Cafes & Wineries

Taking my own advise - bought a 13th bottle from Wades Wines to - drink on the veranda - my host’s outdoor living room -

Miura - Pinot Noir-  Pisoni Vineyard - Santa Lucia Highlands - 2004 - 14.5 % -

94 points Robert Parker: "A thrilling …fabulously complex perfume of flowers,
forest floor, sweet red and black fruits, and a hint of wood…terrific fruit on the attack, mid-palate, and finish, full body, and
nicely integrated acidity, tannin, and alcohol…(08/06)

Not the overwhelming fruit forward WOW that I was expecting (don’t believe the header card) - on the
first pour - crisp instead of lush - too much acid - after a half glass (always pour half glasses)
- tried again - letting it sit for about 20 minutes - much better - but
NOT the Pisoni experience that I had paid 80 bucks for - 

Yes - finished the bottle before supper - fellow house guests taking a few sips -

Yes - dinner was more wonderful - the Miura Pinot - had been a great prep - but the wine was 89 or 90 on my
charts - not he 94 that Parker and the merchant raved about - more like
a $50&nbsp -

International for the diverse selection of wines brought to the tasting - Spain - France - CA - Hungary - Germany - Zimbabwe - yes - Zimbabwe

Outdoor in my back yard - the second time we have moved the bi weekly tasting away from the dining room table - perfect weather - a definite shift in consciousness - try it -

The lineup -

Chateau Talbot - Saint Julien - 1996 - on target

Silver Oak - Cabernet Sauvignon - Oakville - Napa - 1998 - blue chip Cab - defining what Cab should always be -

Chateau Lynch Baqes - Pauillac - 1989 - always greatness - Andy’s birthday present to himself and to us - thank you Andy -

Hacienda Monasterio - Ribera Del Duero - Spain - 2003 - no matter how good - could have sworn it was an American Cab - or an Italian Tuscan - one day we will get Spain right - always the last choice -&nbsp

Mukayu - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mashonaland East Province - Ruzawi River Valley - Zimbabwe - 2001 - price tag on the bottle reads $7000.00 - didn’t even know they made wine for export - and this good - very nice - now have to get the REAL price -

Tokaji - Oremus - Aszu Eszencia - Hungary - 1983 - awesome

Avelsbacher Hannerstein - Riesling - Auslese - Mosel/Saar/Ruwer - 1989

Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg - Kabinett - 1998 - coming into the group - German wines were alien - but by the magic of tasting - and tasting - and tasting - somehow I nailed the age of what we were drinking - miracle happen -

Fellinger Sonnenuhr - Rielsing - Auslese - Mosel/Saar/Ruwer - 1990

Catch OMG for reflections -

 

The square outdoor table beneath the white umbrella upon which I has just hosted a tasting of 10 bottles with seven participants was a forest of glasses and bottles rising from its surface - did we really drink that much - did we really use that much glassware - lets do the math -

7 Bordeaux glasses
7 Chardonnay glasses
7 Water glasses
5 empty Pelligrino bottles
10 empty wine bottles
5 empty decanter/carafes

40 plus vertical objects rising from the surface - backlit by the
garden lights and scattered candles - a sight to behold - a fitting
tribute to the evening’s just concluded event -

Can’t be - Moscato d’Asti - “Bricco del Sole”- Morando - 2005 - .375ml -$25 ??? - in a restaurant ???

Yes - $25 !!! - in a restaurant !!!

On the wine list at Barbuto - perfect cap for a wonderful meal - light - sweet - flavorful - understated sparkle - served in a  tall - heavy - over-sized - shot glass - brings to mind - "effervescence" - via Piedmont - Italy - universal smiles at the table - and - for the price of a song - it sings - 

Lobster Night at the friend′s Club -

Raw bar - shrimp - crab - oysters - seafood gumbo - massive buffet - fried chicken - roast beef - potatoes - mac & cheese - green beans au gratin - salad - tomatoes - hearts of palm - i.e.  you get the idea - lobsters - steamed - split in half - constantly rolling out of the kitchen -

What to drink - a few had hard liquor - for the rest of us -

Highfield Estates - Sauvignon Blanc - Marborough - NZ - 2005 -

Large - cutting - touch of grass - lots of fruit - the producer says lime - I’d leave it as citrus - enough acid to counter the richness on the plate (plates) - without turning it into &quotan acquired taste&quot wine - everyone who drank it - smiled - i.e. - perfect white for the evening -

Lobster Night at the friend’s Club -

Raw bar - shrimp - crab - oysters - seafood gumbo - massive buffet - fried chicken - roast beef - potatoes - mac & cheese - green beans au gratin - salad - tomatoes - hearts of palm - i.e.  you get the idea - lobsters - steamed - split in half - constantly rolling out of the kitchen -

What to drink - a few had hard liquor - for the rest of us -

Highfield Estates - Sauvignon Blanc - Marborough - NZ - 2005 -

Large - cutting - touch of grass - lots of fruit - the producer says lime - I’d leave it as citrus - enough acid to counter the richness on the plate (plates) - without turning it into "an acquired taste" wine - everyone who drank it - smiled - i.e. - perfect white for the evening -

Pre-July 4th BBQ - i.e. - cook outdoors - eat indoors - full blown table set up - no beer - no hearty burgundy - no super chilled two-buck-chuck -

Cos d′ Estournel - 1993 - & - Feiler-Artinger Pinot Cuvee Ruster Ausbruch - 1998

Our hostess served Scallops wrapped in Bacon to nibble on - then
Steak - Salad  - Corn on the Cob - all at a formal table - thank you
Steph -

Our host served  - Cos d’ Estournel - 1993 - wonderful St. Estephe -
60/40 Cab/Merlot - earthy as it should be - very subtle nose - decanted
- opened slightly in the glass - smooth edges - mature - don’t think I
would let this one sit too much longer - very nice against the steak -
thank you Gerry -

Desert was another plus - cheese cake - tart plum tart -

My contribution - Feiler-Artinger Pinot Cuveee Ruster Ausbruch -
1998 - pinot blanc/ newburger/ pinot grigio/ chardonnay - noble rot
(botrytis) - rich amber in color - wonderful clean flavors - closed my
eyes with each sip - regretting only that I did not have another bottle
-

Someone suggested coffee - forgetaboutit -