Saturday, November 7, 2009
This month's theme was "9 Year Vertical of McKeon-Phillips BPR Cabernet Sauvignon" . Terry & Cora hosted this event using my residence. It was truly a unique experience and one of the best "gathering" in the 10 years we have been doing them.
All the food that was brought was great. People went out of their way to elevate their "offerings".
I did not keep notes on the wines but I do remember being very impressed with the 1999 and the 2005. These are not what you would call high end wines. Upon release they are in the $35 to $40 range. But they are very enjoyable food friendly wines and this tasting showed how well they cellar.
Some of the "flock" could take a lesson from this tasting and elevate their theme's a little. Not everyone can offer a large vertical like this but they could really use some help in the imagination part when they pick their themes.
No "gathering in December but next January we are on to Pinot Noir's, Oregon vs Sta Rita Hills.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Bukhara
Friday, October 30, 2009
Met Terry & Cora at Buhkara tonight for a quick dinner. I have had a hankering for Lamb Saag for awhile and tonight would take care of this. We all ordered lamb dishes, just different sauces. They brought an excellent Syrah and I brought a 2005 Sinor-LaValle, Talley-Rincon, Pinot Noir. The wine opened up very well towards the end of the meal. This wine can take a few more years of cellaring. I have bought wines for Sinor-LaValle for several years but had not had the opportunity to taste them until my September trip to Paso Robles. I got to meet Mike Sinor and he opened several bottles of his wine for me to try. Now I know to leave his wines alone for at least 4 years before opening.
Met Terry & Cora at Buhkara tonight for a quick dinner. I have had a hankering for Lamb Saag for awhile and tonight would take care of this. We all ordered lamb dishes, just different sauces. They brought an excellent Syrah and I brought a 2005 Sinor-LaValle, Talley-Rincon, Pinot Noir. The wine opened up very well towards the end of the meal. This wine can take a few more years of cellaring. I have bought wines for Sinor-LaValle for several years but had not had the opportunity to taste them until my September trip to Paso Robles. I got to meet Mike Sinor and he opened several bottles of his wine for me to try. Now I know to leave his wines alone for at least 4 years before opening.
Four Vines Wine Dinner
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Delius Restaurant hosted a Four Vines wine dinner this evening. in conjunction with Wine Getaways. I had not seen Peter and Bart in since the old restaurant. I was surprised that they remembered me. We also had Bill Grant, one of the owners at Four Vines at our table. Quite a character. Gave very good presentations of the wines being poured and a lot of the history of the old families of the Paso Robles area.
First Course: Crispy Pork Cheeks with baby watercress, black radish and pear sorbet. This paired with a 2008 Naked Chardonnay. No oak. Excellent pairing. I would not have thought to pair pork with chardonnay but this was a real surprise.
Second Course: Duo of Duck - Duck terrine with toasted brioche and caramelized onion compote. Also Roasted Duck Breast with confit of potato, micro arugula and spiced duck "jus". Paired with 2007 Biker Zinfandel and a 2007 J.Dusi, Dante Dusi Vineyards Zinfandel. Interesting to compare the two different winemakers approach to the grapes from the same vineyard. I would say the J. Dusi was a little bit more European in style. I think that was the consensus of most people at our table. But it was split on which wine they preferred. Again a very good food and wine pairing.
Third Course: Lamb Cassoulet - grilled lamb loin with white beans, dried blueberries and baby carrots. I will say that this particular dish was my favorite of the evening. It had such good earthy flavor. This was paired with 2006 Killer Canyon Syrah.
Fourth Course: Braised Short Rib, red wine cherry glaze, polenta puree and crispy shallots. The wine with this dish was a 2007 Heretic Petite Syrah. Again another very good pairing and good food. The short rib had excellent flavor and was very tender
Dessert: Frozen Raspberry Mousse, chocolate granache and caramel tuile. Served with a 2005 Zinfandel Port. The dessert was just the right "lightness" to end a heavy meal and take care of your sweet tooth.
Again another excellent dinner at Delius. These dinners are never the cheapest around but the quality of the food surpasses everyone else in the area. They use the best ingredients which shows up on your plate.
