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Showing posts from 2012

Highlights of the Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries of 2012

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Here are my most memorable wines from across the globe from the 2012 W&S Top 100 Wineries of the Year grand tasting event in San Francisco's Metreon in October. Click on a photo to enlarge it. Enjoy!

Donato Enoteca 100, 2012 recap

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Great Enoteca 100  Italian wine tasting as usual at Donato Enoteca on Dec 1. Absolutely incredible value, an event that I look forward to every year, previously announced here . I paid extra attention to 2008 Barolos that have been getting a fair share of critical acclaim lately and are just becoming available in the market. I was not disappointed. Renato Ratti Barolo "Marcenasco" 2008 was the wine of the tasting for me. Vietti's entry-level Barolo Castiglione was also very good. I found both of these wines deep, full, and revealing enough (beyond tannins) to appreciate them even now. Honorable mention goes to Donato's porchetta (shown on the plate in front of the Renato Ratti above) - the crispy skin is to die for. Another notable showing was by the  1995 Fattoria di Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva "Rancia"  - somehow these venerable old bottles have shown up direct from the winery this year. The wine is tasting great right now, re

Donato Enoteca 100 2012 - upcoming Italian wine tasting extravaganza

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The annual Enoteca 100 tasting is upon us again. Do not miss. You can get $10 off with a coupon code mentioned in the COST section below. I never used to love Italian food as much, until I started loving Italian wine. That love affair with vino drove me to explore and appreciate Italian cuisine, which in turn nudged me to explore even more of Italy's wine regions and varieties. No other place has helped open my eyes to all that more so than one of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area - Donato Enoteca . Not only do they serve great food and wine all year around, they also feature some of my favorite winemaker dinners. And once a year, Donato Enoteca throw their annual Enoteca 100 Italian wine extravaganza. This year, it's on Saturday, December 1. I documented this event in the past -- highly recommended for sheer joy of living! Taste 100+ fine Italian Wines & Donato's Creations The WINE: Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Franciacorta, Amarone, Valle d'Ao

White truffle raviolo at Donato Enoteca with Barolo and Barbaresco

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This time of year, top Italian restaurants are bringing in white truffles - a delicacy from Piedmonte (Northern Italy), which also happens to be the home of Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Last night at Donato Enoteca, it was absolutely phenomenal. I have vividly described the decadent experience at length a couple of years ago , and it continues to be special every single time. Man o man, that raviolo with runny egg yolk inside and white truffles on top - paired with Produttori del Barbaresco Moccagatta Riserva 2004 and Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Brunate 2004 (both wines beginning to approach their drinking window) - orgasmic !

Update on recent Bordeaux vintages 2008 and 2009

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Here is my feeling about few recent vintages from some of the tastings I've attended in the past few months. 2008 Bordeaux - This is the third time I am writing about 2008 Bordeaux. The previous article was here , when I was quite enthusiastic about the vintage. 2008's are a good value compared to 2009 and 2010, but in my latest tasting, the wines appeared lighter than 2005's and 2009's (I haven't tasted 2010 yet) and I recommend you taste before you buy. At yesterday's tasting at Beltramo's, three big names from the Left Bank seemed a bit light and thin (but still nice), especially when tasted next to the 2005 Palmer (which tasted like classic 2005, firm, dense, balanced). Even though the prices are attractive compared to 2009's and 2010's, I wouldn't buy any of the 2008's below (nor would I turn them down if someone offered them as a gift either :)). 2005 Palmer Margaux, $349.99 - good wine, full of stuffing (reminds me of borscht),

Pairing wine with Chinese food - video program for Millbrae Community TV

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Earlier this year I was invited by the Millbrae Community TV to film an episode about pairing wine with Chinese food. The show aired in two parts during the Labor Day weekend on September 1 and 2, 2012. For the shoot, I had selected a sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne rosé (from Burgundy), a Gruner Veltliner (from Austria), a Cote du Rhone (from South of France), a Cru Beaujolais (France), and a German Riesling. Hope you enjoy this 10-min show.

