Hotel Bennett, Charleston: Unparalleled Luxury?

I have always wanted to go to Charleston; the advertisements in travel magazines painted it's charm and romance so beautifully. Earlier this year, my brother-in-law was part of a group invited to Boeing Headquarters where they were given a tour of the Factory and were wined and dined; they were escorted on private tours of the City, they had early access to the new African American Museum and were lodged at the Hotel Bennett. He raved about the trip so we all decided we would take a 4 day trip to Charleston together.

We had basically decided to stay at the Hotel Bennett, but as usual, I needed to do a little research of my own. According to their website, Hotel Bennett is the south's grandest luxury hotel … which perfectly blends unparalleled luxury with an unmatched setting in the country's most beloved city. Forbes described "the hotel's design and interior finishes to evoke European grandeur with extravagant use of marble, limestone, copper and tile but it's the local touches that impart a unique dose of Carolina Lowcountry soul." Travel + Leisure labelled "The lounges are some of the most beautiful in the city" and pronounced the room as "genteel and bright yet serene with its palate of dove gray and pale blue". So far, so good. The deciding point was that the Hotel Bennett was part of the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts Program.

The Hotel's descriptions, video's and photo's depict the Bennett well. The Press Coverage in broad terms is accurate. So why am I not wowed? I think it is a few things:Price – Wow EquationAt nearly $800/night, I expected something more. I have stayed at many hotels in the US which were equally as nice but at half this price or less. There was just nothing really special to justify the price. I heard the King's Club was a private oasis that elevates your Hotel Bennett experience. But that was another $225/night. Perhaps that should just be included in the rate. But $800 is nearly the price of a room at one of the AMAN Resorts which has a huge WOW factor.It's All RelativeIn re-visiting my research. The reference is The South / The City. And it is true…….to an extent. Relative to other Hotels in Charleston, the Hotel Bennett is the 'grandest', the 'most luxurious' … as for the full "South" hard to say.Hotel Bennett's prices are on par with those of the great hotels in London, Paris, &amp; Rome. On a $ for $ basis, $800 buys an unbelievable experience in Asia or in Europe. In fact, we normally paid less than $500/night and we were wowed. In my opinion, a great Hotel is not only defined by the room and the restaurants; those are a given, an expectation. It is rather the experience there: maybe it's a spectacular pool, the culture, the historic background, the little extras, special details of the breakfast or dinner, the attentive staff and the people that make the memory, create the value and make it inspiring to write about.

In My Opinion, Just UninspiringBreakfast sounded better on the menu than it looked on the plate and it tasted mediocre.The Rooftop Pool was super small with a very limited number of lounges (unless you wanted to pay $200 – $300 to rent a cabana)The Entrance and Lobby did not leave a great first impression of the Hotel. They were large and felt empty and cold, not inviting.The Hotel Bennett with its central location off of Marion Square is a good base for exploring. It was nice just expensive for what it is. If you are planning a visit to Charleston, and money is no object, then the Bennett is worth considering.

The Londoner Hotel: Conceptionally Brilliant, & Now Ready for Prime Time

We first stayed at The Londoner at Christmas time 2022. My <a href="https://karenable.com/londoner/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">first Londoner review</a> concluded that:The Londoner, the World's First Super Boutique Hotel is conceptionally brilliant, but the execution is far from what I would expect given its cost and 5 star rating. It requires more training of the staff is has and more staff; this would improve the service level dramatically taking the execution to its conceptional brilliance; dressers in the rooms would take it over the top!The Londoner's great Location, cool vibe, and some very unique aspects for a hotel, especially The Residence's three exclusive spaces within the Hotel: the Y Bar, the Drawing Bar and the Whisky Bar combine to create an exceptional 'super boutique' hotel in London . London isn't short of remarkable hotels, but the Londoner truly is an experience, setting it apart. Artfully designed at every turn, the property is inspiring to say the least, and is one of the trendiest locations to see and be seen at in the city today. We will return.We did return, this time on first week of October 2023. I can honestly say, it is now ready for prime time! The Londoner General Manager did call me regarding my initial review; horrified to say the least. He had already spoken with the heads of Front Desk, Housekeeping, and HR regarding the items highlighted in the blog. He wanted to learn more – kudos to him. He appreciated the frank discussion and clearly took it to heart.