Delius Restaurant hosted a Four Vines wine dinner this evening. in conjunction with Wine Getaways. I had not seen Peter and Bart in since the old restaurant. I was surprised that they remembered me. We also had Bill Grant, one of the owners at Four Vines at our table. Quite a character. Gave very good presentations of the wines being poured and a lot of the history of the old families of the Paso Robles area.
First Course: Crispy Pork Cheeks with baby watercress, black radish and pear sorbet. This paired with a 2008 Naked Chardonnay. No oak. Excellent pairing. I would not have thought to pair pork with chardonnay but this was a real surprise.
Second Course: Duo of Duck - Duck terrine with toasted brioche and caramelized onion compote. Also Roasted Duck Breast with confit of potato, micro arugula and spiced duck "jus". Paired with 2007 Biker Zinfandel and a 2007 J.Dusi, Dante Dusi Vineyards Zinfandel. Interesting to compare the two different winemakers approach to the grapes from the same vineyard. I would say the J. Dusi was a little bit more European in style. I think that was the consensus of most people at our table. But it was split on which wine they preferred. Again a very good food and wine pairing.
Third Course: Lamb Cassoulet - grilled lamb loin with white beans, dried blueberries and baby carrots. I will say that this particular dish was my favorite of the evening. It had such good earthy flavor. This was paired with 2006 Killer Canyon Syrah.
Fourth Course: Braised Short Rib, red wine cherry glaze, polenta puree and crispy shallots. The wine with this dish was a 2007 Heretic Petite Syrah. Again another very good pairing and good food. The short rib had excellent flavor and was very tender
Dessert: Frozen Raspberry Mousse, chocolate granache and caramel tuile. Served with a 2005 Zinfandel Port. The dessert was just the right "lightness" to end a heavy meal and take care of your sweet tooth.
Again another excellent dinner at Delius. These dinners are never the cheapest around but the quality of the food surpasses everyone else in the area. They use the best ingredients which shows up on your plate.
October Gathering of The Wino's
Sunday, October 18, 2009
This month's gathering of the wino's theme was "Wines From Navarra & La Mancha, Spain"
The host's went all out and made Paella for the crowd. It was excellent and not much was left. Everyone seemed to enjoy this food dish. Remy really went out and cooked an excellent main dish. The appetizers and desserts were good also. People seemed to make a little bit more effort to bring food that had a Spanish influence to them.
There were 32 bottles of wine on the table. A few duplicates but I was surprised that the "wino's" on the most part went out of their way to get wines from these districts. I would say 95% of the wines were good. A few clunkers.
A good time was had by all, good food, good wine and good friends. It doesn't get better than that.
Looking forward to next months gathering. A 9 year vertical of McKeon-Phillips BVP Cabernet.
This month's gathering of the wino's theme was "Wines From Navarra & La Mancha, Spain"
The host's went all out and made Paella for the crowd. It was excellent and not much was left. Everyone seemed to enjoy this food dish. Remy really went out and cooked an excellent main dish. The appetizers and desserts were good also. People seemed to make a little bit more effort to bring food that had a Spanish influence to them.
There were 32 bottles of wine on the table. A few duplicates but I was surprised that the "wino's" on the most part went out of their way to get wines from these districts. I would say 95% of the wines were good. A few clunkers.
A good time was had by all, good food, good wine and good friends. It doesn't get better than that.
Looking forward to next months gathering. A 9 year vertical of McKeon-Phillips BVP Cabernet.
Delius' Passport Tasting
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Every year (2nd Sunday of October), Delius Restaurant in Signal Hill hosts their annual "Passport Tasting". For $50 you get access to a minimum of 36 wines and a light buffet along with passed appetizers. It was a sellout this year so next year they plan on closing the restaurant and using all the dining areas for the tasting including the Prix Fixe room. That will spread the wine and the people out and it will be easier to deal with the crowd. They do limit the number of people attending but with Delius keeping the bar open and the prix fixe dining area open for reservations it shoved a lot of people into a smaller area
I usually take advantage of the discount prices of the wines being offered but this year I have glut of wines and I am trying to pare down to a comfortable number.
The food was good and the wines were good. Most of the wine vendors bring decent wines to this event. At some events the wine rep's bring the low end wines but not at Delius. Which is to everyone's benefit.