Gastronomic Ecstasy, Italian style with Barolo

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To understand how perfect this pairing is, just think peanut butter and jelly, sea-salt and soft egg yolk, mustard and hot-dog, ketchup and french fries, Cabernet and steak... you get the idea?! OMG! When Dan and Ash put together a "casual" dinner just because , Ash's fresh pasta with wild mushrooms and Italian sausage, with shaved truffle cheese on top, served with the 1996 Michele Chiarlo Barolo Cannubi (thank you Sandy!) was orgasmic, except in a more romantic and indescribable way. When that truffly, mushroomy, fennelly goodness of a pasta was brought in proximity with the 1996, I could no longer separate the wine from the dish - the aromas melded, the flavors married, I was in heaven!  The charm of the perfectly aged Barolo from a classical vintage was irresistible.  Next to it, by comparison, I am sorry to say, the very impressive 2001 and 2005 Cavallotto Bricco Borschis Barolos just seemed out of place -- too young and primary (even the 2001). Cavallotto was clea

Grand Champagne Tasting of 2012

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The 2012 annual Champagne tasting hosted by the Institute of Masters of Wine recently took place in San Francisco. The freakish 90 degree heat in October was offset by a nicely air-conditioned room on the second floor of the Ferry Building. What an enchanting view of the Bay, chilled bubblies in hand! Mesmerized. Slightly tipsy, my thoughts drifted - "is it time to try for a second kid?..."  I guess Champagne will do that :) I document this worthwhile event every year. For getting a broad swath of the latest and greatest in Champagne, to my knowledge, there is no better event in the Bay Area. And considering the $60 admission fee, this is probably the best bang for your buck of any wine tasting of the year. Teeth aching of acid overdose, a hundred bottles worth thousands of $$ of glorious sparkling sampled, a few exemplars truly moved... The best bottles are not cheap - retailing for well over $100, and the RosĂ© over $300, but when you are ready to live it up, it's h

Ridge Monte Bello sensational

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Having written about them a few times in the past , I've often considered Ridge to be America's finest winery. Never mind gorgeous views from the mountain-top, never mind the showing at the legendary Judgment of Paris (and a victory at the re-tasting 30 years after ). All that aside, look at what's in front of you in the glass! Never before had I enjoyed their wines as much as I did this time, when I was presented with a special occasion to (re-)taste some of Ridge's greatest wines. Simply sensational!!! Chris Watkins, the tasting room manager, set up the following venerable line-up for a handful of us: 1985 Ridge Monte Bello , 1989 Ridge Monte Bello (magnum), 1995 Ridge Monte Bello , 2005 Ridge Monte Bello , and 2003 Ridge Estate Cabernet (Monte Bello's little brother). The 1985 was amazing - fresh, earthy, savory, with black olives, hints of eucalyptus, pine and herbs (without appearing vegetal or green), loads of dark, blackcurrant fruits and echoes

2009 Cornas from Allemand and Clape, and the glorious wines of Northern Rhone

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If you are in the mood for robust yet stylish, go no further than Cornas . Think viking in a suit. Cornas has become one of the great wine appellations of the world. An unsung star of Northern Rhone, outshined for so long by Hermitage and Cote Rotie. In years past, considered savage and rustic. The current breed of winemakers have cleaned and dressed it up. Perhaps Cornas' time atop the vinous Olympus has come! And so have the prices (sigh!) In this rough terrain of Northern Rhone, Syrah reigns supreme among the reds. But the whites too achieve sublime. Here the deep, dark, black expressions of blueberry-and-olive drenched exotic-pepper-spices-n-herbs and primal, raw meat echo unmistakably from the depths of the thick elixirs, impossible anywhere else in the (new) world. With our busy-bee 15-month-old, Rona and I don't get out much for gourmet dinners these days. So our friends master chefs Scott and Dan came to the rescue by agreeing to cook their Michelin-star dishes i

Amazing wine machine

You've gotta see this ingenious contraption - it both uncorks and pours your wine. Why make things simple if you can make them complicated! :) Published here . Love it!

2011 vintage - what to buy for birth year wines?

My baby Evan was born in 2011. By all indications, not an easy year for birth year wines that he (and I) could enjoy 20-30 years down the road. We just missed the iconic European vintage - 2010 - by a thin margin :(  For those lucky parents whose babies were born in 2010, your choices across France, Italy, and Germany are vast! Right now, I am looking closely at top 2011 Sauternes (D'Yquem, Guiraud, etc...) - Sauternes is anticipated to be one of the top performers world-wide in 2011. To a lesser extent, some of the top reds in Bordeaux are worth looking at as well (Palmer, Pontet-Canet, 1st growths on the Left Bank, and some of the top wines from Pomerol, etc). While greater vintages (like 2005 and 2010) virtually assure high quality at all levels of the cru hierarchy and thus are worth focusing on the less prestigious properties, lesser years are great for getting the top wines, as their prices may be less than half of the "great" vintages, while their performance ten

Pastis bistro in Palo Alto - finally good French!

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On California Avenue, right next to another old-time French bistro, now we have Pastis bistro , with menu full of delicious French comfort classics. Finally a reliable French foodie place in Palo Alto. Very enjoyable with a bottle of an earthy 2010 Bourgueil (Cab Franc from Loire) on a sunny Saturday.

