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Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
 | | 06/18/2006 8:14 PM |
| Here's the wine list. We actually dumped very little out this morning!
1996 Bollinger Grande Annee
1995 Charles Ellner Brut
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Blind Group A
1999 Louis Martini Monte Rosso Vnyd (non blind)
1999 Van Der Heyden, Napa Valley Hill
1999 Cooper Garrod Lone Oak Vnyd, Santa Cruz Mtns. (the under $20 dead ringer)
1996 Cos D'Estournel, St. Estephe
1996 Chateau Palmer, Margaux
1999 Joseph Phelps Backus, Oakville, Napa
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Blind Group B
1996 Cos D'Estournel, St. Estephe (yep we had two bottles)
1996 Chateau Langoa Barton, St. Julien
1999 Abreu, Napa
1996 Chateau Angelus, St. Emilion
1999 BV Georges De Latour, Napa
1999 Lewis Reserve, Napa
1999 Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap Dist, Napa (Bonus wine!)
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Dinner
2003 Kistler, Vine Hill Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay
2003 Pax, Cuvee Moriah, Sonoma County
1975 Chappellet Vineyard,Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
2002 Loring Clos Pepe Vineyard, Pinot Noir
2004 Loring Pinot Rose
2003 Salinia, Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir
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2001 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes
1983 Chateau Suduiraut, Sauternes
Voting by flight, we voted for a #1 and #2 wine
Flight A:
99 Phelps Backus (10 first place votes!)
96 Palmer (4 votes)
99 Van Der Hayden (3 votes)
Flight B
99 Shafer HSS (6 votes)
99 Lewis Reserve (5 votes)
96 Cos Estournel (3 votes, it had 0 in Flight A)
I'm in the backyard right now relaxing, we got all the glasses cleaned and put away and the house just about back to normal. I had a blast! | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 06/18/2006 10:30 PM |
| Huge thanks to Paul & Stef for a great evening!
The two Bordeaux in group A were very bretty; the Palmer wore it well but the Cos did not.
The Cos in group B was significantly less bretty and tasted much better.
As the old saying goes, there are no grteat wines, only great bottles.
1999 Louis Martini Monte Rosso Vnyd - nice enough but poor QPR. As David said, if that's a 93 point wine then the Phelps must be about 120.
1999 Van Der Heyden, Napa Valley Hill - port/sherry on the nose, big, jammy fruit on the palate. I liked it, but it wasn't a food friendly wine (cheese, maybe). My #2
1999 Cooper Garrod Lone Oak Vnyd, Santa Cruz Mtns. - A pretty nose at first, but it disappeared very quickly. I got cranberries and blueberries on the palate; quite tart. I'm not rushing to buy any but seems like decent value at $13.
1996 Cos D'Estournel, St. Estephe For me the Brett overpowered everything. I thought it was flawed.
1996 Chateau Palmer, Margaux Brett on the nose, but the palate was nice. I tried it with the lamb and it was a good match.
1999 Joseph Phelps Backus, Oakville, Napa You could tell from first sniff that this was the #1 of the flight. Delicious.
1996 Cos D'Estournel, St. Estephe Less bretty; more fruit. Liked it.
1996 Chateau Langoa Barton, St. Julien Exceptionally dry finish; desperately needed food.
1999 Abreu, Napa Nice. Smooth, rounded.
1996 Chateau Angelus, St. Emilion Very nice. This was my #2 until I tried the Bonus wine.
1999 BV Georges De Latour, Napa Very odd nose - varnish or something. Lovely on the palate, but the nose was offputting.
1999 Lewis Reserve, Napa Very good indeed. My #1 until I hit the bonus wine.
1999 Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap Dist, Napa Lovely. #1 wine and it kept improving in the glass.
Group B was the Group Of Death. Either the Angelus and Abreu could have been my #2 wine had they been in Group A.
2003 Kistler, Vine Hill Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay Absolutely delicious. Waves of rich flavour with a nice crispness to it.
2003 Pax, Cuvee Moriah, Sonoma County Don't think I've had any Pax before. This was very interesting; I think David said it was a Rhone blend. It was certainly a huge contrast after all the Cabs and Pinots.
1975 Chappellet Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Alison's WOTN by far. She loves nicely aged cabs. 30 years old and I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen the bottle. Amazing how Wes manages to keep finding these gems.
2002 Loring Clos Pepe Vineyard, Pinot Noir I'm a Loring novice, but I do like his style. Big and fruity.
2004 Loring Pinot Rose I rarely touch rose wines, but this was nice. Nice fruit, balanced acidity, perfect for days like today. Shame you can't buy it.
2003 Salinia, Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Overall I preferred the Loring, but this was very good too.
2001 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes DavidN thinks most of the 01 Sauternes are too sweet; he's right, they are very sweet, but I like them. Went well with both the foie and the upside-down cake.
1983 Chateau Suduiraut, Sauternes A little disappointed in this; it seemed a bit muted. I had a very nice 1990 Suduiraut last month and I loved the 1983 Rieussec, so had very high expectations. | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
| |
| Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 06/19/2006 5:36 PM |
| Pictures onbubbleshare
And the final menu:
Osetra Caviar with 6 traditional sides.
