Surf & Turf - Snow Crab Legs and Filets of Beef

Surf & Turf - Snow Crab Legs and Filets of Beef

Continuing our getaway to The Cove, our Destin, FL vacation rental home, and following our Surf & Turf Dinner with fresh caught red snapper with filet of beef tenderloin, featured in this blogpost, excerpted below, we returned to John’s Sea Market for fresh Alaskan Snow Crab legs.  

Linda and son Sean prepared the grilled beefsteaks with the steamed crab legs, sweet corn on the cob and cooked broccoli and carrots. 

As I wrote in earlier blogposts, Destin is called “the world’s luckiest fishing village” due to its historic reputation as a destination for gulf coastal and deep sea fishing. As mentioned, it has the largest commercial charter fishing fleet in the nation.  

Destin’s immediate history is attributed to a fisherman, Leonard Destin, who moved down from New London, Conn., and settled in Northwest Florida about 1845. For decades, he and his descendants fished and navigated the only channel passage to the Gulf of Mexico between Panama City and Pensacola, known as Destin’s East Pass.

Destin is a place where highest quality freshest seafood is readily accessible - direct off the many charter and commercial fishing boats in Destin Harbor, through numerous fresh seafood markets, and of course, at a myriad of daily fresh catch seafood restaurants. 

One of many seafood markets is Sea Market. own and operated by John, a commercial fisherman in his own right. At the Sea Market he sources fresh catch seafood through exclusive arrangements with a dozen local fishing boats - wherein he guarantees to take 100% of their daily catch, and hence has assurance of supply to service his retail and wholesale customers. 

In addition to the fresh local daily catch that regularly includes Grouper, Mahi Mahi, Pompano, Snapper, Cobia and Sea Bass, he also offers shellfish such as Stone Crab and Wild Caught Scottish Salmon which is flown in fresh from Scotland, and prime and exotic meats.
Like the other evening, we grilled filets of tenderloin beefsteaks to complement the crab legs for a ‘surf & turf’ diner.

As before, for wine accompaniment with dinner, we pulled from the wine cooler a red and a white wine. 

Catena Zapata 'Angelica Zapata Alta' Chardonnay 2022

Catena Zapata, founded in 1902 by Italian Nicola Catena, is Argentina’s oldest winery still in the founding family’s hands, founded in 1902 by Italian Nicola Catena. Today they are the largest exporter of wines by value in Argentina.

In the 1980s, third generation Nicolás Catena Zapata, set out to grow internationally, championing Argentina wines overseas and becoming one of the largest and best known Argentine producers and brands. 

In the 1990’s he was joined by his two daughters, fourth-generation Laura and Adrianna Catena, sisters, in operating the business. Following in her father Nicolás Catena Zapata’s footsteps, fourth-generation vintner Dr. Laura Catena manages the winery and established the legendary Catena Institute of Wine. The institute, founded by Dr. Catena in 1995, collaborates with local and foreign universities in developing and advancing Argentine wines across the country’s winemaking regions. It conducts leading edge research in regional viticulture and publishes discoveries and findings in national and international wine journals.

In 2021, they opened an experimental winery within the larger facility in Agrelo equipped with all the latest technologies, as well as an equally experimental winery for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other high altitude varieties in Gualtallary. 

Catena Zapata has been successful in producing premium single-vineyard white wines from the high-altitude Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina. Their “single vineyard” wines showcase Mendoza’s highest altitude microclimate. Where warm, sunny days and cool nights allow the chardonnay grapes grown at the foot of the Cordón del Plata mountain range to achieve excellent balance and maturity. 

He also set upon planting vineyards higher up in the mountains taking advantage of the cooler climates. He developed single vineyard designated labels sourcing from and showcasing his Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, with the La Pirámide vineyard, then in Villa Bastías with Domingo, Gualtallary and Adrianna, both in Tupungato, and subsequently in Paraje Altamira with Nicasia. 

