I had dinner with a friend on Friday at Cheff Geoff's. The restaurant was great and the wine list was impressive, as was our waitress's knowledge of the different wines. My friend is a vegetarian, so she ordered several side dishes that the cheff crafted into a nice presentation, I ordered the blackened tuna special and the waitress recommended the Barboursville Viognier. This steel-aged wine was heavy enough to challenge the tuna, but not so heavy as to overpower it.
A good wine choice and a great restaurant.
20070226
If you have not gotten your tickets yet, the D.C. Wine and Food Festival is less than 2 weeks away. I've never been, but everyone says it is great. I'll be there Saturday and Sunday!!
20070219
This post is a tale of two restaurants, Fireworks and Al Forno. Both restaurants recently opened close to where I live, both serve similar food and have similar prices. And, both restaurants have, given their price points, an extensive wine list.
Fireworks has 16 bottles of wine (out of 22) that sell for $30 or less, or 72%, and they have 2 bottles that are $20 or less (one red and one white). They have a wide selection and several regions are well-represented. In addition, they have 19 wines available by the glass. Given the average price of an entree, this is a really good match -- price-wise -- and the wines look like they are an excellent complement to the menu choices. The bottle of Longview Red Bucket (review below), recommended by our waiter, was served with little fanfare and went well with the pizza.
Al Fiorna has 18 bottles out of 27 that sell for $30, or 66%. They have no bottles under $20. They also have 8 wines that sell by the glass. The focus is almost entirely on California and Italy, which is not necessarily a bad thing since they are selling Italian food, but 6 different Chiantis? That seems a little excessive, considering the size of their wine list.
Our waitress was not very sure-footed when it came to the wine order and could not make any recommendations. I ordered a glass of the house Chianti and my dining companion ordered a glass of the house Cabernet Sauvignon. After checking with the bartender the waitress returned to tell us that they were out of the Cabernet Sauvignon, but they had a house Pinot Noir (not on the wine list) that was close to the same thing, a statement that clearly was not true.
Wine: 2004 Longview Red Bucket
Review: Red Bucket is a winery started by Duncan McGilevey in Adelaid Hills. This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Shiraz was a spicy wine with hints of licorice and mint. It has aged nicely and was a smooth wine with little tannins and a subtle oak. Overall, a good wine and a good value.
Price: $26 (wine shop price ~$13)
Grade: 85
Fireworks has 16 bottles of wine (out of 22) that sell for $30 or less, or 72%, and they have 2 bottles that are $20 or less (one red and one white). They have a wide selection and several regions are well-represented. In addition, they have 19 wines available by the glass. Given the average price of an entree, this is a really good match -- price-wise -- and the wines look like they are an excellent complement to the menu choices. The bottle of Longview Red Bucket (review below), recommended by our waiter, was served with little fanfare and went well with the pizza.
Al Fiorna has 18 bottles out of 27 that sell for $30, or 66%. They have no bottles under $20. They also have 8 wines that sell by the glass. The focus is almost entirely on California and Italy, which is not necessarily a bad thing since they are selling Italian food, but 6 different Chiantis? That seems a little excessive, considering the size of their wine list.
Our waitress was not very sure-footed when it came to the wine order and could not make any recommendations. I ordered a glass of the house Chianti and my dining companion ordered a glass of the house Cabernet Sauvignon. After checking with the bartender the waitress returned to tell us that they were out of the Cabernet Sauvignon, but they had a house Pinot Noir (not on the wine list) that was close to the same thing, a statement that clearly was not true.
Wine: 2004 Longview Red Bucket
Review: Red Bucket is a winery started by Duncan McGilevey in Adelaid Hills. This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Shiraz was a spicy wine with hints of licorice and mint. It has aged nicely and was a smooth wine with little tannins and a subtle oak. Overall, a good wine and a good value.
Price: $26 (wine shop price ~$13)
Grade: 85
20070211
I buy wine from a lot of different places, and it is probably fair to say that I spend more money than most on wine every month. This is the first time that I have ever purchased wine and felt compelled to endorse the store.
A friend of mine had her birthday on Friday. Knowing how much she loves pink Champagne I hunted all over until I found a bottle of 1979 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rose Reserve from Wally's Wine & Spirits. I ordered the Champagne on Tuesday, expecting delivery on Friday in time for her party on Saturday.
Delivery did not happen on Friday. I called Wally's and spoke to Jay, he reviewed the order and told me it hadn't shipped. What he did next really blew me away: he told me was going to ship it out next day air for a Saturday delivery, he also refunded my shipping charges, so there would be no charge at all for shipping.
I understand mistakes happen, the important thing is how a company deals with their mistakes...and this was exceptional. Even more impressive, the shipment arrived Saturday at 10:30 AM, while I was in the shower, so the UPS Guy did not leave it. But, at the request of Wally's Wine & Spirits he made a second trip back before noon and the package was delivered literally minutes before we yelled surprise.
A truly amazing experience from a wine shop.
A friend of mine had her birthday on Friday. Knowing how much she loves pink Champagne I hunted all over until I found a bottle of 1979 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rose Reserve from Wally's Wine & Spirits. I ordered the Champagne on Tuesday, expecting delivery on Friday in time for her party on Saturday.