The Tasting.
Palate Refresher of Grapefruit-mint Sorbet.
Sausage and Roasted Pepper Raviolis with fresh tomato sauce
Herb de Provance Lamb T-bone in mint cilantro sauce and Scalloped Potatoes
Prime Rib Eye Beef Kabob Skewers with summer squash, crimin mushrooms and sweet Mayan onions and sides of hummus and crispy pita chips
Foie Gras, pan seared with 4 sauces; currant, cherry, blackberry honey, agave nectar
Pineapple-Rosemary Upside Down Cake | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
| hudamang
CALI
Grape Sorter
Posts:212
| | 06/19/2006 6:45 PM |
| | Wow, the pictures look great. I'm jealous I couldn't go. Where do you buy foie? I always wanted to try to prepare some myself. | | | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 06/19/2006 6:49 PM |
| Quote:
Wow, the pictures look great. I'm jealous I couldn't go. Where do you buy foie? I always wanted to try to prepare some myself.
Alison used to buy it online by mail order from a couple of places, but then Grun turned me on to a place in the city called Polarica. | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
| |
| Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 06/19/2006 7:12 PM |
| | I picked this up at Alexander's in Cupertino. It was grade A. I had used Polarica for about the same price I picked this up at but being able to get it live rather than shipping ended up being a wash on price. | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 06/19/2006 9:27 PM |
| Quote:
I picked this up at Alexander's in Cupertino. It was grade A. I had used Polarica for about the same price I picked this up at but being able to get it live rather than shipping ended up being a wash on price.
Alexander's steak house in Vallco? Do they have a retail side, or do you just know someone there?
You can pick up at Polarica, but once you factor in the cost of fuel and time it would probably make very little difference. | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
| |
| Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 06/19/2006 9:37 PM |
| | Yeah It was about $10 more, but the manager at Alexander's bought me a glass of wine, and it was 80 miles less. I think the grade A through me, I've always used B before and it behaved a little different plating it. | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
| yhn
Grape Destemmer
Posts:59
| | 06/19/2006 10:37 PM |
| Very enjoyable night!
Alison obviously has very good taste in wine. I have to agree with her WOTN, adding the Kistler and the Loring Rose right on its heels... | | | |
| ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1371
| | 06/20/2006 5:08 PM |
| | Great pics and looks like a great time was had. | | | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15711
| | 06/21/2006 4:16 PM |
| That Foie was grrrrrreat tlily!
You got the A stuff and cooked it. Usually the A stuff is reserved for a terrenne. The B grade is fine for searing. All the A is B stuff with the veins removed I believe.
I have purchased B stuff and removed the veins myself. That is a real pain in the ass. Almost as much work as your fava beans.
Alexander's at Valco seems like a find. I dined there once and thought it was really, really expensive for what we got. The butcher store however, might come in useful. Not only do they have the foie in stock but thay also have both Prime and Kobe beef there for sale. Yes it will undoubtedly be more expensive than mail order but it is there and you don't have to pay for shipping a small package across country. Is there sales tax on meat that is "take out" like that?
I will say that your particular presentation would not have been as good looking as it was if you had used B grade.
And thanks for the double helping  . My doctor thanks you. My casket supplier thanks you. What a magnificent meal! I live for foie gras! | | | |
| Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 06/21/2006 10:56 PM |
| David, thanks for all the great wine. You out did yourself as usual. I'm waiting now for Dave T to announce event #2  | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 06/22/2006 12:22 AM |
| Quote:
David, thanks for all the great wine. You out did yourself as usual. I'm waiting now for Dave T to announce event #2
That's right, put me on the spot.
I need to clear with Alison, but we said we should meet up every couple of months so
I'm thinking late August some time - say 19th or 26th. Does anyone have a preference? | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
| |
| Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 06/22/2006 3:00 AM |
| August is good for me, bird netting goes on early in the month and I've got nothing really to do until mid-September.
Maybe try Alexander's if we can do something about corkage? | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15711
| | 06/27/2006 4:02 AM |
| | Think about Forbes Mill too. | | | |
| Randy Wigginton
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5435
| | 07/04/2006 11:35 PM |
| If anyone asked me, I'd vote for August 26th. I can't miss another event
However, I would like to suggest September 9th. After Labor day, so schedules have simplified by then. | | | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15711
| | 07/05/2006 3:38 AM |
| We are committed for August 26.
September 9 looks ok. | | | |
| Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 07/05/2006 9:25 PM |
| | my nets look like they will go on in mid-August, so anytime through late September looks good for me. I turn into a owner-operator-winemaker-vineyard harvest dude, on or about 10/1 though and don't appear again until mid-November. | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 07/06/2006 1:19 AM |
| | Okay, I'll block out 9/9 on my calendar. | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
| |
| Corkage
Grape Puncher
Posts:975
| | 07/06/2006 3:48 AM |
| Wow, impressive set up and equally impressive clean up the following day, my house is usually still a major mess with half the glasses  | | | |
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