The Reservation Manager responed to our requests immediately and offered us to enjoy the Spa or the Residence uypon our early arrival as the hotel was complely full. Front Desk staff could not have been more pleasant and professional. Housekeeping had been contacted to priorize cleaning our room so we could check in as soon as possible after the prior guests had checked out. Throughout our stay (over a week), Housekeeping did an imeccable job both at cleaning the room each morning and turndown service. The Londoner had hired more dining staff and clearly trained them as they were attentive, helped each other and prompt.I get the feeling that the Londoner caters to one night stays – Fashion Events, Business Meetings… hence why there are no dressers and limited storage space for clothes. So if we were going to be staying over a week, we needed to stay in a larger room. And so we did. Problem solved, the Suite had a full 6 foot long closet (but only a few hangers). Housekeeping responding immediately bringing 20 more hangers. There was a shelf above for T-shirts and the sorts and wire baskets below for underwear, socks… There were plenty of hooks on the wall for coats and jackets.

There were a couple of signs of wear and tear which is surprising for a hotel so new (opened September 2021). Perhaps it was the choice of fabric on the sofas in the room, but there were a couple of noticable stains (an easy fix to reuphoster with stain resistant fabric). There was some wood chipped on the closet door, it may have been from the previous guest and they just had not the time to repair.There were a few things that I really appreciate about the Londoner rooms:The Shower:The shower is not your standard shower in tub (There was a separate bathtub if you prefer). The shower is a separate walk in, beautifully tiled and glass doored. The water pressure is fabulous and there is plenty of hot water even when the hotel is full. The body wash, shampoo and conditioner were top notch. I took the longest showers ever.To enhance the shower experience, the towels were plush and absorbant and plentiful.The Dyson hair dryer was brilliant: hot and powerful.The WC (ie Toilet):Bonus points for it being a separate room (by biggest pet pieve if it is not!) – and large so you did not feel claustrophobic. The seat automatically lifts upon entering the WC – no touch! The seat is warm – heavenly. There were all kinds of gadgets that sprayed water every which direction which I opted out of.The Bed and Bedding:The king bed itself was incredibly comfortable. The pillows were perfect and plentiful. The sheets were divine, very fine and soft cotton. The duvet was great (albeit a little too warm for me but then again – almost all are!)

The one thing that I appreciate the most about the Londoner Hotel is:The Residence:I pointed out in the December blog how special it is but had some executional details t sort out:A Unique &amp; Brilliant Extension to the Rooms: The ResidenceProbably the clincher for us to book the Londoner is that its Guests have access to three exclusive Residence spaces within the Hotel. There is the Y Bar, the Drawing Bar and the Whisky Bar. As The Stage Bar in the Lobby is normally very busy, these private escapes for residents of the hotel are treasured. Complimentary antipasti, soft drinks, tea and coffee are served throughout the day and evening, as well as a complimentary breakfast selection of freshly baked patisseries, yoghurts, fresh fruit and artisan cheese between 9am and 12pm. Full bar service and a dining menu are also available which is great when Whitcombs is packed at Breakfast or you just prefer a little privacy and peace and quiet. There is also a library of handcrafted Assouline books, classic boardgames and the latest newspapers and fashion magazines to enjoy.Conceptionally brilliant. But to execute well, The Residence requires more staff. The complimentary antipasti table offering was thin and was not regularly restocked. Service was exceptionally slow to the point we just left. Again, not difficult fixes.These executional details were also addressed making our use of the Residence a truly treasured one. It is a perfect spot to relax, have a bite to eat and read the paper, enjoy a drink with a friend or just to enjoy some quiet time.The only request would be to offer cheese alternative antipastos. I loved them but I love cheese. My husband does not eat cheese so this request is for him and others who would prefer more options.In SummaryI am grateful we had the opportunity to revisit The Londoner. It truly is the World's First Super Boutique Hotel …not only conceptionally brilliant but I can honestly say, it is definelty ready for prime time. The Londoner's great Location, cool vibe, and some very unique aspects for a hotel, especially The Residence combine to create an exceptional hotel in London. We will return.