Every year (2nd Sunday of October), Delius Restaurant in Signal Hill hosts their annual "Passport Tasting". For $50 you get access to a minimum of 36 wines and a light buffet along with passed appetizers. It was a sellout this year so next year they plan on closing the restaurant and using all the dining areas for the tasting including the Prix Fixe room. That will spread the wine and the people out and it will be easier to deal with the crowd. They do limit the number of people attending but with Delius keeping the bar open and the prix fixe dining area open for reservations it shoved a lot of people into a smaller area
I usually take advantage of the discount prices of the wines being offered but this year I have glut of wines and I am trying to pare down to a comfortable number.
The food was good and the wines were good. Most of the wine vendors bring decent wines to this event. At some events the wine rep's bring the low end wines but not at Delius. Which is to everyone's benefit.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Ante's Croatian Restaurant
Saturday, October 10, 2009
CJ's Wine & Dine group met tonight at Ante's in San Pedro. We have dined here many times before. The food seems to be a mix of many cultures, Germanic, Italian , Greek and the Baltic countries.
We started out the the "Antipasto" platter - salami, ham, cheese, pickled carrots, radishes, celery etc. I only eat the meats and cheese. I find everything else does not come close to pairing with wine so why screw up my palate for something I can do without.
Next we were served "Sauteed Shrimp and Sauteed Calamari Steak". The garlic butter sauce is to die for. Best with hunks of bread soaked in it. Both of these dishes were excellent. There were a couple of white wines that paired perfectly with these dishes.
We were then served a "Dalmatian Salad". Just lettuce with a few other things in it. I passed on the salad. It had a vinaigrette dressing and unless you have a very low acidic wine you cannot drink a wine with this and have a "wine & food" experience.
The entrees served were "Cevapcici" - seasoned mince meat shaped into kebab rolls and served with raw onion. This is CJ's favorite dish. I find that is a tab too dry for me. I will eat one or maybe half but I am a "just this side of dead" meat person and meat cooked dry simply does not appeal to me. And the raw onions are another wine turnoff.
"Sarma" was served - seasoned ground beef and rice rolled in cabbage leaves. It had a very light tomato sauce on it and this is one of my favorite dishes. I had "cabbage rolls" a lot growing up and I suppose it might be said that it is "comfort food" for me. I just missed the potatoes that we always had with cabbage rolls.
Bowls of "Kisell Kupus" were put on the table. Sauerkraut, pork, sausage and vegetables. I have always liked this dish because they cook the sauerkraut dry. But I had a hard time finding "vegetables" in this dish and very little sausage.
Lastly bowls of "Mostacciolli" were served. One with a meat sauce and one with garlic, olive oil and bay shrimp. There is nothing great about these dishes, but nothing negative also. To me they were "fillers".
All the "entrees" seemed to pair well with a variety of the red wines. There were at least 24 wines on the table and by reason of "sanity" I need not try them all. After all I had to navigate the "Vincent Thomas" bridge, downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shore, Naples, Seal Beach and Sunset Beach to get home. All popular places for "Johnny Law" to hang out.
A good group this evening but one of the earliest Wine & Dine dinners endings. Most of us were out the door around 9:00 pm. Some of the die hards were going to a another local "watering hole" to prolong the evening.
Next month The Wine & Dine group meets at my favorite Chinese place - Doung Son.
CJ's Wine & Dine group met tonight at Ante's in San Pedro. We have dined here many times before. The food seems to be a mix of many cultures, Germanic, Italian , Greek and the Baltic countries.
We started out the the "Antipasto" platter - salami, ham, cheese, pickled carrots, radishes, celery etc. I only eat the meats and cheese. I find everything else does not come close to pairing with wine so why screw up my palate for something I can do without.
Next we were served "Sauteed Shrimp and Sauteed Calamari Steak". The garlic butter sauce is to die for. Best with hunks of bread soaked in it. Both of these dishes were excellent. There were a couple of white wines that paired perfectly with these dishes.
We were then served a "Dalmatian Salad". Just lettuce with a few other things in it. I passed on the salad. It had a vinaigrette dressing and unless you have a very low acidic wine you cannot drink a wine with this and have a "wine & food" experience.
The entrees served were "Cevapcici" - seasoned mince meat shaped into kebab rolls and served with raw onion. This is CJ's favorite dish. I find that is a tab too dry for me. I will eat one or maybe half but I am a "just this side of dead" meat person and meat cooked dry simply does not appeal to me. And the raw onions are another wine turnoff.
