Dinner Party at Home w Danny Spring & Jean Marc DeSilva and Arlene & Paul Rogoff

Ellen's "Inn at Little Washington",-Patrick Oconnell's menu.
Lemon Pepper Risotto
Cucumber Sorbet with Cucumber Salsa
Seared Scallops with Sweet Italian Sausage and Mushrooms with a Red Pepper Coulis
Cheese Course: Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor, Parmigano Reggiano, Langa La Tur,and Burrough Market Cheddar`
Strawberries With 25 year Balsamic and Black Pepper

• 2004 Ferruccio Deiana Vermentino di Sardegna Pluminus 93 Points

  Italy, Sardinia, Vermentino di Sardegna

  Paired perfectly with Ellen's outstanding take on Patrick Oconnell's(Inn at Little Washington) Lemon Pepper Risotto. I don't know which was better, the wine or the risotto. The Sardinian oaked vermentino/nasco blend still exhibits a tantalizing straw herbaceousness(sp?). It was Arlene's favorite of the night against 2 outstanding pinots, the 04 Dumol Ryan V, and the 07 A.P. Vin Turner V.

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• 2000 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg 90 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  Paired very well with Ellen's take on Patrick Oconnell's(The Inn at Litlle Washington) Cucumber Sorbet with Cucumber Salsa. It was a tad sweeter than I anticipated, and lacked the stoney minerality, and acidity I was looking for. It seemed more German, than Austrian, to me. Still it was a very enjoyable wine.

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• 2004 DuMOL Pinot Noir Ryan 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Decanted it and 07 A. P. Vin for 2-1/2 hours. Tasted both to see which would go first with Ellen's take on Patick Oconnell's(The Inn at Little Washington) "dry" Sea of Cortez Diver Scallops w sweet Italian Sausage, Mushrooms and Red Pepper Coulis(to which she forgot to add the last second Pernod).
  The Ryan after the decant was more aromatic, so I served it first. A wonderful Pinot, with raspberry scents, the tang of wild strawberries on the mouth, and a lingering finish. With the extended decant It's at a perfect place now. Tonight, I thought it a touch ahead of the 07 A.P. Vin Turner V. However, Ellen, Paul, Danny, and Jean Marc preferred the A.P. Vin. Fortunately this is my 1st of my six pack, of which I'll drink 2 in the near future, and hold the rest for 2 to 3 years.

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• 2007 A.P. Vin Pinot Noir Turner Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Gave it and 04 DuMol Ryan V. 2-1/2 hour decant, prior to serving with Ellen's take on Patrick Oconnell's "dry" Sea of Cortez Diver Scallops w sweet Italian sausage, mushrooms, and red pepper couilis(from which she forgot to add a splash of pernod at the end). It followed the more aromatic Ryan. Having loved it 2 weeks ago, at Michael's Genuine, I bought this when we were back to Michael's the night before.(I paid list, but Mckenzie agreed to waive the corkage on my wine). I wanted to see how it stacked up vs the CT 93.7 favorite DuMol Ryan.
  
  It fared well. While, I preferred the older,more aromatic DuMol, Ellen, Paul, Danny, and Jean Marc preferred the A. P. Vin Turner V. A little tight aromatically, after the long decant, but still has a wonderful blueberry compote taste, and an excellent finish. It will be interesting to see where this wine is 2 years from now. Again, Congratulations, Andrew!

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• 2005 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  1/2 hour decant, then rebottled. Served with Cheese course and 25 year old balsamic vinegar black pepper strawberries. Followed the ethereal 04 Dumol Ryan V PN, and the 07 A.P. vin Turner V PN. which had not yet, been fully consumed, so it took a back seat in order, and preference to them.
  When, I opened and decanted the L'Aventure, pre-dinner, Ellen the hypersniffer and taster commented on the great bouquet from 4 feet away. Drank well with the excellent, and reasonably priced, cheeses from Whole Foods. On its own, and not when suffering palate fatigue, I'm sure it would have merited a higher score.
  
  We continued to drink the remainder over several nights and it drank and held up well,

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