2007 Brunello and an early look at 2010 Rosso di Montalcino

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I have been excited about the 2006 vintage in Montalcino. The Riservas are now coming out and are impressive. The 2007 vintage is also showing well albeit a bit warmer - not as great as 2006, but still quite good with decent structure and acid. I thought that Cannalicchio di Sopra and Uccelliera did well in 2007. The much acclaimed Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova seemed too sweet and over-the-top, almost like a California Zin. Will look to re-taste it at the upcoming Dalla Terra tasting in May. Personally, I loved Casanova di Neri's basic 2006. I also got a glimpse of the 2010 Rosso di Montalcino (from Uccelliera). I often find their Rosso on par with other producers' Brunello. And the 2010 was no exception - boding very well for the 2010 vintage in Italy, and confirming the across-the-board excitement over the 2010 vintage all over Europe! Update (Oct 2012) : I re-tasted the 2007 Casanova di Neri "Tenuta Nuova", and now, 6 months later, it is showing better - ripe

Dinner at Kevin's

My friend Kevin recently hosted a supreme gourmet dinner. The sweet carrot reduction sauce with caramel overtones - no sugar added - just carrots, ginger and butter! - was insane with the lobster blintzes. Pairing beautifully with a Spatlese level 2003 Riesling from JJ Prum. The lobster tail and claw with white Burgundy were absolutely positively to-die-for! The incredibly generous serving of Chateau Leoville Las Cases "super-second growth" Bordeaux was perfect with the melt-in-your-mouth short ribs and cheese-crusted polenta slices. The 2000 Las Cases was very young. Working at Google and having a 1-year old, he doesn't always have time to exercise his culinary muscles, but when he does, he takes Friday off!... Stay thirsty, my friends!

2010 Chateauneuf-du-Pape - a great vintage

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Last week, Angeles Wine Agency ran their annual trade tasting in Fort Mason, San Francisco. I've covered these tastings in the past. Every year, for me this is the best opportunity to size up the soon-to-be-released vintage of Chateauneuf-du-Pape ("CdP"), across a broad spectrum of recognizable producers imported into this country. See their CdP portfolio here . I only drink CdP on occasion, as I tend the find the wines not very versatile - too big and bold for most food pairings, particularly in the riper vintages like 2007 and 2009 (much acclaimed by famous critics, but not me). With age they do soften and become more appealing and nuanced. In fact, some of greatest vinous epiphanies I've had were from aged Chateauneuf-du-Pape (documented  here and here ). But by and large, of all the reds in France, drinking Chateauneuf-du-Pape is probably my least enthusiastic affair. All that said, I must say that I was swept off my feet by the superb quality of 2010 .

La Paulee San Francisco 2012 and the Impressive 2009 Red Burgundy

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Burgundy is expensive. Burgundy is ethereal. Burgundy in 2009 is magnificent. But if you have to ask "how much?", then you can't afford it. But wait... there is good news... A month ago I attended La Paulee in San Francisco - an extraordinarily extravagant and gastronomically mind-blowing event that celebrates fine wines of Burgundy. I've written about it in the past - terms like "embarrassment of riches" have come to mind. Despite the lofty $300 admission fee, this grand tasting is for anyone who is into Burgundy or may be getting into it, and who has the mental and gastric fortitude to navigate through over a hundred wines of the highest order within three short hours. I got to taste thousands of dollars worth of the finest wines in the world, poured by iconic winemakers, accompanied by delectable bites from the hautest restaurants in the city. So worth it IMHO! My focus was on the reds. There is a bit of controversy about the 2009 vintage in the wi

Evchik does Chablis

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Those 2007 and 2008 Chablis are drinking well, my friends. On a nice sunny Spring weekend... "Gimme some!", says my 11-months old... Mmm mmm tasty!

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri 2012

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Iron C. and Franco Massolino with his incredible 2005 Barolo Vigna Rionda For the fourth year in a row I attend and document Tre Bicchieri - my favorite Italian wine tasting of the year in the Bay Area. Twenty-five years after its first appearance, the Gambero Rosso "Italian Wines" publication now reviews 2,350 producers and 20,000 wines across all of Italy. In 2012, 375 wines took the prestigious Tre Bicchieri ("three glasses") award, slightly fewer than last year's 402. This season I got a good look at a number of 2007 Barolos, but overall the representation from Piedmonte seemed thinner at the SF tasting (not in the Guide). It is almost as if many top producers didn't bother to show up. The warm, approachable and pleasurable across the board, 2007 vintage was in stark contrast to the austere and what they call "classical" 2006. I think both 2007 and 2005 are quite good and enjoyable now or soon, while the 2006 requires more cellaring, but