@Ian_Alper, Ken and I were talking about returning to Lillian’s in Santa Cruz, we haven’t been this year. We tentatively have December 9 penciled in. All are welcome!
Side note: We’ve been on a roll with Santa Cruz locations - if you want to suggest a South Bay or Peninsula one, please go ahead and we’ll make it happen!
Update: Reservation confirmed for Lillian’s Italian Kitchen, December 9th, 6:00pm. 1148 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz, CA.
George +1
Ken +1
Daniel +1
Ian +1
Laurie +1
Bob +1
Robert
Uli +1
Great intro to the holidays! And great table, room to talk. Thanks all!
My faves were the 1964 Rioja (deep and dark) and the Wittman Morstein (confident blast of purity power and wildness) and the 1996 Bin 707 (a personal special favorite, now unaffordable, thanks Ken).
The 2024 Gisela showed a little soft and sweet and short compared to a world-class sharp and complex bottle a couple of weeks ago.
The five-older-Rhyses lineup was fun, and showed the across the board quality and ageability of that winery (except the one wine we knew in advance would be off). I’m probably alone in feeling before and after this dinner that their stem management before 2009 was too heavy, then 2009’s are too ripe, and since 2010 everything great.The Rhys Home pinot (2012?) was light and lovely, by far the best Home showing I’ve seen, Chambolle-like, not a region I’d associate with Rhys (which to me is Morey and Gevrey).
Two world class Chardonnays, 2002 French (Preuses!) and 2013 US (Hyde!), both personal faves of mine, both oxIdized despite beautiful color. Glad that’s been fixed. I have a couple of 2002 Fevres in my cellar. When they’re on…
Thanks Uli, I couldn’t fit both you and me into the photo, one of us needs to lose weight.
I forgot about the Vigna del Sorbo. Very high level and fully satisfying hedonistically with a surprising intellectual component. At Wine-searcher’s $50 (Vinous says $115), it’s a screaming deal. Take into account it’s “merely” Chianti Classico and it’s the best surprise high-level QPR I’ve seen in 2025. So much better balance and oak/tannin management than most Brunellos.
I so much love these get togethers! Food and wine were almost as good as the company! My favorites were the Bin 707 (I had no idea how pricey these have become!), the 07 Rhys Swan ( I brought this one, kid’s birth year and realized he is probably not going to get into wine anytime soon) and the 64 Rioja. Someday I will get to try an older Chablis that is not oxidized! Thanks everyone! Looking forward to the next one.