Recently we had the privilege of participating in the Sun Valley Tour de Force, in Sun Valley, Idaho. The SVTdF is a wonderful event which raises money for a great charity, The Hunger Coalition, and helps a large number of people in need. The SVTdF is in its 6th year and is a three day event which runs Thursday – Saturday, capping off on Saturday with a "No Speed Limit", closed road, runs followed by a gala dinner and charity auction that night. We decided to take the three day event and turn it into a weeklong road trip in which we covered just over 2,000 miles in the McLaren 765LT Spider. The following article is part IV of IV and covers the hotels. Parts I &amp; III are on the road trips and Part II is on Sun Valley Tour de Force.

As AMEX Platinum Card holders, the first place we always go to search for hotels is the AMEX Fine Hotels &amp; Resorts website. The selection of hotel options are always 5*and their benefits are almost as valuable as the hotel rate. The benefits include early check-in and late check out (a hugely valuable benefit when travelling, especially overseas); room upgrade (if available, they usually are), free WIFI, complimentary Breakfast for two ($75 – $100 value depending on the Hotel), $100 Hotel Credit for Food &amp; Drinks or Parking and a welcome indulgence. So for our trip to Sun Valley's Tour de Force, that's exactly what we did for our travel to and from Sun Valley (Denver, where we shipped the car to and Park City where we overnighted to break up the drive to Sun Valley and upon return to Denver). Sun Valley Tour De Force had blocked rooms at the Limelight in Ketchum where the events were taking place, so we reserved with them at the discounted rate and their associated benefits.Limelight Hotel – DenverIn Denver, among AMEX's options, we chose the Limelight Hotel at Union Station in downtown Denver. Our choice was driven by our needs: close to the Airport, close to the McLaren Dealer in Denver, and great shopping nearby. The Limelight was a perfect choice: there was a free train that stopped directly in front of the Limelight (this was important as we had no suitcases on wheels just 2 very heavy duffle bags so they could fit in the frunk of the McLaren 765LT Spider), a quick Uber to the McLaren Dealer with a Luxury Goods shopping mall on route to drop me off at. The Hotel allowed us to park the McLaren directly in front of the hotel and we could put the cost against the Hotel Credit. The Limelight Hotel and rooms were very much in keeping with the Brand and the local environment. Our upgrade was to Superior King. There was a very warm and welcoming feel to the room. The bathroom had a separate WC (we have a pet peeve when it is not separated from the rest of the bathroom), an enclosed huge shower &amp; separate bathtub. The furniture not only looked in keeping with the hotel's concept and location, but was also very comfortable. Every amenity you could think of was in the room, including a yoga mat, steamer and an excellent Nespresso Coffee machine with unlimited pods. The room was very quiet despite other guests occupying rooms around us.We had dinner at the Bar which served the same menu as their restaurant, Citizen's Rail. They were very flexible and allowed us to eat in the more casual Bar and cancel our Restaurant reservation. We went during happy hour and enjoyed a delightful meal at no cost as the bill was covered by the balance of the room credit. Service was very attentive. Their Breakfast was excellent regardless of what you ordered, and the bill came in under the allowance.On our return visit, we were upgraded to a one-bedroom suite. It was also warm and welcoming. The furniture – different than the Suite, but very much in keeping with the Brand. There was a lovely bottle of red wine and a chacuterie board to welcome us. The front desk was happy to exchange the red wine for a bottle of Prosecco. We decided to order Room Service as it was getting late. It was super-fast and excellent, especially for room service.Tip to the Limelight Hotel: Clear the trays in the hallway during the night so they are not still there in the morning when your guests go down for breakfast.The <a href="https://www.limelighthotels.com/denver?NCK=8334954216&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjamg9fT3gAMVQolbCh1QfA9KEAAYASAAEgIaAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Limelight Denver</a> gets a Karen 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 rating.

