Celebrating in Style

Capo, Santa Monica
Tasted Tuesday, January 19, 2016 by JonnyG with 445 views

Introduction

We went big in honor of the birthday boy and his girlfriend, and were not disappointed. The restaurant provided a literally ideal setting, with the right mix of subdued elegance and high energy as the evening progressed. Well done, Capo!

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non The Petition 94 Points

    USA, California

    Quick decant, then nursed over the course of several hours, with little discernible evolution. Remarkably fresh and youthful, with a myriad of flavors and no notable heat. Peach, pear, lychee, beeswax, almonds, cut flowers, oil, cinnamon, lanolin and lemons, with a lovely, silky texture, always in balance. More restrained than opulent, with many years seemingly left.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2012 Realm Cellars The Bard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    An alluring nose of cassis, smoke, lavender and espresso. Sweet tannins slowly dissolved over a 2+ hour decant. Very approachable already. This is a bold and opulent wine, rich and perfumed, with additional notes of licorice, blue and red fruit and mocha. For my palate, the sweetness that rises to prominence on the finish overwhelms this otherwise balanced wine and knocks my score down 2-3 points.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1990 Castello di Ama L'Apparita Toscana IGT 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Something of a supernova. The first sip was the best. Lush, powerful and astonishingly generous when opened, displaying a seamless array of flavors: dark cherries, licorice, mild herbs, sage and some mint. The sommelier, who had had a bottle of this wine a week ago, suggested it not be decanted, and I learned why, as this star of a wine burned bright then faded. The fruit steadily dissipated, leaving a lovely but somewhat austere shadow version of what had been. No complaints: better to burn out than to fade away (note to draft: this is my subtle homage to Neil Young, who believe it or not was dining at the adjacent table on this memorable night!).

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Closing

There's something about Capo that makes me forgive the borderline abusive cost and occasional pretension time and again, but this meal was flawless in every respect.

×
×