Dinner with the Gilchoa's

Had an epic dinner and wine drinking (for me at least) with two other couples ( I combine their last names since they live together) that appreciate wine so I like to bring good stuff when Imbibing with them. We started with bacon wrapped dove breast on a bed of cream cheese in a jalapeño. After we finished the dove with our cocktails we went into the wines mixed in with salad with 18 year balsamic vinegar dressing that was to die for. The dinner portion was might I say the greatest rib eye I have ever consumed. It was cooked on my Santa Maria style wood grille and smoked with cherry wood that absolutely went perfect together. Red potatoes and a multi grain bread that was a perfect compliment to the meat. For dessert my wife made chocolate lava cakes that were scrumptious and oozed out when you're fork sliced into them. She is a wonderful cook for sure.

• 2004 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram Rosé 95 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  (2/18/2014)

  When we first popped this bubble it had a certain oxidative smell to it but we were wrong, it blew off rather quickly and tuned into a beauty. The wine had a pretty salmon orange color to it that showed its age perfectly. The perfume on it gave away hazelnut and floral notes. You could taste that this wine as if it sat on the lees for a long time, maybe someone could tell me? If you have this wine I would drink it up unless it was stored in a very cold cellar.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Daou Vineyards Roussanne 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (2/18/2014)

  This wine drank way better than I thought it would. It appears golden with just a touch of green in it. This baby just left me in a happy place. Lots of cut grass and lemon with smoothness and a good solid structure. A nice finish that lingered and made me wanting to go back for more. A nice wine indeed. The acidity was not powerful so maybe drink up sooner rather than later?

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

• 2008 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  (2/18/2014)

  Although there was nothing wrong with this wine I just felt that it lacked showing it's grape varietal. This wine seemed very young and has plenty of time left in it. Maybe I caught it at a dumb phase? It was a clean and enjoyable wine with nice flavors coming through. A lot of sediment in our glasses. Only had one pour so not a lot on the notes of this one.

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

• 2009 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Grand Vin) State Lane Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  (2/17/2014)

  A classical type of wine that is well balanced and does a wonderful job of pairing with some ribeye. Not over the top at all. If you like ripe, juicy Napa Cabs this is not exactly the wine for you but it still is a lovely wine. Classic aromas of dark fruit and espresso and even some earthiness. A nice long finish. Decanted as Lou himself says to decant. 15 hours in the bottle after I popped the cork and replaced and then decanted for an hour before consuming. That really worked well. My #2 wine for the night. But on another night it could of been the champ

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

• 2009 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon Monsieur Étain 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (2/18/2014)

  This was one racy superstar!! Lots of mint and spearmint on the initial pour. Some green oak that was strange to experience but it quickly dissipated. Once this wine settled in it was ripe, juicy and full throttled. Lots of stuff going on here. If you are classic wine drinker this is surely not your cup of tea, speaking of tea I picked some of that up too. Ripe red fruits and some boysenberry stewed fruits and a nice long but drying finish. Give this 5-7 years and visit again. My WOTN

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

• 2009 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon DB4 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2014)

  This was a late pop n pour and that may have hurt it from opening totally, but it was still a fine wine. On the nose it lacked a bit but it did come around as it breathed in the glass. Nice candied fruits from its youthfulness that will integrate better with age. Youthful but restrained. The finish was a tad short but again needed more time

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

• 2007 Sine Qua Non Grenache To The Rescue Vin de Paille 97 Points

  USA, California

  (2/17/2014)

  This was paired with chocalate lava cake and it went perfectly with it. Decanted for 30 minutesThis wine has very little acid so you only need a bit. Super rich with chocolate and rasberry on the palate and some light plum notes but really enjoyable. Hard to compare to the other wines for the night so can't compare it for WOTN or not

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

We had all of this over 7 hours and played a game called Cards Against Humanity which will have you busting a gut while you have great food, wine and friends. Look the game up it truly is a horrible game but hilarious if you drop your guard for a night and just. have. fun.