Beachfan

For a humble left coast suggestion, I had the 1999 Martinelli Charles Ranch Chardonnay. Very pleasant (as long as you're not too oak sensitive). The 1998 Martinelli vineyard Martinelli was super. But the 1999 Martinelli vineyard was way too oaky. The Charles Ranch should be very affordable.

Any examples in the Provence/Rhone area?

Now I want be eating anything from Bulgaria.

Any other tips? Surely Steve and John are not the only ones who notices vegetables or the lack thereof. I'll narrow the question in case enivison oneself as a vegetarian is too offputting to generate a reply: What top restaurants have vegetables promintently featured on their menu?

Shunning.

$100/$70 = 40% roughly, close enough for government and boulliabase work.

And I thought Tetou was supposed to be THE place. Good thing it isn't because I was underwhelmed (summer 1999). While the traditional assortment of fish was impressive, I enjoyed the boulliabaise at Les Celebritees (with Delouvier) much more. Now I have some bouliabaise to look forward to next time I'm in the Cote d'Azur (i.e., Bacon).

How was it? I can't pretend to be in your league as an expert taster (far from), but it was quite good. Pretty intense. It was premature to drink it, but nevertheless, sufficiently complex, and very satisfying. Was perfect with the strong flavors we ate - sheeps head meat, etc. I'd like to try another '93 in a couple of years. I intend to buy some of this '97 Brunello madness, and try to control myself and leave it a good long while. Meanwhile, people are starting to murmur about '99 Brunellos...any thoughts? Which one was it?

How was it?

Sad to say, Montelena no longer allows picnics. I spoke to them yesterday.

So Jordyn - where'd ya go, what'd ya eat, did you drink, was it special?

You're welcome. I'll have to try it; I like Arlot's Clos de Foret

Is there any correlation of experience with crowds or seating? At the old Bouley, lunch was always better than dinner. I'm saddened by the highly variable experiences at lunch being reported.

Sometimes I only bring a half bottle if I'm dining alone. There are some lovely wines available in halfs. Bouley was $35 Corkage. GT I forget, but it was less, as all Danny Meyer places are ($20?). Having a cellar is probably central to the BYO lifestyle. You get excited when you buy it, and then when you take it out to drink, and then hopefully a third time upon consumption. Three joys from one bottle.

Sorry, out of my league.

I'm sort of a maverick with wine/food pairing. Since I don't eat red meat, I become pretty flexible. I don't like lobster with Bordeaux. Beyond that, usually the restaurant type is sufficient to ensure a happy pairing. Often, I order the food to go with the wine. But that isn't usually hard for me given my wide open parameters. I never mention in advance that I'm bringing wine; I do inquire about their BYO policy at reservation time.

I concur with Steve P. The only time I got a frosty reception was at Le Bernandin, and partly my fault because I thoguht they allowed BYO and they didn't. (The sommelier actually came over and apologized later because he saw I brought a serious wine). Jean-Georges ($75 fee is a little hefty, but then the right wine for JG should be a hefty wine), Bouley, GT of course, Tasting Room (buy one, BYO one) almost all California restuarants, and now, many Florida restaurants. If you establish a rapport with the sommelier (offering a taste to him and the chef helps), it isn't unusual to have the corkage waived. My only self imposed requirement is to bring in a wine worthy of the food. When they see that, they know you care.

I tried very hard to find a recommendation at Cello and could not. At Babbo: Although I haven't had the Altare 1990 Barolo Vigneto Arbolina, I'd love to. At $295 it isn't cheap, but the market price is quite high on that wine due to it's fabulous reviews. They have many good values on wine that's a little to young (the Falesco Montiano for example). I liked the Albino Rocca 1997 Bricco Ronchi at $90 so much at Babbo's that I went out and bought some on the grey market. Best price I could find - $89. It came out around $45 before the reviews turned it into unobtanium.

This looks like a fun list. The Loire wines look like a good match, as well as the Scoffitt. Sushi isn't an easy match (I usually go with Sake), but this has some interesting possibillities.

Funny, my first experience with Amarone was in Vencie, the 1993 Allegrini. I loved it, and at each of the next two restaurants I went to, I ordered it. And the price increased 50% between each restaurant. To be fair, I should point out that somehow, the first place was selling it at around retail. They probably bought it on futures or have a long standing relationship with the producers.

Is it a violation of the Mann Act if you transport an escolar across state lines for immoral porpoises?

Thanks. Does this mean it's ok if it isn't interstate? (probably not ) Is flown in from a foreign country interstate?

I'd appreciate a link to something more definitive if anyone knows of one. I've had escolar several times and love it.

Thanks for the links. 1) Danko has a lovely assortment of half bottles 2) Pricing seems higher than I care to see (half bottle of beaucastel 99 seemed triple retail) 3) Cello's markup at charging $125 bottle for 98 Chave Offerus is pretty extreme; it's about $25-$30 at retail 4) If you don't care about price, I could certainly recommend some, but they seemed geared towards the obvious labels 5) L'Orangerie has the 1996 Dalle Valle Cabernet for $120, which is fair and a very nice Nap Cab. 6) I think it's telling when a wine list has more wines above $500 than less than $50 7) Bouley and Babbo both have more balanced lists. And Babbo's pricing is more reasonable if I remember. 8) Couldn't find links to those,but here is Lupa (below) 9) It would be great if someone with the time could compare prices of similar bottles (not rare ones, but large production ones like Chateau Beaucastel) accross the lists. Lupa Wine List

Umbrian Merlots Central Coast Syrahs Condrieu Sicilian Wines Petite Syrah