Catena Zapata’s Adrianna Vineyard, called the “Grand Cru of South America”, has been awarded more 100-point ratings than any other South American winery. In 2023, it was voted #1 World’s Best Vineyard by a group of 500 food, wine and travel writers’ William Reed’s World’s Best Vineyards Awards.

Catena Zapata was also recognized and became known for establishing the Malbec grape grown in extreme high-altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza, and promoting the legacy of Argentina’s old vines and the country’s ungrafted, massale Malbec heritage. 

Catena Zapata was named the No. 1 World’s Most Admired Wine Brand by Drinks International in 2020, 2025, and 2026.

Catena Zapata has been introducing new wines from the Cordon el Cepillo region of Mendoza and are working with Doña Paula and Trivento to get El Cepillo bestowed with its own IG (geographical indication) designation.

Catena Zapata also operates a restaurant in Mendoza where they showcase their wines with the food menu crafted to perfectly complement the wines.

Catena Zapata 'Angélica’ Zapata Alta' Chardonnay 2022

This 100% “single vineyard” Chardonnay was sourced estate vineyard in Mendoza’s highest altitude Cordón del Plata mountain range in Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, sitting at 4,850 feet altitude above sea level in the foothills of the Andes.

The microclimate of warm, sunny days and cool nights allow the chardonnay grapes to achieve excellent balance and maturity.

It was aged 14 months in 100% French oak, 40% new.

Winemaker notes - “Angélica Zapata Chardonnay Alta offers an intense golden colour with light shades of green. The nose is rich and full-flavored, with vibrant citrus fruit and attractive minerality. On the palate, a smooth sweet entry leads to an unctuous, fresh wine, packed with ripe fruit and subtle vanilla. The finish is long and lingering, with crisp, well-balanced acidity.”

Alejandro Vigil, the head winemaker at Catena Zapata, said his overall impression of the 2022 vintage was that it was the best year he has ever seen, even surpassing the lauded 2019 and 2021. “2022 was similar in terms of cool temperature of 2021, but it was not as rainy,” he said.

Golden straw colored, medium bodied, zesty bright vibrant green apple and citrus notes with layer of minerality and tones of vanilla on a crisp acidic finish. 

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5368030

https://catenazapata.com/angelica-chardonnay/

https://catenazapata.com/

For the red wine accompaniment with the beefsteaks I pulled from the cellar/cooler this Napa Valley Bordeaux varietal blend. 

Whitehall Lane Tre Leoni Red Blend 2023

We hold Whitehall Lane Napa Valley wines dating back to the turn of the century - Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Estate and Reserve. We've passed by the Estate and Winery on St Helena Highway in Rutherford dozens of times during our trips to Napa Valley so this trip we decided to visit there during our  Napa Valley Wine Experience 2018. We featured that visit in this blogpost - Whitehall Lane Cellars Winery Visit and had a private Tasting, excerpted here.

The historic estate actually dates back two centuries to the mid 1800's. Napa Valley settlers were drawn to the gravelly-loam soils and ideal climate, planting high quality grape vines at the Whitehall Lane Winery site. A barn constructed in the early 1900's for equipment storage is still used today. In 1979, two brothers started the winery and directed their winemaking efforts successfully to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They named the winery after the road that runs along the southern border of the property, Whitehall Lane.

Tom Leonardini acquired Whitehall Lane Winery in March of 1993 and has been a hands on active proprietor every since with his wife and their five children. Tom was joined by son Tom Leonardini II in 1994. 

They updated the winemaking and barrel-aging program and introduced a scientific approach in the vineyards. Tom had the Estate vineyard replanted and bought four additional vineyards including the Leonardini Vineyard. They now own seven prime vineyards that include two vineyards in the St. Helena Appellation, three vineyards (including the winery) in the Rutherford Appellation, one vineyard in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley and one vineyard in Sonoma Valley.

