BOB

Various Cheeses & Strawberries

• NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  White fruits and a touch of yeast on the nose. Bit of lemony citrus.
  Rather full bodied sparkler. Bit of breadiness. Nice acidity. Decent finish.
  Works as an opener that you don't have to think about.

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

Warm Crab with Asparagus and Grapefruit topped with Grapefruit Butter and Hazelnuts.

Both wines complemented the food wonderfully. Interestingly enough, they each complemented different aspects of the dish, but both still went great with the whole.

• 2006 Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Nose of citrus and fresh mown hay. Papaya notes lingering on the edges. Get a touch of wood on the nose also.
  A rich mouthfeel, but with a really nice acidity to give it balance. Lime citrus flavors and spicy white pepper. Long finish.

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

• 2006 Weingut Hirsch Grüner Veltliner Zöbinger Heiligenstein

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal

  A great nose that smells like a fresh spring rain. Lime and cream. And a touch of nuttiness.
  Creamy lime flavors on the palate with solid acidity. Some nutty and yeasty characteristics. Long, long finish that has a touch of white pepper. Great wine.

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

Wild Alaskan Halibut with Morrocan Spice and Pomegranate Molasses served with Saffron Vegetable Couscous

Both wines paired very well with the dish. The pomegranate molasses seemed to bring out the pomegranate flavors in the Bouchard Santenay.

• 2006 Bouchard Père et Fils Santenay

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay

  Nose is baked cherries and minerally earth. Has a touch of smoke. Almost a syrup quality to the red fruit. Get a little pomegranate note.
  High acid and stemmy tannins on the palate. The cherry fruit has a bitter aspect to it.
  Just feels too green and young yet. The food softened the wine a bit.

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

• 2008 Pine Ridge Vineyards Pinot Noir Forefront

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Baked cherries and red plums on the nose. Has a bit of mineral and earth poking around the edge. Interestingly enough, smelling this next to the Bouchard Santenay, the noses are very similar. This doesn't quite have the earthiness of the Old World, but a richer fruit of the New World. But damn close.
  Well balanced. Red plums and sour cherry. A nice mineral component. Smooth fruit and a long finish.

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

Braised Lamb Shoulder
Fresh Morels, Chanterelles and Black Trumpets with Root Vegetables in a Roasted Garlic Sauce

Both Rhone wines paired well with the dish.
The Simi Zin was a filler while waiting for dessert.

• 2005 Château Pesquié Ventoux Quintessence

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux

  Rich nose of baked berries and savory herbs. A nice level of earth and barnyard.
  Big and rich on the palate, but with firm tannins. Prunish fruits. Earthy. Long, spicy finish.

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

• 2007 Château Mont-Redon Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  An earthy nose of baked blackberries. Has an herbal component and a bit of stoniness.
  Young tannins yet, and very peppery on the palate. Nice mix of red and black fruits, and good acid.

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

• 2006 Simi Zinfandel Sonoma Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Big nose with black pepper and black fruits.
  Full bodied zin, with sweet, ripe black fruits. A touch of spiciness.
  Not overdone. Just simple and easy.

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

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream.

• NV Williams & Humbert Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Sweet Old Oloroso Drysack 15 Year

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Hazelnuts and molasses on the nose with a bit of baked raisins.
  Cherry syrup with a healthy dose of nuttiness. Sweet, but nicely balanced. Long, long finish of hazelnuts.
  Not too complex, but very pleasant way to end a meal.

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

• NV Warre Porto Warrior

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  A very sweet nose of cherries and red fruits.
  Kind of thin on the body. The cherry and cranberry fruit flavors are very concentrated, and almost tangy.
  Did not really dig this one.

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