vaughn tan
vaughn tan
folks: this place rocks hard. lots of interesting stuff on the wine list, good, unfussy food that's reasonably priced, and half bottles for half the full bottle price (for any bottle under $100). i don't know how they're dealing with wastage. tonight we had half bottles each of:
2011 donkey and goat "the prospector" mourvedre from the sierra foothills: light-bodied, full of blackcurrant leaf and the smell of cool loam. the surprise wine of the night that was the accidental perfect pairing with bread and butter pickles and paprika-spiced fried chicken.
2009 g descombes brouilly old vines: perhaps more fruit than i wanted, it was all strawberries and tea rose, with a reticent structure. i wish i'd had the sense to leave it open for the end of the meal and the milk and honey ice cream that came with it.
2006 ar.pe.pe valtellina superiore, sassella stella retica: the current release. young-tasting, limpid and floral, but with a bit of earth too. a delicious and judicious use of wood.
2009 franck balthazar cornas "chaillots": this was too young and chewy but with a fresh, full nose of cherries and warm fruit. nicer after an hour and a lot of air.
2011 desfrieches et fils cidre brut "le pere jules": turns out a dry cider with bitter+sharp in it goes with nearly any dessert without chocolate in it.
for abundant, well-executed food, dessert, and wine, with generous tip, $85 per person (there were 4 of us). i would have chilled some of the wines down a little, but whatever. this would be great value anywhere, and especially in a city where a crummy studio in a marginal neighbourhood goes for over $2900 these days.
on valencia at 24th street, in the mission.
http://www.stvincentsf.com/wineandbeer
vt
2011 donkey and goat "the prospector" mourvedre from the sierra foothills: light-bodied, full of blackcurrant leaf and the smell of cool loam. the surprise wine of the night that was the accidental perfect pairing with bread and butter pickles and paprika-spiced fried chicken.
2009 g descombes brouilly old vines: perhaps more fruit than i wanted, it was all strawberries and tea rose, with a reticent structure. i wish i'd had the sense to leave it open for the end of the meal and the milk and honey ice cream that came with it.
2006 ar.pe.pe valtellina superiore, sassella stella retica: the current release. young-tasting, limpid and floral, but with a bit of earth too. a delicious and judicious use of wood.
2009 franck balthazar cornas "chaillots": this was too young and chewy but with a fresh, full nose of cherries and warm fruit. nicer after an hour and a lot of air.
2011 desfrieches et fils cidre brut "le pere jules": turns out a dry cider with bitter+sharp in it goes with nearly any dessert without chocolate in it.
for abundant, well-executed food, dessert, and wine, with generous tip, $85 per person (there were 4 of us). i would have chilled some of the wines down a little, but whatever. this would be great value anywhere, and especially in a city where a crummy studio in a marginal neighbourhood goes for over $2900 these days.
on valencia at 24th street, in the mission.
http://www.stvincentsf.com/wineandbeer
vt