My Birthday

Palate Food + Wine
Tasted Saturday, April 11, 2009 by ruddy with 675 views

Introduction

Some friends agreed to join us for dinner for my 45th birthday. I worked out a menu with the restaurant to pair with some wines I wanted to open. Probably a few too many bottles, but no one seemed to complain. Palate's staff really stepped up--a tremendous dinner.

Flight 1 - Porkfolio and mason jars. (2 Notes)

The champagne was great, but the Huet was my WOTF.

Flight 2 - Salad with arugula, citrus, date, almond (2 Notes)

The Scholium was the hands down favorite, but the Vio. went really well with the salad.

Flight 3 - Gnocchi with spigaretto (3 Notes)

The Southing was probably my WOTN, if only because it far exceeded my expectations for both balance and complexity--maybe the best California PN I've ever had. The Volnay was a good pairing for the food, but totally outclassed. The Chianti had been a gift from a friend, and as it's my birthyear, thought it would be fun to check it out.

  • 2001 Maison Leroy Volnay 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay

    Popped and poured. Initially, the nose is dominated by barnyard and peat moss, with some baking spice. A bit shut down after ten minutes, the fruit started to come out after about 30 minutes in the glass, but I couldn't follow the wine as long as I wanted to, as it was all gone.

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  • 2003 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing 96 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    The best Southing I've ever had. Proof to me that I need to have more patience with later vintages. Gorgeous cherry and spice nose, but with a poise that this wine never showed in its younger days. Velvety mouthfeel, lingering finish, fully mature, I think, but I wish I had more. Drink or hold.

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  • 1964 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    Lots of caramel and honeyed notes, sure signs of oxidation, but underneath that was a good amount of briar, smoke and cedar. Great wine? No, but still something to be appreciated.

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Flight 4 - Hanger Steak (2 Notes)

Oh, Saxum, I love you so. The Rocket Block was dynamite, just behind the Sea Smoke for my favorite.

  • 2005 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Willow Creek District

    Bright cherry, strawberry, asphalt, campfire nose and palate. So much good stuff going on, this wine really shines in mixed company, but some time I need to just hole up with it for an evening and really get to know it better.

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  • 2005 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    From magnum. Opened 14 hours early, double decanted. Cut to dinner time, still very tight and tannic on pouring, but over the next hour this really opened up. Black fruits dominate, with that signature Saxum floral/herbal nose and beautiful balance. No sign of the alcohol, this wine is beautiful now, and should improve for several years.

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Flight 5 - Cheese assortment (2 Notes)

I had been waiting to open this Dehlinger since reading a rave review on eBob. It was truly a fine bottle of syrah, but got a bit lost in the shuffle so late in the evening. The S-F spaetlese was very nice, but needs lot of time.

Flight 6 - Birthday cake then port (1 Note)

Not a great port, but we were all feeling pretty fat and sassy by now, so who cares?

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