Paul Hobbs Wines at Michaels on Nalpes

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Four of us tonight at Michaels. www.michaelsonnaples.com.  Menu looked really good and Paul Hobbs wines are good but a bit pricey. 

Started out with a Cold poached shrimp  "salad", celery, pickled mustard seeds and greens. Not a fan of these greens but the vinaigrette was good and the shrimp was cooked as it should be.  Wine served is a 2016 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley. $40. Small amount of oak on the nose much much more in the wine. Gave most of this wine to someone else at the table.

Second course is a Roasted California Wild King Salmon with sunchoke puree and trumpet mushrooms. Salmon was excellent. Cooked perfectly. Paired with a 2017 Chardonnay, Richard Dinner Vineyard. $68.  Not as much oak on this wine so I did finish it myself. It was a good chardonnay and paired very well with the salmon. I would never buy for myself but if you like a bit of oak it was a good wine for you.

Next was Garganelli, hand rolled pasta, Strauss Farm Veal, soffritto.  Soffritto was good but not enough for the amount of pasta. Pasta was then on the dry side and had no flavor. Not impressed. Wine is a 2016 Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir. $42. Nice pinot, balanced.A bit big on the fruit but not overly. Since it is a coastal wine a bit more restrained.

Fourth course is a Roasted Squab Breast, cherry mostarda, and Venere (black) rice. Squab was excellent. Cooked perfectly. Mostrada had a nice tang to it. A 2017 Hyde Vineyards, Carneros, Pinot Noir. $75. Much bigger wine than the last. Heavy black fruits. Tannins were more pronounced in this pinot. Not quite a fruit bomb but close to it. 

Main dish is a Grilled Aspen Ridge ribeye cap, potato and black truffle gratin with charred leeks. Great piece of meat. Cooked exactly as I like it. Red.  Paired with a 2015 Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are cab fan this would be the wine for you.

Dessert is a Pineapple Fritter and a Almond Cake. Fritter was very good. Almond cake is always on the dry side. Ok but I would have rather had 2 fritters. 

We also had the "opportunity" to taste the 2015 Beckstoffer, Dr, Crane Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon. $ 201. Did not partake in the "opportunity". 1 oz, $15, 3 oz $34 and  6 oz. $90.

Good dinner. A few hiccups for me. But then I always seem to find the "hiccups".