RichardA

Thanks Silly. See you at the Boqueria in October!

Hi Silly: Do you have a menu in English online? I will be in Barcelona in Oct. and will stop by your stall. Richard

Thanks. I may attend a tasting soon of some Scholium wines so just wanted to see which ones, if any, that people recommended. I have never had any of their wines before, and don't know which ones might be available at the tasting.

Has anyone had any of the Scholium Project wines? Thoughts/tasting notes?

I was there maybe 1 1/2 years ago and at that time had an incredible meal. We had the tasting menu and there was one excellent dish after another. Service was impeccable. We had the wine pairings which were very good too. I don't know if it has changed at all since then.

I bought it for $25 a bottle.

I opened a bottle a few nights ago with my local wine buddies. The wine is very dark in color, almost inky. Initially, this wine had a funky aroma, very earthy and almost a barnyard smell. My initial tastes of this wine began with a gush of very grapey flavors. It transformed into a more earthy taste on the finish, which was fairly long. What this wine really needed was to sit and breath for awhile. For later on, after some time had passed, the wine really smoothed out. The funky aroma largely vanished, though still being mildly earthy. The grapey flavor became much more subdued to nice blackberry and dark cherry flavors. The wine became very smooth with a complex layer of tastes. There were some spicy elements on the finish that emerged and the earthiness largely vanished. I was very impressed with the wine after it had sat for a time. It became very much a Bordeaux-style wine. My friends all enjoyed the wine as well, especially after it sat for a time. I would definitely recommend this wine. I do look forward to my other bottles as I will get to taste even more of the wine then, rather than split it with five others.

Thanks for the suggestions. Both Casa Toribio and Casa Rafa sound interesting and I will definitely consider them.

It is their Bordeaux style wine, with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot.

Thanks M. Please email me the photos as I would like to see the winery. Only 20 cases of the 1999 Coturri Assemblage Millenaire were made so it is not a surprise that I have not seen many talking about this wine.

Has anyone tasted the Coturri Assemblage Millenaire? I just picked up a few bottles of the 1999 vintage. I am a big fan of Coturri wines but have never tasted this one.

It does not have to be near the Las Ventas but I thought that since I would be there that there might a worthwhile restaurant in the area. I am staying at the Palacio del Retiro so would take a taxi to Las Ventas. I will be dining at Viridiana on Sat. night. Sunday night will be my last night in Madrid before I head into wine country.

I am seeking restaurant recommendations for the area near the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid for a Sunday evening. I am seeking good Spanish cuisine. It could be a great tapas bar or a high end restaurant.

Has anyone eaten recently at Can Majo in Barcelona? Any recommendations as to what to order there?

Here are some of my favorites: Hakushika Junmai Ginjo Horin Gekkeikan Junmai Daiginjo Yuki No Bosha limited edition Junmai Ginjo Trader Joe's Sake (Yes, it is $10 and actually a good tasting sake. It is also made in Japan)

Thanks very much!

Hi all: While eating in Spain, how do you differentiate between authentic angulas and imitation ones? I have had angulas at a Spanish restaurant in the U.S., but could not say whether they were authentic or not. I will be visiting Spain in September, and would like to ensure I can try some authentic angulas. Thanks, Richard

The wine dinner was $75 plus tax/tip, which I found to be very reasonable, especially considering the caliber of the wines. I have been there several times before for dinner, and for other wine dinners, and I would recommend it. I consider it a higher end, intimate restaurant. It is not a fast food joint or some chain. It has a passionate owner and has been around for about six years now. It is like a Boston dining experience, but in the suburbs and without all the traffic/parking woes.