Tom II is responsible for distribution and has been instrumental in increasing sales from 15,000 cases to almost 50,000 cases today. Sister, Katie Leonardini oversees direct sales and hospitality at the winery after college and a career in the financial services industry. They are joined by eldest sibling Kristin who opened the Napa Valley Winery Exchange, a premiere retail wine shop in San Francisco. She assists Katie in public relation and hospitality events at the winery.

Whitehall Lane wines have been recognized in Wine Spectator Magazine's year-end ranking of wines, having been honored an unprecedented three times in five years for producing wines rated among the top five in the world. The winery has also been voted Winery of the Year from the Quarterly Review of Wines and Wine and Spirits Magazine.

The estate and winery in Napa Valley's historic Rutherford appellation consists of approximately 140 acres in seven prime vineyards that include the Whitehall Lane Estate Vineyard, Millenium MM Vineyard and Bommarito Vineyard in the Rutherford Appellation, the Leonardini Vineyard and Fawn Park Vineyard in St. Helena, Oak Glen Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District and Rassi Vineyard in Sonoma..

Whitehall Lane Tre Leoni Proprietary Red Blend 2023

We discovered, tasted and acquired this wine at the SoWal Wine Festival Sandestin this spring and have held it at our Destin vacation home since, waiting for a tasting occasion such as this. . 

This proprietary Red Blend of Bordeaux varietals commemorates the three generations of the owner/producer Leonardini Family, “Tre Leoni”. It is packaged with a bold brightly colored artistic label with an abstraction image of a Lion.

It is a blend composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. Each grape varietal was fermented and aged as separate lots in 25% new French oak, 75% neutral French oak barrels. Winemaker Jason Moulton tasted through each lot and put the final blend together after aging for 10 months. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. 

This blend has amazing depth, balance, and big flavors. The nose evokes candied black fruit, red currants, stewed black plums, licorice, and dried sage. On the palate, it bursts with fresh blackberries, crème de cassis, dark chocolate, and mixed berry jam. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins. Enjoy Tre Leoni with your next barbeque and when gathering with family or friends.

Winemaker’s comments on the vintage. “The 2023 vintage is being hailed the vintage of a lifetime. Winter and Spring brought roughly forty inches of rain, which provided a boost for Sonoma Valley. This vintage moved California out of a drought and into a good position for years to come. Budbreak arrived 2 weeks later than the 2022 vintage due to the spring rain events. The moisture in the soil led to a perfect flowering condition in the vineyard, which provided an even crop with perfect fruit set. Summer was moderately warm, allowing the grapes on the vine to develop slowly. Autumn had a few hot days, that pushed the vines into perfect maturity, leading to a late harvest season. The consistent summer and fall weather encouraged our Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec grapes to ripen in mid-October.”

Winemaker Tasting Notes - “This blend has depth, balance and big flavors. The nose evokes hints of red currants, fresh strawberries, black plums, vanilla and notes of cocoa dust. On the palate, it bursts with fruit ranging from black and red currants, red cherries, mixed berry compote and toasted hazelnuts. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.”

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/5211848

https://whitehalllane.com/

@Whitehalllane

Surf & Turf - Fresh caught red snapper with filet of beef tenderloin

Surf & Turf - Fresh caught red snapper with filet of beef tenderloin 

During our getaway to The Cove, our Destin, FL vacation rental home, we took advantage of the Destin based largest commercial charter fishing fleet in the nation to obtain the fresh catch of the day for a festive seafood dinner.  

We went to John’s Sea Market on Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin and got the smallest whole red snapper they had, which was still large enough to feed our four adults and two small children!  

Destin is called “the world’s luckiest fishing village” due to its historic reputation as a destination for gulf coastal and deep sea fishing. As mentioned, it has the largest commercial charter fishing fleet in the nation. 

