Sunday, November 24, 2013

Novembers Wine Activity and Dinner at J Trani's

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Stopped at Off The Vine Wine store in San Pedro before heading for dinner. Tasted 6 wines and had a small appetizer plate to share. Wines were OK but it is just their regular wine tasting. Nothing special.

Headed for J Trani's a few blocks away. Ten of us tonight for dinner. I ordered the Wagu steak. I did not really notice that my dinner was taking longer than most because all the dinners came out of the kitchen sporadically. But since it took longer they ending up comping me my meal. That was a class act. The steak was perfect. A wide variety of dinners were ordered, From pasta to fish to duck. Everyone had good things to say about their meals. Portions were very large. Even the dinner salad was a meal in itself.

Interesting thing about tonight's wines. Someone brought a 2008 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir.  When it was opened and set on the table a few people said "Oh Sea Smoke" like they were in awe. I had brought a 2008 Huber Pinot Noir. Tasted these two Pinots, both from the Sta. Rita Hills and I would take the Huber any day over the Sea Smoke. Much better wine but it does not have the "cult" following that Sea Smoke has. Several people at the table agreed with me. And Huber is half the price.

2008 Huber Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2009 Ribbon Ridge, Framenta Cellar, Oregon, Pinot Noir
2010 L'Adventure Optimus (this should have been great - a little disappointed but I don't think it should have been opened for at least 4 to 5 years)
2011 Clos Pepe Sta. Rita Hills, Homage to Chablis, Chardonnay
Espimosa Ca Sparkling wine, Danza Del Sol Winery, Lodi
2005 La Velona Branello di Montalcino, Italy
2008 Sea Smoke, Southing, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Nir
Veuve Cliquot Champagne, Brut
2011 BV Rutherford
2008 Fontezoppa "Marine" Rache, Sangiovese, Italy
2009 Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Sangiovese

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