Pendry Hotel – Park CityWe decided to stop in Park City, Utah to break up the trip to Sun Valley. Among AMEX hotel options, we chose the Pendry Hotel as it was not far off the Highway and yet in the Ski Resort. It was a very different experience to Denver's Limelight Hotel. Yes, they allowed us to park the McLaren at the front door (for $50) but advised against leaving it there (Yes in Park City at a 5* Hotel). We were upgraded to a one-bedroom suite which looked beautiful upon entering, albeit we are not big fans of the cool, grey interior. We quickly discovered the toilet was in the middle of the bathroom, there was no bathtub, the furniture, while nice to look at but was incredibly uncomfortable. That evening we realized the air conditioning vent was in the living room leaving us no choice but to leave the bedroom door open, even then, it was uncomfortable warm sleeping.Dinner was ok but certainly not what I would expect from a 5* hotel. While there were plenty of staff, the service was terrible. It was as if they had blinders on and getting dishes cleared was a undertaking. Breakfast was no different.Upon our return visit, we had a similar experience. They upgraded us to a Suite which was similar to the one-bedroom we stayed in with all the same comments. However, while the air conditioner was in the same room as the bed, the microwave oven had this bright white light that kept waking us up. We tried to cover it and unplug it, but to no avail. Needless to say, the Dinner and Breakfast were no better than our first night at the Pendry.Tip #1 to the Pendry: Stay overnight in each of your rooms to experience it as a guest wouldTip #2 to the Pendry: Train your restaurant and bar staff how to serve.The <a href="https://www.pendry.com/park-city/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=Search%7CPark%20City%7CBrand&amp;utm_content=Brand%7CPark%20City&amp;gad=1&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj_PypvX3gAMVl__jBx0ncAF_EAAYASAAEgIHkvD_BwE">Pendry Park City</a> gets a 🍾 🍾 rating

Limelight – KetchumThe Limelight, Ketchum was an excellent choice by the Organizers of the Tour de Force. It was in the heart of the town and in between the Sun Valley Auto Club where various events took place and the Saw Tooth Mountains where the drives and No Speed Limit took place. The Hotel was very much on Brand and in keeping with the Ski Resort vibe. While there was no upgrade, I do think we were in the highest class room at the hotel. The room was great: there was a balcony with two large chairs and a coffee table to enjoy the view of the Mountains surrounding the hotel, a king size comfortable bed, a very functional table / desk with a cozy sofa and chair, kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee machine (and unlimited pods), separated toilet from the rest of the bathroom, and lots of space for a week's worth of clothes for both of us.The lobby is a very popular spot for hotel guests and local residents alike. It is multi-purpose bar, restaurant, and meeting place with a huge gas fireplace and lots of seating. However, its popularity is showing its wear and tear (the rooms themselves are great).The Tour de Force hosted the first breakfast and the Hotel had an excellent complimentary buffet set up for the rest. There was the usual eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast, juices… but also excellent smoked salmon with all the trimmings and toasted bagels.We did not have lunch or dinners at the hotel except the Tour de Force's Gala Event on Saturday night.Tip #1 to the Limelight, Ketchum: Perhaps time to refurbish the ever so popular lobby which is looking a little tired from all the hotel guests and tons of locals that enjoy it year-round.The <a href="https://www.limelighthotels.com/ketchum">Limelight Ketchum</a> gets a 🍾 🍾 🍾 🍾 rating.

Limelights & Pendry

The Londoner Hotel: Conceptionally Brilliant, But Not Ready for Prime Time

We were excited to return to London as we had lived there for over a decade – to go back, if only for a vacation was in order now that COVID is 'under control'. We love just walking around London, especially at Christmas time. It is so festive with all the lights and decorated Christmas trees. I found this new 'super boutique' hotel called the Londoner on the AMEX Fine Hotels and Resorts site; it looked conceptionally brilliant! After checking their website and reading a few reviews, we thought we would check it out. The Londoner has a great Location, a cool vibe, and some very unique aspects for a hotel. The Londoner is still new, only opening in September 2021 and is one of London's newest 5 Star hotels but it's not ready for 'prime time' yet.