Last evening I attended a wine dinner at KroMel's Restaurant at 407 Main Street in Stoneham. The menu was: Caymus Conundrum 2005 Ahi Tuna Sashimi, Crispy Sushi Rice Cake, Melon Salad, and Kaffir Lime Duckhorn Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2004 Tea Smoked Salmon Rillette, Gingered Strawberry Compote, Crispy Baguette, Beet Greens Buehler Napa Cabernet 2004 Spring Greens Tossed with Great Hill Blue Cheese, Fresh Blackberries finished with White Truffle and Honey Vinaigrette Caymus Cabernet 2004 Pan Roasted Beef Strip loin, Yuka and Potato Rosti, Rainbow Carrots, Red Wine Jus Dessert No wine Vanilla Chai Crème Brulee, Chocolate Shortbread Cookies I began the night with high hopes as the wine choices were exceptional and the dinner choices were quite intriguing. So, would those expectations be met? As we were seated, we were given a glass of the 2005 Caymus Conundrum (about $30 retail). I must note that this is one of my favorite white wines. It is an alluring blend of several different varietals, presenting a harmonious melding of various citrus fruit flavors. It is crisp and has a slight tinge of sweetness. A very pleasant way to begin the evening. We soon were served a bread basket containing three different types of bread, all very fresh, and several thin, crunchy breadsticks. Our first dish then arrived, the ahi tuna sashimi. This consisted of a thin slice of fresh ahi tuna, atop shredded melon pieces sitting on the sushi rice cake with some lime at the very bottom. This was quite an interesting and very tasty dish. It was a good mix of flavors and textures, from the silky smooth tuna to the crunchy rice cake with the crisp melon and lime. I could have eaten several of the rice cakes. The dish paired very well with the Conundrum. The second wine of the evening was the 2004 Duckhorn Goldeneye Pinot Noir (about $50 retail). I am also a big Pinot Noir fan and knew a bit about this wine though I had never tasted it before. It is considered an excellent Pinot. I most definitely agree. It is a full bodied Pinot Noir, much darker than most Pinots. It had some earthiness too it, as well as flavors of dark berries, and a nice, lingering finish. A phenomenal wine! This was paired with the salmon rillette. This dish consisted of a bed of beet greens, with a mound of the tea smoked salmon rillette, accompanied with three, long crisp baguettes. There was also a bit of gingered strawberry compote. There was plenty of salmon and it had a very nice smoky flavor. It spread well on the baguettes and paired excellently with the Pinot. This was another very tasty dish. Our next wine was the 2004 Buehler Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (about $25 retail). This wine had the misfortune in some respects to be sandwiched between the Pinot and the Caymus Cabernet. It is not in the same league as those two wines, but it is impressive in relation to its peers. It is a very good Cabernet, especially for the price. It is very smooth with a decent finish and the tannins are not overpowering. At this price point, the Buehler should be near the top of the list. This Cabernet was paired with our salad dish, a bed of spring greens with the addition of blue cheese and blackberries. All topped by a white truffle and honey vinaigrette. The blue cheese was flavorful without being overly pungent. The blackberries were fresh and sweet. And the vinaigrette was mild, adding flavor without detracting from everything else. The Cabernet went well with the different flavors of the salad. The final wine of the evening was the 2004 Caymus Cabernet (about $70 retail) which is another one of my favorite wines. This famed Cabernet justifiably earns its high reputation. It is a superb wine with many layers of complexity. And it was paired with the entrée, a beef strip loin, which is a perfect choice. The strip loin was quite tender, juicy and flavorful. It was accompanied by a intriguing yuka and potato rosti, kind of like hashed browns. It had a very nice taste with a good crunchy feel. There were also rainbow carrots. I finished everything on my plate and there was plenty of food. Finally, for dessert, we had a Vanilla Chai Crème Brulee with two chocolate shortbread cookies. This crème brulee had a very unique taste with the chair flavors and I enjoyed it very much. It had the typical crusty layer covering the smooth and creamy interior. That alone would have been sufficient for dessert but the cookies were a nice touch. Service was excellent, and we had several individuals serving us over the evening. The good staff of Rapid Liquors was present and Doug discussed each of the wines when they were served. Overall, this was an excellent wine dinner, and well worth the price. We both were sated when we left. My initial high hopes were met and I am very glad I attended the dinner. I do look forward to their future wine dinners. I should also note that I went out today and purchased some of the Duckhorn and Buehler wines as they both impressed me. Richard

