NIGHT ONE: casanovas by the sea, great views, service and food. Favorite overall restaurant.
- del dotto 2010 Cabernet, big, round, oak, vanilla, prune…if you like caymus you’ll like this. For the record better than caymus but style is similar. Just okay.
- 2015 carlisle zinfandel papera ranch, mint, sweet cherry, pepper, great already, felt bad opening! Have more.
- 2011 Super Tuscan, brancaia illatraia, very bright and delicious red fruit. Nice now, can go awhile
NIGHT TWO Morgans - on the bay views and environment is great. Food was good, but most expensive of the trip.
- 2013 kosta browne rrv pinot noir. More alcohol than a typical kb. Cherry, orange zest, herb, anise. An interesting one. The fruit profile almost reminded me of a sonoma zin.
- 2015 sojourn gaps crown pinot. Typical great Single vin pinot from Sojourn.
- 2013 altamura cabernet. Youngster, Prominent but not overdone Oak, blackberry, black currant, tannins need time to integrate but it was a nice wine
- 2010 pride claret reserve. Bright fruit, resolved tannin, drinking very well. Impressive wine, top 5 pride ive had.
- 2013 fontanella cab Reserve, oak, dark berry, drinking well, following other wines this was solid and ill look for more
NIGHT THREE ragazzis - no view, but what great pizza and pasta. Surprisingly affordable for how good it was. Highly recommended.
- 2011 fontannafredda barolo, light in color, earth, cherry and licorice, surprisingly drinkable but better w time
- 2008 fontannafredda barolo, much darker than the 2011. tannins are integrating but better in 2-5 yrs. acidity in balance, cherry, strawberry , rich fruit. Good now though.
- 2012 altamura sangiovese. Very dark and a bit strange for a straight sangiovese, but i have only had 2 from cali. brooding dark fruit, Lacked structure and complexity. Clearly California, drink now. First time using brooding as a descriptor but it felt right with this wine.
- 2010 inglenook cab. Something didnt land for me. Still tannins, so another 2-4 urs would be good. Flavor profile was a bit off. Oak, black currant, tart red fruit, tobacco. Just okay.
NIGHT FOUR la vele- great views, good food, really liked the pizzas. $15 corkage is lowest of the trip which was nice.
- 2014 duoro quinto do crasto reserva dark berry and licorice. Very appealing, drinking well but will save for another 5
- 2007 la fornace BdM riserva, decanted for 1hr, intoxicating nose of chocolate covered cherries w/ liqueur and strawberry, classic italian leather, earth, licorice and cherry. Im always amazed at how long these can go. Still much more time to be enjoyed, but enjoyable now. Recommend holding for at least another 3-5 yrs.
NIGHT FIVE Luca- duck was great, service exceptional and the somm spent some time with us even though our wines werent of great interest on this night. Recommended.
- 2013 Chateau Ste Michelle artist series red blend. New oak, vanilla, red berry, needs time but enjoyable now. Not overdone.
- 2014 Caymus. sweet tobacco and licorice. Still tannin, off balance let it sit.
NIGHT SIX Deckers-steak and lobster were fantastic. Service was good. Nice live music that wasnt too loud. Outside atmosphere was relaxing. No view though.
- 2015 Sojourn sonoma coast pinot. Great as always. Cherry, mint, went vey well with an herb crusted baked brie
- 2014 K vinters Milbrandt syrah. Needed time (that it didnt have) to open, last taste at 40 minutes was best. A food wine for sure, good with duck patte. Earthy and dark berry flavors. More complex nose than taste but again, more time I feel would have done it justice.
- 2013 Del dotto piazza Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the better del dottos ive had. Good fruit, new oak but not overdone at all. Plum, cassis, blackberry. Structure and tinnins to go another 7 yrs but drinking good now.
NIGHT SEVEN casanovas Part II…Damn! Casanovas staff and chefs were on their game, and wines all paired perfectly.
- 2013 pride Cabernet sauvignon. Delicious dark fruit. Great length and plenty of life left. Great easy drinker. The night of big wines got better which is saying something.
- 2013 castello di bolgheri superiore. Young, but opened beautifully over an hour or so. Dark fruit leading the way. Some spice and a bit of earthiness as the secondary flavors. Paired perfectly with a meat and cheese lasagna with red sauce. Just beautiful. Second best wine and food pairing of the trip.
- 2010 fontodi flaccianello sangiovese. This was singing, and has plenty of good years left. Paired perfectly with the mama rossa cheese ravioli with a red cream sauce. WOTN, dish of the night, pairing of the night. best wine and food pairing of the trip
NIGHT EIGHT bacaro- on the bay, very modern,tapas place, good but nothing overly special.
- 2014 siduri john sebastiano, bright cherry, medium-full body for a pinot. A bit of earthiness, a very good wine. Drink now through 5yrs.
- 2012 ravenswood old hill zinfandel. Have had many of these over the last 4 yrs, and its at its best yet. Dark fruit, anise and herb. Can go another few years