Location, Location, LocationThe Londoner has a great location right on Leicester Square in front of the Christmas Market in the heart of the Theatre District. It is an easy walk to Green Park, Bond Street for shopping, Mayfair &amp; Soho for great restaurants, Covent Gardens with their massive Christmas tree and not far from Knightsbridge where Harrods and Harvey Nichols are a must for any trip to London. While a bit of a hike, the Spitalfields Food, Arts Music Market in East London with nearby Vintage shops is well worth the hour walk. If you are not into walking, the Tube stop is steps away. Of course, the black London cabs circle the area.Cool VibeWalking into the sprawling bronze and dusky pink lobby the Check In is discreetly to the left when you enter the hotel. While absorbing the aesthetics, your bags are whisked away and delivered to your room.With the AMEX Fine Hotels &amp; Resorts reservation, a room upgrade is included, if available. The front desk staff should be trained better than to say "I can see that there are some rooms available but I need to check with the Manager". Then after disappearing for 5 minutes he returned to say, "sorry it is not possible to upgrade you right now as the hotel is full, however as you are staying 7 nights with us, as soon as an upgrade becomes available, we will let you know" Hmmmm – you just said you can see some rooms are available…We never heard a word back from the Front Desk.The poor Front Desk service did not distract from the original artwork surrounding us, taking us from the small sitting area by the inviting fireplace to The Stage a few steps in front; it is an enormous marble champagne bar and grand piano that occupy the open plan space.It is not surprising that the Londoner attacks the fashionable. Within a month of opening in September 2021, it has a London Fashion Week catwalk show already under its belt, as well as hosting the a-list Vogue x Tiffany &amp; Co. and BFI London Film Festival parties, The Londoner Hotel has already garnered a reputation as a place to see and be seen, much to Mr. SSO's chagrin.Our first evidence of the fashionable vibe is their Christmas tree in the lobby which was fittingly designed by someone who calls the city home. Daniel w. Fletcher. He has been hailed by Vogue as a leader of London's fashion community. David applied his signature aesthetic to hotel's iconic festive centerpiece pulling influences from his aesthetic and practice to offer a seasonal focal point at The Londoner that has been created with a commitment to sustainability at the forefront. Utilizing offcuts from the studio, the cream moire fabric are offcuts that come from the SS23 collection previously shown at The Londoner, continuing the synergy of the collection debuted in The Ballroom of the hotel.

