Wine Dinner at Arte Cafe

Saturday, September 26, 2020 This is the first wine dinner that Arte Cafe has had since January. Covid restrictions were lifted for restraurant has a large fenced patio area with a fireplace and an area for a band which they did have tonight. Tables were set up with 6 ft spacing. I had no qualms about being here. We started off with a glass (several) of Scharffenberger Cellars Brut Excellence. Then onto the first course which was a Smoked Salmon Toast. Two very large pieces. I took one home because of the size. Flavor was wonderful. Light smoke and not fishy at all. Next came a Red Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and spicy Cajun Shrimp. Shrimp were cooked perfectly. Beets were very tender and seet. The wine was a Louis Latour Chardonnay, Grand Ardche. I did not like this wine. It did pair well with the beets and goat cheese but it just was not my style of Chardonnay. Which for being French was odd to me. Tasted more like a California wine. Third course is a Petit Filet Mignon with Lobster Medallion, scalloped potatoes and braised Swiss Chard. Beef was cooked perfectly. Rare to Medium which is my style, good flavor. Lobster was very succulent and tender. Only issue is I felt the potatoes needed a bit more salt. Wine poured was a Justin Isoceles. Decent but not a blockbuster. Dessert was a very delicate and light Chocolate Raspberry Truffle. Excellent dessert. Loads of delicate flavor and very light on the palate. The wine was The Calling Monterey Pinot Noir. OK but a little lackluster. It was so nice to be able to get out and socialize and feel normal again. Food was good, wines were OK but for $59 it was a a bargain. Have signed up for the Prisoner Wine dinner in October and the Grgich Wine dinner in November.

Buon Gusto Restaurant

Saturday, September 12, 2020 Margie's monthly dinner was held tonight at Buon Gusto in Huntington Beach. www.buongustohb.com. , 4 blocks from my house which made it very convenient. Since we are still in the Covid 19 crisis the restaurant had a very large 3 sided tent outside. I was seated at the back next to the flapping side of the tent. Nothing to stop the flapping in the wind. A few of use used our wine bags to try to stabilze it somewhat. It did help slightly but that side kept moving all evening. We had two large tables. 22 people and 29 wines. The tables were very crowded with all the glasses and bottles on them. Then they bring out plates of rolls which take more space. In the era of Covid these were my observations of the restaurant and the guests. Some servers had masks, some had gloves. Some had nothing. The menus were the regular plastic covered books. Did anyone sanitize them before setting them at each place ? I did not touch mine. I knew ahead what I was going to order. The plates of rolls came out. I did not take one but I also did not notice any tongs for handling. Packets of butter on the plate. People bare handed took rolls, butter. Who is to say their hands were germ free. Apparently some people had reservations about others handling their bottles of wine. My take, over parinoid. You go to a dinner with 22 people, sit arm to arm, breathe all over the table and air space, don't wear gloves yourself, help yourself to the community plate of rolls with bare hands, touch the menu that may not have been sanitized, are served by people without face masks and gloves and are not seated a social distance apart and you are friggin worried about someone touching your bottle of wine ??? I ordered the Oso Bucco which I have had the past. Very disappointed this time. Sauce was very watery, no where near a gravy consistency and no flavor. It was desperate for salt. A couple of people remarked about the downgrade of quality. The only saving grace is the portions are huge and you can take a lot of leftovers home. Then doctor the food up yourself so it has some flavor. Several people came around with their wines. I have no idea what was in each of my glasses so I am not making a comment about what I liked or didn't besides a oaky chardonnay. There were 3 bottles of the same Prosecco brought. A testment to the quality. NV Moretti, Valdobbiadne, Prosecco (3 bottles) 2014 Kirkland, Brunello di Montalacino (actually a higher rated wine, about $35) 2014 Ruffino, Reserva Ducale, Ora, Chianti Classico NV Mumm Brut ???? Eberle. Sangiovese 2019 "J" Pinot Gris 2012 Freemark Abbey, Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Chateau Margene, Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese ???? Umbria Rosso 2016 Decuganano del Barbi 2017 Saddleback, Vermentino 2016 Montoliva Mark's Magia 2009 Ben Marco, Malbec 2017 Bertani, Valpolicella, Ripasso NV Bosco Di Gica, Brut ???? Cuvee Oerlander, white blend ???? Castello Di Gabbiano, Chinati Classico 2013 Bran Caia, Toscano 2019 Albino Armani, Pinot Grigio 2012 Coquelicot, Syrah 2015 Verrazzano, Chianti 2016 Cesar Toxqui, Sangiovese 2016 Brutocao, Quadrigo 2016b R. Guigal, Crozes. Hermitage 2018 Le Volte Dell, Toscano, Ornellaia 2017 Chateau Montelena. Chardonnay (oaky) NV Bollinger, Rose Brut

Poolside Lunch

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Beautiful day for poolside dining.  3 people, 3 tables and 3 wines, 3 cheese plates. Sounds like the Three Musketeer's  have arrived.  Also on menu was Noodles with Vegetables, Kung Pao Beef, and Grilled chicken. In this environment with the Covid 19 hanging over it is nice to socialize even with small groups and social distancing. We all need conversations with others.

NV   Palmer & Co, Brut Reserve, Champagne

2008 Krupp Brothers, Stagecoach Vineyard, Veraison, Cabernet Sauvignon - wine had a very funky nose. It had been decanted for a couple of hours before. It finally blew off a few hours later and became a very quaffable beverage.

2013 Sinor-LaValle, Bassi Vinyards. White Label, Pinot Noir

Multiple Decade Tasting at Chez Lomita

Saturday, August 29, 2020

11 people, 11 wines with 6 feet social distancing between the tables. Poolside. Wines from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's. It was a beautiful evening but unfortunately the wind did not die down early and made for a very breezy evening.  The food suffered from this. Everyone brought a food dish to share. Only one person who had a hot dish put it into one of the crockpots supplied and that was a Beef Bourgeon which very good.   The lamb chops looked great but were over cooked, dry and cold. The duck was lukewarm.  At least my cheese plate weathered the elements in fine fashion.

There was supposed to be 22 wines but the host decided that 11 people and 11 wines would be best. I am glad he made that decision. The wines listed are in the order we tasted them. My scoring in parentheses up to 20 points)

2011 Beaune les Montrevenots Burgundy, Premiere Grand Cru, Pinot Noir (11)

1999 Domiane de Courcel  Pommand Grans Clos des Epenots. Premiere Grand Cru, Pinot Noir (13)

1998 Earl Jean-Paul Versino Cht-du-Pape, GSM (12)

1999 M. Chapoutier Les Varonniers Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone (15)

2010 Vieux Telegraphe Cht-du-Pape  (my favorite of the evening) (16)

2010 Chateau Grand Mayne Grand Cru, Saint-Emilion (second favorite of the evening) (16)

1975 Canon, St. Emilion  (12)

2003 Chateau Leoville Barton Cru Clos Saint Julian (15)

1982 Ducru Beaucaillou, St. Julien (13)

1996 Chateau Lafon-Rochet Grand Cru (13)

1982 Priure Lichine, Bordeaux (13)

1999 Chateau Malescot St. Esupery, Grand Cru, Margaux (14)

1976 Chateau Palmer,  Margaux (15)

2009 Chateau Palmer. Margaux (15)

1993 D' Yquem, Bordeaux Sauternes (18)

1963 Dow's Vintage Port (14)