Just a little over a year ago, frustrated that we had no local wine tasting group, GATC and I conspired to create our own here in the San Francisco East Bay. Not knowing what we were doing or exactly how to go about doing it, we marched forward blindly with the singular goal of sharing the experience of wine in an educational, informative, and interesting group of enthusiasts. One year later, having met once a month for various themed tastings, the dividends of this humble effort have been extraordinary, far exceeding my wildest expectations.
On Sunday, June 1st, we celebrated our 1 year anniversary by diverging from our normal format of double blind, themed flights, and instead met at
301 Bistro 301 Bistro in Danville for a wonderful 5-course meal and a free-for-all, mostly large format wine lineup. Held in a private room at 301 Bistro, Chef King Wong created a innovative, exciting tasting menu just for us. Service was outstanding, and the line up wines, as you would expect from this group, was fantastic. Here follows the dinner menu, followed by the wines and my tasting notes.
301 Bistro 5 course tasting menu:
- Gravlax Tartar with Taro Root Chips
- Kataifi Wrapped Scallops with Albacore (WOW!)
- Check breast with Pheasant and Succotash
- Lamb Tenderloin with Gratin Potato, and apple mint
- Chocolate dessert – (what an understatement!)
The wines, in no particular order:
1995 Domaine Laroche Chablis "Reserve de L'Obedience” (magnum) (nice, chalky, dry, 89 pnts, now-2007)
1996 St. Supery Chardonnay (magnum)(somewhat average, but well made, 85 pnts, drink now)
1997 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay (magnum)(the best white of the night, crisp melon & citrus, vibrant, 92 pnts now-2006)
1974 Stags Leap Stags Leap Vineyard Cabernet (750)(91 pnts, fully mature, surpising resiliant fruit)
2000 Cabrieres Châteauneuf-du-Pape (750)Somehow I missed taking formal notes on this one, but remember it being simply lovely – smooth, rich, and elegant, with gobs of ripe fruit.
2000 Marjosse (750)one of the few wines I missed tasting.
2001 Melville Carries Block Pinot Noir (750)(awsome wine, spicy & extracted, 93 pnts, now-2007)
2000 Domaine Puydecal Vin du Pays d’Oc.(magnum) (nice every day drinker, 84 pnts, drink now)
2000 Bernadotte Haut-Medoc (750) (Big chocolately nose, rich, 89 pnts, now-2008)
1984 Phelps Napa Cabernet (dbl magnum)(750)(My WOTN, amazing staying power, great fruit, 93 pnts, now-2005)
1987 Forman Cabernet (magnum)(another top wine of the night for me, spicy, soft, & elegant, 92 pnts, drink now)
1997 Bernardus MarinusAnother selection I failed to get to that night.
1996 Merryvale Hillside Cabernet (750) (good fruit, but massive tannins, 90+, 2006-2012)
1994 Leoville Baron (magnum)(classicly styled Bordeaux, very nice, 92 pnts, now-2010+)
1997 Lewis Reserve Merlot (Magnum)(Huge spicy American oak, crowd please, 93 pnts, now-2008)
1997 Phelps Le Mistral (750)(tons of cherries, showing really well now, 92 pnts, now-2006)
1998 Grant Burge Merlot (750)Tasted but somehow failed to take notes at the time. Remember it being a fine Merlot though.
1999 Guilliams Spring Mnt Cabernet (magnum)(young & tight, sharp mnt fruit, needs time, 90 pnts, 2006-2012)
1977 Warres Vintage PortNo detailed notes taken, it was getting late in the event. However, I found this to be ‘hot’, with a funky nose. I didn’t really care too much for this.
N.V. Peachy Canyon Zinfandel Port, Mustang SpringsNice stuff! This is PC’s first release of Zin Port, which came out around 1998 iirc. Sweet and fun, drink now.
Thanks to everyone for making this another tremendous event! Looking forward to another year of tasting with you all!