The Guest RoomsThe guest rooms at The Londoner have been designed by celebrated New York and Toronto-based design agency Yabu Pushelberg and offer a sense of contemporary luxury with a soothing color palette. The Deluxe King Rooms are 29 sq meters with floor-to-ceiling windows, bespoke furniture and original artworks by Ed Pearman and The Connor Brothers.There's a king-size bed with a handcrafted Vispring mattress dressed in luxurious Irish linens and feather down pillows. In the ensuite bathroom, you'll find a vanity sink with an illuminated theatre mirror, rain shower, a Japanese Toto toilet (this is one of the coolest features of the room … of the hotel as they are even in the Residence washrooms) luxury bathrobes and slippers as well as Miller Harris bathroom amenities. What's more, there's a Roberts Bluetooth radio with speakers, a fully stocked minibar with blended cocktails by Avantgarde, a Samsung Smart TV, Nespresso coffee machine (no issue to call Housekeeping to bring a dozen coffee pods for those who love coffee and/or are jet lagged) and a selection of tea from the East India Company, free Wifi, Lutron lighting system, Dyson hairdryer, handheld steamer and bottled Nordaq water.The first downside to the Room was the very limited storage space. The clothes closet was very small and there was no dresser. This was exasperated by it being winter so the suitcases we packed full were full of bulky warm clothes. So, we needed to be extremely creative in our unpacking. It's a hotel designed for 2 – 3 day stays, not a couple for a week in the winter.The second downside to the Room was the Housekeeping. When we arrived, we found a pair of women's underwear on the floor beside the bed. Also, light fixtures work better when they have bulbs in them. One day we returned at 5pm and the room still had not been cleaned. These are definitely things that with better training and more staff can be easily fixed.A Unique &amp; Brilliant Extension to the Rooms: The ResidenceProbably the clincher for us to book the Londoner is that its Guests have access to three exclusive Residence spaces within the Hotel. There is the Y Bar, the Drawing Bar and the Whisky Bar. As The Stage Bar in the Lobby is normally very busy, these private escapes for residents of the hotel are treasured. Complimentary antipasti, soft drinks, tea and coffee are served throughout the day and evening, as well as a complimentary breakfast selection of freshly baked patisseries, yoghurts, fresh fruit and artisan cheese between 9am and 12pm. Full bar service and a dining menu are also available which is great when Whitcombs is packed at Breakfast or you just prefer a little privacy and peace and quiet. There is also a library of handcrafted Assouline books, classic boardgames and the latest newspapers and fashion magazines to enjoy.Conceptionally brilliant, but to execute The Residence well requires more staff. The complimentary antipasti table offering was thin and was not regularly restocked. Service was exceptionally slow to the point we just left. Again, not difficult fixes.Innovative Wellness at The RetreatThe Londoner's Spa and wellness offering, The Retreat, is positioned within the hotel's depths, offering a modern subterranean space dedicated to mind and body. Safely cocooned from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis above, it contains a tranquil pool with a lap lane and hydropool surrounded by secluded cabanas as well as a sauna and steam room. Children are welcome but only by reservation during certain hours, which is fair for all.The Londoner Refuel Clinic is a results-driven superfood and drinks clinic that harmonizes nature's delicious produce with scientifically analyzed supplements, offering a pioneering dining experience designed to improve the functions of body and mind. Somewhere to disconnect and escape, it is a tranquil urban hideaway characterized by natural materials and the soothing sound of water.Down the hall is a state-of-the-art gym servicing individual fitness ambitions to bespoke personal training . It is a spacious and high-quality gym in the West End. The space and services have been curated in partnership with Technogym and SB Wellness.Those in need of pampering can access the onsite hair and nail salon as well as an indulgent selection of skincare and aromatherapy treatments. These are led by a team of expert therapists using luxury sustainable and cruelty-free products, in one of the two zen-like treatment rooms. Signature body treatments include 'Harmony' designed for easing tension, which combines Tibetan cupping and acupressure as well as a full body massage using a blend of aromatic essential oils.