"Sarma" was served - seasoned ground beef and rice rolled in cabbage leaves. It had a very light tomato sauce on it and this is one of my favorite dishes. I had "cabbage rolls" a lot growing up and I suppose it might be said that it is "comfort food" for me. I just missed the potatoes that we always had with cabbage rolls.
Bowls of "Kisell Kupus" were put on the table. Sauerkraut, pork, sausage and vegetables. I have always liked this dish because they cook the sauerkraut dry. But I had a hard time finding "vegetables" in this dish and very little sausage.
Lastly bowls of "Mostacciolli" were served. One with a meat sauce and one with garlic, olive oil and bay shrimp. There is nothing great about these dishes, but nothing negative also. To me they were "fillers".
All the "entrees" seemed to pair well with a variety of the red wines. There were at least 24 wines on the table and by reason of "sanity" I need not try them all. After all I had to navigate the "Vincent Thomas" bridge, downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shore, Naples, Seal Beach and Sunset Beach to get home. All popular places for "Johnny Law" to hang out.
A good group this evening but one of the earliest Wine & Dine dinners endings. Most of us were out the door around 9:00 pm. Some of the die hards were going to a another local "watering hole" to prolong the evening.
Next month The Wine & Dine group meets at my favorite Chinese place - Doung Son.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Chinese Again
Saturday, October 3, 2009
We made another trip to Doung Son in "Little Saigon" in Westminister. Since I did not take any notes with this dinner I am going by my memory. The food I remember the wine I am very sketchy on.
"Garlic Prawns" - very large prawns split in half an cooked with a heavy duty garlic sauce. As always, very good.
Duck Two Ways - Roast duck with "pillows" for peking duck and then mixed with rice noddles and other mysterious ingredients and wrapped in lettuce leaves.
Fred Tofu with a vegetable sauce.
Chow Mein - a new dish for me. Nancy requested a dish with "crisp noodles". It was interesting, had a sauce with mushrooms on it. I would eat it if it was ordered again but I would not specifically ask for it.
Sauteed baby pea shoots. We had this at the last dinner and this dish I did ask for. Very light delicate taste.
Beef with Chinese broccoli.
Desserts were a "seaweed" tapioca pudding, fresh cantaloupe, fresh Jack fruit and because it was the "Harvest Moon" we were served a special cake that they make only once a year for this event. It was very good.
I did bring a 2003 Sea Smoke Botella which was showing very well. There was a Silverado Cab, a Tempranillo, 2 Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc, a 2007 Loring Rancho La Vina Pinot and a Ken Brown Pinot. This is all from memory so I don't remember the years or some of the labels. All the wines were good and everyone had a good time which is a "given" when we dine at Duong Son. Hopefully we will get another dinner in before the end of the year.
We made another trip to Doung Son in "Little Saigon" in Westminister. Since I did not take any notes with this dinner I am going by my memory. The food I remember the wine I am very sketchy on.
"Garlic Prawns" - very large prawns split in half an cooked with a heavy duty garlic sauce. As always, very good.
Duck Two Ways - Roast duck with "pillows" for peking duck and then mixed with rice noddles and other mysterious ingredients and wrapped in lettuce leaves.
Fred Tofu with a vegetable sauce.
Chow Mein - a new dish for me. Nancy requested a dish with "crisp noodles". It was interesting, had a sauce with mushrooms on it. I would eat it if it was ordered again but I would not specifically ask for it.
Sauteed baby pea shoots. We had this at the last dinner and this dish I did ask for. Very light delicate taste.
Beef with Chinese broccoli.
Desserts were a "seaweed" tapioca pudding, fresh cantaloupe, fresh Jack fruit and because it was the "Harvest Moon" we were served a special cake that they make only once a year for this event. It was very good.
I did bring a 2003 Sea Smoke Botella which was showing very well. There was a Silverado Cab, a Tempranillo, 2 Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc, a 2007 Loring Rancho La Vina Pinot and a Ken Brown Pinot. This is all from memory so I don't remember the years or some of the labels. All the wines were good and everyone had a good time which is a "given" when we dine at Duong Son. Hopefully we will get another dinner in before the end of the year.
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