Drink Local/Eat Local -- California Artisanal Food and Wine
Tasted June 2, 2007 by ruddy with 580 views
Introduction
The latest gathering of our wine group, which still needs a name.
Our choice, so all Calfornia wines, all Calfornia foods.
Flight 1 - Starter (1 note)
With cheese straws made with dry jack cheese.
Rosé
2006 Kutch Pinot Noir Rosé
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Better than the last bottle. Great balance of acidity and fruit. Nice, creamy mouthfeel. A terrific summer wine.
Flight 2 - Rich whites (2 notes)
The iconoclastic Scholium wine really knocked us out.
Served with a cheese plate including, Humboldt Fog, Pt. Reyes Blue, Redhawk, Camelia, Midnight Moon, Lamb Chop, a nice Crottin, and Fiscalini bandaged-wrapped cheddar--all from California.
White
2005 Orin Swift Sauvignon Blanc Veladora
USA, California, Napa Valley
Very nice, varietally-correct sauv. blanc, grapefruit, not too much grassiness. Wonder why you'd buy this for $10 more than a good one from NZ? Maybe because it's a fund-raiser for a good cause.
White
2005 Scholium Project Cena Trimalchionis 2 Farina
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
A wild-ass mindf*&k of a wine. The nose says sweet dessert wine, but in the mouth it's nearly dry. Weird and wonderful with beautiful nose of apricot and honeysuckle while the flavor is all about typical sauv. blanc--citrus, apple. Paired really well with the cheese course. Not a wine for every one or every day, but so nice to have it at least once.
Flight 3 - Cab Francs (2 notes)
With homemade pizza with wild mushrooms and arugula cooked in the wood-fired grill.
Red
2002 Soter Proprietary Red Little Creek
USA, California, Napa Valley
Love this. Bordeaux from Napa by way of Oregon. Cab franc aromas (cherry, mushroom) with that bordelaise band-aid. Just silky smooth in the mouth and great with rosemary lamb skewers. I wish I had another bottle of this to hold for another five years and see what kind of secondary flavors will develop.
Red
2002 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc
USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
Rich and luscious on the nose and in the mouth. Beautiful depth of flavor--cherries, mushrooms, forest floor, the works. A gorgeous expression of California cab franc, and the gold standard for me.
Flight 4 - Pinot Flight (2 notes)
The Kutch was added at the last minute and really shone when the Arcadian Fiddlestix turned out to be corked.
With fava bean puree, feta and salsa verde.
Red
2003 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Botella
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Dark garnet in the glass, the nose is full and brooding with black cherry and cola, mouth has some vanilla oak. A nice bottle of wine at its peak.
Red
2005 Kutch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Drinking really well, which was lucky since this wine was swapped in for a corked bottle of Arcadian in a set menu. Very light color, but a rich nose with RRV spice. Flavors of cherry, allspice, smoke. The finish was rich with none of the heat that others have mentioned. Everyone's WOTN.
Flight 5 - Syrahs (3 notes)
With lamb skewers and minty grilled zucchini.
Red
2003 Bonaccorsi Syrah Larner Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Lovely, laid-back syrah in a cool climate style. More fruit than pepper, with a velvety finish. Excellent with food.
Red
2004 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Not anywhere as interesting and the last couple of Broken Stones I've had, but still a very nice, syrah-dominated blend. Dark fruits with a pleasant, longish finish.
Flight 6 - Desert (1 note)
Closing
Well except for missing out on our first Arcadian, a fine time had by all and a big shout out to Jamie Kutch for being the big star of the night.
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