RestaurantsThe Londoner has an impressive array of Restaurants; something for everyone: Elegant French Mediterranean cuisine, Japanese rooftop bar, Neighborhood tavern, and Champagne indulgence.Whitcomb's: Is an elegant French Mediterranean. Presenting simple yet elegant cuisine prepared using carefully selected quality ingredients, The Londoner's fine dining restaurant captures a sense of tradition and modernity with a terrace overlooking Leicester Square. Breakfast is also served here. There is a fairly standard buffet enabling you to create your own traditional English Breakfast: scrambled eggs (but if you want any other type of eggs, just ask), bacon, back bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes. There is also cheese, prosciutto, breads, pastries and a selection of jams. There is a freshly squeezed juice bar, yogurts, fresh fruit and bowls of granola, seeds &amp; nuts. There is also a full menu with most items included except Grilled steak and Alaskan crab for an additional fee.The only downside was the staffing. Service was often very slow and inconsistent: you often had to wait for a table to be cleaned and wait for your coffee to come. Again an easy fix.We did enjoy Breakfast in the Y Bar one morning. It was absolutely delightful and the peace and quiet was a nice change of pace from Whitcombs.With so many amazing restaurants in London and the other reason we came to London to go to our favorite restaurants, we did not eat in the others at The Londoner but they did look great!8 at The Londoner is a decadent izakaya rooftop bar that reimagines the traditions and informal style of Japanese drinking establishments.Joshua's Tavern is a homage to Sir Joshua Reynolds, 18th century portrait artist and former Leicester Square resident, it is a neighbourhood tavern serves terroir-led gins, a selection of perfectly crafted Gintonicas, a refreshing draught beer selection, and a contemporary bill of fare with tavern tid-bits.The Stage is where the drama unfolds with a spectacular program dedicated to Champagne. A beautiful place to enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea and a grand finale of delicacies and coveted cuvées, The Stage also hosts live performances.In SummaryThe Londoner, the World's First Super Boutique Hotel is conceptionally brilliant, but the execution is far from what I would expect given its cost and 5 star rating. It requires more training of the staff is has and more staff; this would improve the service level dramatically taking the execution to its conceptional brilliance; dressers in the rooms would take it over the top!The Londoner's great Location, cool vibe, and some very unique aspects for a hotel, especially The Residence's three exclusive spaces within the Hotel: the Y Bar, the Drawing Bar and the Whisky Bar combine to create an exceptional 'super boutique' hotel in London . London isn't short of remarkable hotels, but the Londoner truly is an experience, setting it apart. Artfully designed at every turn, the property is inspiring to say the least, and is one of the trendiest locations to see and be seen at in the city today. Given how great the property could be and the location, we might give The Londoner another chance on our next pre-Christmas trip to London.

So, who's right? Wine Spectator, in its issue back on March 31, 2005 issue, held "The Great Cork Debate," in which two of its senior editors James Suckling and James Laube debated the pros and cons of natural cork and screw caps. Why did they even consider debating the merits of age-old cork? Because natural cork can contain a chemical called TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole), which in a few parts per trillion (yeah, trillion) can impart a musty, moldy odor and taste to wine that makes your $400 bottle of Latour taste like, well, Latrash. And "corked" wine is everywhere, from the cheap stuff to the really good stuff. There are estimates that somewhere between 1% and 10% of wines are tainted by a bad cork. If you've ever had a wine that tasted musty and like a damp basement, chances are that it was corked. I wish that I could tell you that I am a master sommelier, able to taste blind and pick out the 2001 Peby Faugères from the 2004 Lynsolence, but alas, that is not my skill. And yes, I did throw out two lesser known Bordeaux to sound snooty, because if you can't tell the difference then you should memorize it. My true wine tasting expertise is in detecting TCA, and if there is any of it in a bottle, it jumps right out at me and ruins the wine to the point where it is absolutely undrinkable. My superpower is in sniffing out the bad stuff.

How bad can TCA taint be? Cayuse Vineyards, an Oregon winery, pulled almost all of their 2015 vintage due to cork taint, and now the winery's insurance company is suing the cork manufacturer for damages. $3.5m in damages according to Wine Spectator. This begs the question—is the value of having some wooden bark keeping a bottle stopped up worth risking the wine itself?

For the much smaller group of cellar-worthy wines, the equation is more complex. As wines change, they go through a series of chemical changes that alters their character. With red wines, the tannin compounds first become more complex, linking themselves together to form ever longer chains, after which they begin to bind with the pigment of the wine and sediment out (which is why old wines have more sediment and less color than young wines, and why really, really old reds have little to no color). And this is just one of the myriad things that goes on in the bottle as the wine ages. For this long, complicated process, natural cork allows the bottle to "breathe", slowly exchanging air with the outside world to aid the ageing process. We know that natural cork has worked extremely well in this regard, which is why the 1959 Chateau Margaux is so good, and why people will kill for '47 Cheval Blanc. Who would want to tamper with this? Sure, screw caps may be better for this, but who's willing to bet their wines and a big hunk of their life to find out? What happens if you open up your 2000 Chateau Lafite Rothschild that was closed with a screw cap thirty years from now to find out that it hasn't really matured because the screw cap interfered with the ageing process by not allowing the wine to breathe?