Last night, bber Tom F. and his lovely wife Kathy joined my lovely wife Jane and I at Fahrenheit in Cleveland’s Tremont District. Chef Rocco Whalen may be Cleveland’s best (certainly as good as any) and the place was jumping. The wines were consumed non blind and the four of us had a great dinner. Thanks to Berta, our waitress, who provided great unobtrusive service and Rocco, for stopping by, but most of all the food.
We all joked about this being the “rappers” wine when it was relased a few years ago. Went great with a green bean and edamame salad:
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1996 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut - France, Champagne (12/20/2009)
Light golden in color. A steady stream of small bubbles. This took about 30 minutes to open up fully although it was rocking to start. The nose is fresh baked brioche with just a hint of ginger ale. Full bodied. On the sweeter side but certainly dry. Smooth and complex. Flavors of ginger and Vernor’s with great acidity. An amazingly long finish. Just spectacular! (97 pts.)
My first time trying either of these wines. Both were very good, howeever, the Van Duzer was quite the revelation. Went great with a roated eggplant pizza with basil as well as some out of this world potato nachos with melted goat cheese!
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2003 School House Pinot Noir - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (12/20/2009)
Ruby/purple in color. The nose is big with cherries and dark cherries. Some dust. On the palate, this is big and straightforward. Very ripe fruit. I think Bob Foley had something to do with this wine and it drinks that way. The back label calls this feminine and Burgundian but I don’t see that. I suppose compared to some of its neighbors. It was easily the biggest red on the table. That said, it is a very drinkable lush wine that was a great first red. (91 pts.)
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2005 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Homestead Block - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills (12/20/2009)
My first time trying this wine. Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is very nice with cherries, cherry liqueur and some hint of melted black licorice. Great texture (my favorite part of this wine). Full bodied. On the palate, this drinks like a full bodied Oregon Pinot. Cherries, some oak, cherry cream and a nice tight complexity. Needs time to develop but drinking well now. A winery I need to find out more about. (93 pts.)
Went very well with my butternut squash raviolo with Balsamic. I think I liked this more than the rest of the group, but I love my Nebbiolo.
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2000 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Gallina - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (12/20/2009)
Ruby/brown in color. The nose is tremendous with cherries, dusty cherries, rose petals and leather. Really complex. On the palate, this is still young. Lots of tight layering of cherries and dried cherries with some floral notes. Worked great with the food. Still, I would wait another year or two on these. (92 pts.)
It is nights like this that wine is all about. Good wine, better food, and even better friends.
Posted from CellarTracker