PRIVATE DINNER AT CRAFT BUTCHERY - Craft Butchery in Westport, CT (8/15/2014)
Private dinner in their cafe set up by Steve Gellman. Dinner was excellent. Here was the menu:
1 - Burrata, heirloom tomatoes, aged balsamic
2 - Seared diver scallop, creamed peas, pea tendrils
3 - Dry-aged steak, duck fat potatoes, seasonal vegetables
4 - Dark chocolate mousse, sea salt caramel, house-smoked bacon
Only compliant really was they served no bread, which for the amount of bottles we had was needed.
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2009 Rhys Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Very nice Chardonnay that towed the line between new world and old world. Could taste and smell the oak influence but by no means over the top. Had a little more finesse than the big powerhouse Chardonnays from California. Had notes of marshmallow, vanilla, mango and lemon oil but a little more subtle than the typical Cali Chard. More impressed with this bottle than the one I tried previously from Rhys. (92 pts.) -
2003 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc Le Méal - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
What an incredible wine. Dark gold in color. Beautiful nose of peach, saline, mineral and flowers, among other things. Beautiful acidity that just washed over the palate with flavors of peach, citrus and touch of grass. The finish was fabulous and lingered for over 45 seconds. This white was in a category of it’s own tonight. By far the best Rhone white I have ever had. (96 pts.) -
2013 Myriad Cellars Sémillon McGah Family Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
A perfect Summer wine! This was served at the perfect temperature to display it vibrant wavy acidity. Had some grassy notes along with citrus, smoke, peach and what I suspect a neutral oak influence. Drank this before the cheese coarse but it was very nice on it’s own. (92 pts.) -
2010 Scholium Project Glos McDowell - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
What a bizarre wine. Had a Scholium red before but this was my first white. The nose was nothing I have ever smelled on a white wine before. Nose of bacon fat, honeysuckle and hazelnut was just weird, but in a really good way. The nose was really jumping out of the glass though. For everything the nose was, the palate was just the opposite. I expected a big powerful, over the top wine and this was more restrained and elegant, at least for a California wine. Definitely worth trying. (92 pts.) -
1999 Chehalem Pinot Noir Ridgecrest - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge
This was the only wine that I really didn’t care for tonight. Not to say it was a bad wine, it still had some life left but definite drop off from the other ones in my opinion. Displayed a little fruit but more manure, funk, herb and something weird (shoe polish?). Saw some of the other notes and could be a degree of bottle variation or simply context but this left me thinking it is probably past its peak. (88 pts.) -
2003 Blankiet Estate Merlot Paradise Hills Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
Quite possibly the best nose of the night. Just jumping out of the glass and very complex with dried cherry, rose, earth, iron and currant. This didn’t tasted like an 11 year old Merlot! Kind of what I expected with really big fruit and complex flavors of dark cherry, licorice, mocha and iron. An excellent wine but the only place I really docked it was the finish, which to me seemed inconsistent. Some sips it appeared to tail off. Nevertheless, a really great wine. (95 pts.) -
2003 Husic Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Dos Palmas - USA, California, Napa Valley
I had never even heard of this wine but it was quite an impressive showing. Showed a lot of sweet fruit with dried cherry, bell pepper, and meat on the nose. Nice Napa Valley character but also was extremely balanced. Notes of dried cherry, green pepper and currant. Remember it being a tad cool when I tried it. Very enjoyable wine that probably would have stood out more on its own had not been for the stiff competition. (93 pts.) -
2004 Dancing Hares Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
I brought this wine and popped it about 5 hours before serving although I did not decant it. Displayed some nice aromas of green pepper, cherry, blackberry and currant. The Cab Franc really stood out on this wine and some of the other tonight. Cherry, blackberry, currant, pepper and iron filled out the palate on this. Ended with a nice finish. (93 pts.) -
2005 Continuum Proprietary Red - USA, California, Napa Valley
This was excellent and a very different wine from the others. Very structured and balanced. Nose of cherry, blackberry and vanilla. Basically screaming Napa Valley. The palate kind of came in waves with flavors of cherry, blackberry, iron and mineral. Finish lasted about 25-30 seconds. Glad I have a few of these in my cellar and it’s drinking really nice right now. (95 pts.) -
2010 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Tough call between so many nice wines but for me this edged the other for wine of the night. The nose was really singing on this with notes of currant, cherry, bell pepper and baking spice. To my knowledge this was the only wine tonight that was decanted and it certainly needed it because it was tannic. Displayed big fruit flavors though of cherry, blackberry, vanilla, mineral and a hint of earth. Glad I got to try this since I hesitated pulling the trigger on it and missed out. (97 pts.) -
2007 Ovid Experiment A2.7 - USA, California, Napa Valley
Very impressive showing for Ovid. Nose of bell pepper, cherry and currant. Again showing that Cab Franc on the nose like the Dancing Hares. This really shined though with flavors of blackberry, cherry, pepper, earth and spice. Still tannic though and probably could have used a good decant. Will have to consider getting some of these since the quality and price are right. (95 pts.) -
2007 Viader Proprietary Red - USA, California, Napa Valley
Another wine with a high quantity of Cab Franc in it. Nice nose of pepper, cherry, herb and a touch of funk. Little bit of old world aromas mixed in there. This really delivered on the palate though with flavors of blackberry, cherry, mocha, currant and spice. Nice complexity there. For someone not looking for an over the top Napa Valley red this would fit the bill nicely. (93 pts.) -
2009 Bressler Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
I really enjoyed this tonight and it was my first time trying Bressler. Nose was big and thick with aromas of cherry, blackberry, rose and fat. Wasn’t bacon fat just reminded me of something deep fried. This had some sweet fruit and caressing tannins, with flavors of cherry, raspberry, blackberry and iron. Finish lasted for about 30-35 seconds. Really hit the spot tonight. (96 pts.) -
2010 Bevan Cellars Oscar Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
Continuing the trend of wines with high quantities of Cab Franc, the Bevan was my last wine I tried of the evening. Displaying the classic green pepper aroma in the nose along with aromas of bacon fat, cherry and tea. Just struck me and stood out from the other wines. The palate on this was a powerhouse and just entices you with its complexity. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, iron, earth, currant and pepper. This wine is worth seeking out! (96 pts.)
A great time with great food.
Posted from CellarTracker