Delivery did not happen on Friday. I called Wally's and spoke to Jay, he reviewed the order and told me it hadn't shipped. What he did next really blew me away: he told me was going to ship it out next day air for a Saturday delivery, he also refunded my shipping charges, so there would be no charge at all for shipping.
I understand mistakes happen, the important thing is how a company deals with their mistakes...and this was exceptional. Even more impressive, the shipment arrived Saturday at 10:30 AM, while I was in the shower, so the UPS Guy did not leave it. But, at the request of Wally's Wine & Spirits he made a second trip back before noon and the package was delivered literally minutes before we yelled surprise.
A truly amazing experience from a wine shop.
20070207
Wine: 2005 Capiaux Cellars Pinot Noir
Review: I got this bottle as a gift from a friend, and it was an excellent choice. This is a bold, powerful wine, which is reflected not only in the taste but in the 14.4% alcohol content. The wine had a pleasant blend of aromas ranging from plums to brown sugar. It had a strong taste of dark fruit and oak and an aftetaste that rested on my tongue for a while.
An excellent wine to drink now, and undoubtedly a spectacular wine in one or two years.
Price: $30 (est)
Grade: 95
Review: I got this bottle as a gift from a friend, and it was an excellent choice. This is a bold, powerful wine, which is reflected not only in the taste but in the 14.4% alcohol content. The wine had a pleasant blend of aromas ranging from plums to brown sugar. It had a strong taste of dark fruit and oak and an aftetaste that rested on my tongue for a while.
An excellent wine to drink now, and undoubtedly a spectacular wine in one or two years.
Price: $30 (est)
Grade: 95
Review: 2001 Marojallia Margaux
Wine: 2001 Marojallia Margaux Bordeaux
Review: If you have been reading this blog for a while you know about my love of Marojallia Margaux. The 2001 is pretty much the exact same...it is a wonderful wine. Go buy it and drink it :).
Price: $80
Grade: 100
Review: If you have been reading this blog for a while you know about my love of Marojallia Margaux. The 2001 is pretty much the exact same...it is a wonderful wine. Go buy it and drink it :).
Price: $80
Grade: 100
20070202
Uhhh...if you think you might be getting a Valentine's Day present from me don't read the rest of this entry...
Okay, you have been warned.
Chocolate and wine are great Valentine's Day gifts. I believe I have already mentioned J. Emanuel and their wine infused chocolate -- the Champagne and the Bordeaux truffles are especially appropriate.
Another option good option is a Chocolate dipped wine bottle from Goosecross Cellars. They take one of their reds, shrink wrap it and dip it into your choice of three chocolates (Milk, Dark or White). Their order form is nice because it only allows you to choose from chocolates that pair well with certain wines.
Either way you go, you cannot go wrong. Great wine and great chocolate in one package.
Okay, you have been warned.
Chocolate and wine are great Valentine's Day gifts. I believe I have already mentioned J. Emanuel and their wine infused chocolate -- the Champagne and the Bordeaux truffles are especially appropriate.
Another option good option is a Chocolate dipped wine bottle from Goosecross Cellars. They take one of their reds, shrink wrap it and dip it into your choice of three chocolates (Milk, Dark or White). Their order form is nice because it only allows you to choose from chocolates that pair well with certain wines.
Either way you go, you cannot go wrong. Great wine and great chocolate in one package.
Wine: 2005 Ecco Domani Chianti
Review: I like good Chianti because it goes with so many foods. It is a basic utility wine that goes well with pizza, pasta and a wide variety of foods. This Chianti is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes with a hint of cherry.
This was a crisp dinner wine, it did not have a strong aftertaste and was short on the palette.
Price: $11
Grade: 85
Review: I like good Chianti because it goes with so many foods. It is a basic utility wine that goes well with pizza, pasta and a wide variety of foods. This Chianti is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes with a hint of cherry.
This was a crisp dinner wine, it did not have a strong aftertaste and was short on the palette.
Price: $11
Grade: 85
20070201
Wine: 2004 Alta Marca
Review: This is a neat little wine from Madrid. It is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Shiraz/Syrah (really: The front of the bottle says Shiraz, the back says Syrah -- marketing?). The blend is interesting and not one that I have come across before. I am not normally a huge fan of Tempranillo, but the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz tempered the sharp taste.
The wine was oak aged for 5 months, but it probably could have used a little more aging as it was still highly tannic, even after decanting. It had an interesting taste of spice and cedar.
Overall, a very unique wine.
Price: $13
Grade: 85
Review: This is a neat little wine from Madrid. It is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Shiraz/Syrah (really: The front of the bottle says Shiraz, the back says Syrah -- marketing?). The blend is interesting and not one that I have come across before. I am not normally a huge fan of Tempranillo, but the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz tempered the sharp taste.
The wine was oak aged for 5 months, but it probably could have used a little more aging as it was still highly tannic, even after decanting. It had an interesting taste of spice and cedar.
Overall, a very unique wine.
Price: $13
Grade: 85
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
