Spanish Wines at Utopia

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

It's been a few months since I have been to Utopia for a wine dinner. The menu sounded interesting so 4 of us met in downtown Long Beach for tonight's dinner.

First course as "Mariscos Ceviche" fresh seafood with cilantro, garlic and tomatoes in a lemon olive oil dressing. This ceviche had a totally different taste to it that other ceviches I have had. It was really good and paired very well with the 2005 Vino Rosado Bargordi Granacha. Big rose and made a perfect pairing with the dish.

Next up was "Gambas al Ajillo", spicy shrimp in a brandy tomato garlic sauce served with dill-basmati rice. This dish was paired with a 2006 Vino Senorio Landibar Copage Tempranillo. Best wine of the evening. The dish was good and the pairing was also.

The "Almejas a la Murciana", littleneck clams in a sweet Spanish paprika olive garlic sauce served over a bed a linguine was presented next. The wine was a 2005 Vino Usoa De Bagordi Select Vintage blend ( Tempranillo/Merlot/Graciano/Granache). If any dush and wine was the weak spot it would be this one. It was good but didn't hold mt interest as the other 2 previous dishes.

Dessert was Homemade Bread Pudding with a 2005/2006 Vino Laudare Domium White Wine. It went well together as the wine was too sweet.

We missed the flamenco guitarist - apparently he quit a few days earlier so we had a female singing and playing the piano. Personally I would have liked it better with out the entertainment. It was too loud and conversation was difficult.