Pourtal

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Birmingham brings the palate and owner Stephen Abronson brings the technology to this sleek little space centered around an Enomatic wine display and serving system. You prepay for a wine card, and when you're ready to taste something, you slip the card in the reader embedded into each display case and pick your poison. The cost of a pour is listed above each bottle.

It's a nifty way to sample expensive wines you might not otherwise have gumption to buy. $56 is a lot for a bottle you've never tried, but $4.50 for 1-ounce pour is more affordable. The pours range from $1.50 to $9, with most pours hovering in the $3 to $5 range. Be forewarned: The costs quickly add up, and it's easy to get carried away.