls for.
Address: 2 James Bartleman Way
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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