Last weekend, I hosted a private wine dinner at Savory Tastes Café in Reading for my family, friends and members of my local wine group. It was a Spanish Tapas wine dinner and Chef Stephen Bell worked with me to create the menu and accompanying wines. I wanted a diverse menu, with Spanish wines that people might not be familiar with but that they would enjoy. We began the evening with glasses of Casteller Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine that is made like Champagne but which has a different style. It is a bit fruitier and sweeter than Champagne, and lacks that common yeasty flavor. I have had this Cava before and have always enjoyed it. It started off our evening well as everyone arrived and settled in. Prior to our dinner, the Chef started us off with a little Amuse Bouche, a Blue Cheese and Apricot Tart. This was paired with a glass of dry sherry, a Pedro Romero Manzanilla “Aurora.” The sherry went very well with the tart, their flavors complementing each other. I found the sherry to have almost a nutty and floral taste that meshed with the bit of tartness from the blue cheese. Even those who did not care for the sherry alone enjoyed it when they had it with the tart. The dinner then started with our first course, the appetizer. This consisted of two tapas, the Trucha Con Jamon (Trout with ham) and the Pimiento De Piquillo Rellenos De Pollo (Chicken stuffed piquillo peppers). This was paired with a Laxas Albarino from the Rias Baxas region. The trout was very simply prepared, with little more than salt, pepper and some olive oil. There was Serrano ham between the two pieces of trout. Many of the guests stated this was one of their favorite dishes of the evening. The trout was obviously very fresh, quite flavorful and the salty ham went well with the trout. The stuffed peppers provided a nice contrast as they sat in a spicy tomato based sauce. The large pepper was stuffed with minced chicken and was quite tasty. The Albarino paired well with both dishes. It is a fruity, crisp white wine, and complemented the fish as well as the spicy stuffed pepper. The second course, our soup and salad, included Sopa de Ajo (Castilian garlic soup) and Ensalada De Escarole Con Jamon Y Peras (Frisee with pears and honeyed lardoons). This was paired with a Falset Marca from the Montsant region, which is near Priorat. If you love garlic, then you would have loved this soup. It was a simple soup but very flavorful. The salad was also very good, especially the lardons. They were crunchy, sweet and so very tasty. I could have eaten a plateful of just them and the other guests raved about them as well. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carinena, and Garnacha. It is light, fruity and very smooth. It is an easy drinking wine that would pair well with many foods, including the soup and salad. Our next course was our first entrée, including the Albondigas Con Manzanas Y Setas (Catalan meatballs with almond saffron sauce) and Patatas Bravas (Crispy potatoes with spicy tomato sauce). This was paired with a Vinos Sin Ley M5 Monastrell from the Yecla region. The sauces for both of these dishes were superior, with interesting flavors that complemented the meatballs and potatoes. The wine is 100% Monastrell, one of my favorite varietals, and added a bit of an earthiness to the flavors, though the wine had plenty of fruit as well. It stood up well to the different dishes. The next course, our second entrée, consisted of Carre De Cordero Con Pistachios (Lamb chop with pistachio pesto) and Arroz Cremeso Con Idiazabal Con Pechuga (Creamy Basque smoked cheese risotto with duck). This was paired with a Pares Balta Hisenda Miret from the Penedes region. This was another phenomenal course. The lamb chop was incredibly tender and most delicious, with an intriguing coating. Again, this was one of the favorites of the night. The duck was also very tender and flavorful. The risotto was outstanding, with a nice smoky flavor. I could have easily devoured a full plate of either dish. The wine was Garnacha based and stood up well to the meats, without overpowering them. Our final course of the evening, our dessert, was Mousse De Yogur Y Chocolate Blanco Con Gelatina De Fruta De Passion (Yogurt mousse with white chocolate and a passion fruit gelee). This was paired with a Pedro Ximinex Barbadillo, a sweet sherry. I generally dislike yogurt but I really enjoyed this dessert. It was sweet, fruity and did not have that yogurty taste which I dislike. Everyone else seemed to enjoy this very much as well. The sherry paired well with the dessert. Service throughout the evening was excellent. We were not rushed in the least. Chef Bell was very personable during the dinner, even sharing some of his recipes with the guests. Overall, this wine dinner was exceptional. With five courses of food and seven wines, everyone left quite sated. I did not have a single complaint about the meal. And all of the guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves as well, some telling me this was one of the best meals they have had in quite some time. Chef Bell really outdid himself for this wine dinner. I have long been a fan of Savory Tastes Café and it is meals like this one that continue to prove my faith in Chef Bell’s talent. Savory Tastes is available for anyone to hold a private wine dinner or similar private function. Chef Bell is very good at working with you to develop a menu as well as any other extras you might need. I would highly recommend Savory Tastes Café to all. http://www.savorytastes.com

I will be going to St. Croix for a few days near the end of March as well. From my own researches, Bacchus and Kendrick's (both in Christiansted) are supposed to be excellent restaurants, though they are certainly more expensive than the other places already mentioned in this thread. Richard

Thanks. I actually already have plans to visit a number of wineries, including Abadia Retuerta, Remeriz de Ganuza, Albet i Noya, Pares Balta, Miguel Merino, Ismael Arroyo, Talai Berri Txakolina, Mas d’en Gil and Costers del Siurana.

My next vacation will be to Spain, a two week trip that spans from Madrid to San Sebastian to Barcelona. I want to know if there are any Spanish wines that are only available in Spain, that are not exported. I want to bring some wine home, and space will be limited, so I want to buy something more unique, which I can't get at home. Any suggestions? Richard

Hi all: I am traveling to Oklahoma City next month and am interested in checking out some Oklahoma wines. Any recommendations for good wines, especially reds? Anyone know some good wine stores in OKC? Richard

Thanks to both of you. I will be visting a few of the wineries in the area, and Remerize de Ganuza will likely be one of them. Rich