Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
attendees: Oswaldo+Marcia, Sharon, Jeff
Yesterday was a national US holiday but today this splendid, veteran restaurant is open, working their usual brand of seasonal magic... for almost nobody. While a few folks sit at tables outside (too warm for us), we have the main room practically to ourselves. There are two two-tops that come and go quickly while we persist and order a slew of small plates...
black bass crudo with meyer lemon
chilled pea soup with pickled ramps
little neck clams with spinach and garlic broth
beer-battered soft-shell crabs
polenta with morels and peas
gnocchi with chanterelles and favas
seared scallops with bacon broth
grilled pork loin with chard
confit chicken legs (for dessert)
...and consume a fair amount of wine for four people. All bottles are off the list except the Ceritas (thank you, O). Lots of American wine on this American holiday:
Pierre Peters NV Champagne Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs "Cuvée Réserve" - The first thing we do is kill all the flutes. In a white wine glass, the champagne is excellent: moderately fizzy, just barely ripe at all so good acidity and yellow-fruit flavors with no tropical/sweet flavors to disturb its beautiful balance
Ceritas 2006 Chardonnay "Porter-Bass Vineyard" - Russian River or Sonoma Coast? The bottle says the former but the website now says the latter. Very rich and full, unctuous and nutty/roasty, this is big yums for a white burgundy lover... which I am not at all.
Clos Saron 2012 "Out of the Blue" - 94% Cinsault, the rest Syrah and Tempranillo; not much tannic, lightweight, flowery, herbal/leafy, a pretty little thing.
Arnot-Roberts 2013 Rosé "Luchsinger Vineyard" - A-R website says 80% Touriga Nacional, 20% Tinta Cao, whole cluster treaded, 24 hours skin contact, basket pressed into stainless tanks, no added yeast, no malo, filtered at bottling. Whew. Even after all those words this is crisp, shows some moderate minerality, and is quite enjoyable.
Thank you, one and all, for being your delightful selves, for engaging conversation, for good humor, for sensible wroth, and all that.
Yesterday was a national US holiday but today this splendid, veteran restaurant is open, working their usual brand of seasonal magic... for almost nobody. While a few folks sit at tables outside (too warm for us), we have the main room practically to ourselves. There are two two-tops that come and go quickly while we persist and order a slew of small plates...
black bass crudo with meyer lemon
chilled pea soup with pickled ramps
little neck clams with spinach and garlic broth
beer-battered soft-shell crabs
polenta with morels and peas
gnocchi with chanterelles and favas
seared scallops with bacon broth
grilled pork loin with chard
confit chicken legs (for dessert)
...and consume a fair amount of wine for four people. All bottles are off the list except the Ceritas (thank you, O). Lots of American wine on this American holiday:
Pierre Peters NV Champagne Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs "Cuvée Réserve" - The first thing we do is kill all the flutes. In a white wine glass, the champagne is excellent: moderately fizzy, just barely ripe at all so good acidity and yellow-fruit flavors with no tropical/sweet flavors to disturb its beautiful balance
Ceritas 2006 Chardonnay "Porter-Bass Vineyard" - Russian River or Sonoma Coast? The bottle says the former but the website now says the latter. Very rich and full, unctuous and nutty/roasty, this is big yums for a white burgundy lover... which I am not at all.
Clos Saron 2012 "Out of the Blue" - 94% Cinsault, the rest Syrah and Tempranillo; not much tannic, lightweight, flowery, herbal/leafy, a pretty little thing.
Arnot-Roberts 2013 Rosé "Luchsinger Vineyard" - A-R website says 80% Touriga Nacional, 20% Tinta Cao, whole cluster treaded, 24 hours skin contact, basket pressed into stainless tanks, no added yeast, no malo, filtered at bottling. Whew. Even after all those words this is crisp, shows some moderate minerality, and is quite enjoyable.
Thank you, one and all, for being your delightful selves, for engaging conversation, for good humor, for sensible wroth, and all that.