Hey All!
What a night it was last Saturday was for enjoying OTBN wine… An early B-day celebration with a dozen close friends for my lovely S.D. Tawnee could not have been a better reason for a great night of OTBN wine!
Our group met at the cozy-sheik Bellavino Wine Bar in Westlake. Despite the momentary confusion I created by giving good directions and using a bad address on my email, we all managed to arrive on time.. Upon arrival I saw that Antonio – One of Lori & my favorite waiters in the VC would be taking care of us. Joining him was a lovely young lady named Kim – From the moment we arrived I felt we were all in good hands.
We had a Pre-Selected Menu for the evening offering us a choice of Kobe Beef Burger, Sottish Salmon, or Lavender Chicken. Our service was attentive; the food was good; AND THE WINE?
Well lets see what this OTBN night had to offer –
From the award winning Bellavino Wine List we began with a Margerum Sauv Blanc and a Shadow Canyon Viognier. Both paired well with the Starter Courses we ordered – A Classic Wedge with Blue Cheese and Applewood Smoked Bacon & A tasty BUT Spicy Babbagonoosh.
For Our Dinner We Enjoyed a Perspective Sampling of:
From William Selyem
2007 Central Coast Pinot Noir
2003 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2007 Central Coast Pinot Noir
2003 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
From Golding
2006 Solomon Hills Central Coast Pinot Noir
2006 Cargassachi Central Coast Pinot Noir
2006 Solomon Hills Central Coast Pinot Noir
2006 Cargassachi Central Coast Pinot Noir
From Robert Biale
1999 Monte Rosse “Sonoma” Zinfandel
2002 Turner “Lodi” Zinfandel
1999 Monte Rosse “Sonoma” Zinfandel
2002 Turner “Lodi” Zinfandel
Along with our group, Antonio, Kim, and BWB Owner Richard were provided unlimited samplings of all our wines. I am sure we were their favorite table for the entire night!
I think it is safe to say that the winning wines for the evening dinner were the 2003 William Selyem – The Very Definition of a Classic Sonoma Pinot; loaded with red cherry fruit, but well balanced with a touch of earth and silky soft tannins… AND…the 2006 Golden Cargassachi. A relatively new Central Coast Pinot using grapes sourced from one of the premiere growers of Pinot in the region (if not State). A very Un-Santa Rita Hills like Pinot offering us a better balance of black cherry fruit and earth then is typical of many Central Coast Pinots.
For The Record – Both Zins while nice on their own were a bit too massive for the subtlety of the Salmon and the Chicken.. Funny calling 9 & 10-year old Zins Massive, BUT we are talking about Biale Zins! We actually left most all the Biale Zins with Antonio and Kim on their promise that they would later share them with staff.
By the end of an early evening of dinning, as most of us were enjoying a dessert of Bellavino’s Signature Bread Pudding, WE agreed that it was a special enough night to continue enjoying a few more sips of wine and turn our OTBN Dinner into a OTBN NIGHT!
AND UPON RETURNING TO HOME HOW DID WE TOP THE OTBN WINES WE JUST ENJOYED AT DINNER?
Well How About…
A 2003 Paul Hobbs Michael Black Vineyard Merlot: For anyone who doubts California can produce stunningly great Merlots I defy them to say so after enjoying this deep rich perfect wine.
A 2007 Tensley Coulson Canyon Syrah: As Beth, our “24 hours of fun friend”, so simply told Joey T himself: “Oh my this wine is lovely” Tensley’s Coulson Canyon Syrah has been on a roll for at least the last 5 vintages. A spectacularly big Syrah that carries incredible balance along with all that power you love from Central Coast Syrah.
A 2002 E & E Borossa Valley Estate “Black Pepper” SHIRAZ:This wine is all but a mystery to many people I know who claim to love Aussie Shiraz, but it is one of the best to come from the land down under. Even with an older 2002 Vintage this Shiraz was loaded with black fruit and pepper spice although a bit softer then when I first tried the 02 back in 2006…
I know we all ended the evening knowing it indeed was quite a OTBN for wine!
So what & how was your last OTBN Night?
PERSONAL TIP TO DINERS WHO BYOB TO DINNER –
I strongly urge you to share your BYOB wines with your servers or at least the Owner/Manager/ & Chef… It’s the best way I have found to let the people who serve you know that you value their service…. It also seems to never fail that your efforts to share and educate staff about other great wines you love also earns you added value while enjoying your night out, AND it almost always guarantees that staff will remember and look forward to seeing you when you again return…
I am reminded to encourage this from diners after I observed a large party seated near us Saturday enjoying their BYOB bottles of Paul Hobbs Stagecoach Cab.. NOT A SINGLE PERSON IN THAT GROUP could not muster the good graces to share even a small taste for the people they were depending on to serve and treat them well. As some one who has been on the service side of the dinning experience I can confirm to anyone who will listen that the best customers your servers remember are those who shared their Paul Hobbs, Harlan Estate, Chateau Latour & Haut Brion, DRC Burgundy, and countless other trophy wines they chose to bring as part of their own OTBN Dinner.
I Know It’s Just My Opinion But I Hope You Give It A Try… A Better Experience Just May Surprise You!
All The Best And Remember – In Vino Veritas
Michael Fraschilla
Wine & Spirit Specialist & Partner
24-Pinot Media LLC
(805) 217-4518 Ph
(805) 522-4337 Fax
Nice post Michael.
Had the 2006 Tensley a few weeks ago and it was incredible.
Glad to see how the Biale held up, as I am a big fan.
And you are so right on about sharing when you BYOB.
Michael Perlis