Oz Farm Slow Dinner--Late Summer 2006

This was a fabulous dinner with Oz Farm produce, and local wines. We ate in the 100-year old barn, 25 people at a long table. What a great night

Appetizers

We had this wine with crostini served with three toppings: a fabulous fava-bean puree; goat cheese from Elk Creamery with chive blossoms; Oz tomatoes with balsamic vinegar. The wine was especially nice with the fava-bean crostini.

• 2004 Lazy Creek Vineyards Gewürztraminer - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  Steely and bone-dry gewurz, with less of a sweet impression than most local gewurz wines. Medium straw color. Broad citrus aromas, and palate. (89 pts.)

Salad Course

A fresh field-greens salad with goat cheese and basil olive oil. The wine was good with this dish, but I would have preferred an SB to pair with the goat cheese.

• 2003 Lazy Creek Vineyards Chardonnay Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  Nice chardonnay, with the oak kept in check with fresh, tart apple and citrus flavors and aromas. Went well with a salad of fresh field greens and goat cheese with basil oil. (87 pts.)

Main Course #1

We had a slow-braised Dark Cornish chicken with chevre-potato salad and wax and green beans with chiogga beet puree. There was a lot going on here, but the Pinot was a nice companion to the wine

• N.V. Lazy Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir Red Table Wine - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  A nice nv pinot, with loads of red fruit and some barnyard funkiness. It was less silky than the very best pinots, but an excellent drinking wine to go with a wide variety of foods. (87 pts.)

Main Course #2

Well into our chicken, they began to pour the Porter-Bass and it was the best wine of the evening--very special and not overwhelming.

• 2002 Porter-Bass Zinfandel Porter-Bass Vineyards - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  A special wine. Deep ruby with aromas of red and black briar fruits. Pepper was balanced out with a silky texture in the mouth. Excellent, with all the varietal characteristics of the best zinfandels. Lots of finesse. (93 pts.)

Of all the wines, the Porter-Bass was a special treat, with the Lazy Creek Gewurztraminer a close second.