Vacation

We’re off to Scotland for the next 3 weeks. Visiting the Highlands and Islands; driving on the other side of the road; sampling a wee dram of Whiskey here and there. We are planning to get away from technology as much as possible, so we’re NOT taking a computer and don’t plan on any posting. Also, that means any comments to this blog won’t be moderated until we return. See you all again in late September.

For your enjoyment until then, here are a few of our totally biased “best of” entries from the past year:

Our House Wine List
Famous Fish Tacos
Wine Tasting Travel Tips
French Onion Soup
Teriyaki Salmon with Mushroom Risotto

Cambria Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley 2006 – California

Nose of ripe apples. Tastes definitely along the California profile, but some earthy notes. Nutty, crab apple. Some nice acidity, but not the minerals of a French Chard. And definitely some of that California buttery oak, but not overwhelming. Limited production, you probably won’t find it at retail (but available to the mailing list and on the website). Yes. $22

B.R. Cohn Woody White NV – California

This is a wild child. It opens with a nose of... honeysuckle? key lime? The tastes are grapefruit, floral, and maybe some mango. It somehow has an overall “tropical” feel to it, and is crisp and full (but not creamy) at the same time. Very unusual, and we like unusual. It tastes like the bastard love child of a Sauvignon Blanc and a Roussanne/Marsanne, although the label does not indicate what grapes are used. We try to evaluate wines without input from the winemaker, but will send them a note to see what this is made of. House (depending on availability)/Yes. $15

French Hill Petite Sirah 2005 – California

We discovered French Hill – in the Sierra Foothills of California – several years ago on a winter trip to Yosemite. We had a fine Cabernet Sauvignon and a wonderful Zinfandel Port which are no longer made. Yet the wines we found on this trip were still great. This opens with a full, deep nose of mixed berries and black pepper. Tastes are of a mixed bowl of berries, black pepper, smoke, and boysenberry. It’s rich and chewy, and with very dry tannins. This would be a great pizza wine. Yes. $28

Momokawa Silver Junmai Ginjo Sake

“Typical” sake tastes and nose. An alcoholy rice and honey profile. This particular sake has bits of baked apple and mushroom notes. Francesca called it “vodka with flavor.” We enjoy sake both cold and warm. We tried this cold, as the brewer recommended. A Maybe cold (not nearly as good cold as an unfiltered sake such as Pearl). Warm, it’s nice, but just another sake. About $10

Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir 2006 – California

Wonderful nose of cherry and chocolate. Tastes of cherry, maybe a little plum, pomegranate, and chocolate (the label says “anise” and we could maybe find that). Very smooth, with a soft finish. Yet as it spends time open, it weirdly develops some nice acidity on the finish. Yes. $14