Destin’s immediate history is attributed to a fisherman, Leonard Destin, who moved down from New London, Conn., and settled in Northwest Florida about 1845. For decades, he and his descendants fished and navigated the only channel passage to the Gulf of Mexico between Panama City and Pensacola, known as Destin’s East Pass.

Destin is a place where highest quality freshest seafood is readily accessible - direct off the many charter and commercial fishing boats in Destin Harbor, through numerous fresh seafood markets, and of course, at a myriad of daily fresh catch seafood restaurants. 

One of many seafood markets is Sea Market. own and operated by John, a commercial fisherman in his own right. At the Sea Market he sources fresh catch seafood through exclusive arrangements with a dozen local fishing boats - wherein he guarantees to take 100% of their daily catch, and hence has assurance of supply to service his retail and wholesale customers. 

In addition to the fresh local daily catch that regularly includes Grouper, Mahi Mahi, Pompano, Snapper, Cobia and Sea Bass, he also offers shellfish such as Stone Crab and Wild Caught Scottish Salmon which is flown in fresh from Scotland, and prime and exotic meats.

John also prepares John and Araya’s Seafood Gumbo, and Chowder, and they are especially known for his “John’s Famous Crab Cakes”. His wife Anaya produces a collection of sauces including Araya’s Seafood Sauce, Tuna Dip, Araya’s Thai Steak Sauce, and John’s Roumalade, for pairing with the seafood. 

Linda picked out this fresh whole Red Snapper which John’s associate scaled and scored the fish for us to prepare it for grilling.

Sean and Linda stuffed the fish with citrus oranges and fresh seasonings including fresh lemon, garlic salt and pepper.

After grilling we served it with Jasmine coconut sticky rice and mango salsa. 

They also grilled filets of beef tenderloin with pineapple and asparagus. 

 

With dinner I pulled from the wine cooler two wines to accompany and complement the entrees - a white and a red. The optimal pairing amplified the enjoyment of both for a delicious dinner. 

Brewer Clifton Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2023

We picked this up at Wine World in Destin, where we attended the Italian Wine Month Dinner at Wine Bar Destin wine dinner just the other night. It proved to be a huge QPR - Quality Price Ratio value for a bold sipping Chardonnay to accompany our seafood dinner. 

This is from winemaker Greg Brewer who founded Brewer-Clifton in 1996 to produce wines that reflect the geographic, geologic and climatic uniqueness of California’s Sta. Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara County.

Sant Rita Hills has one of the coolest climates on the west coast, Sta. Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County, with a long growing season, making it ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The unique topology where the valleys run perpendicular to the coast funnels the maritime influences through the hills to the small appellation that is filled with variations in soil, aspect and micro-climates to produce terroir ideal for those varietals.

Greg Brewer also produces Diatom Santa Barbara County Chardonnay which we have enjoyed in the recent past, another high QPR easy sipping Chardonnay. We wrote about it in these pages in this recent blogpost - Diatom Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2023.

We visited the Brewer Clifton tasting room in the town of Los Olivos during our Santa Barbara Country wine experience back in 2023.





Jeb Dunnuck gives their Sta Rita Hills estate Chardonnay 95 points and writes, “I've written many times, this appellation release can stand toe to toe with any Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County.” 

 That release was rated 95 points by Jeb Dunnuck, 94 points by James Suckling, 93 points by Wine Spectator, and 92 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Vinous and Wine Enthusiast.  

Winemaker Notes - With the goal of expressing a comprehensive expression of the appellation, Brewer-Clifton selected four unique vineyard sites to create this Sta. Rita Hills bottling. This blend is comprised of 3D, Machado, Acin and Hapgood vineyards. While each lot is handled separately and in a completely uniform fashion in the winery, each contributes vastly different expressions which ultimately harmonize in the finished wine.

This was pale golden straw colored, medium-bodied, crisp, clean and pure with , A savory bright vibrant acidity to the fresh-cut green apple and ruby grapefruit flavors with mineral richness, intense Meyer Lemon citrus on a robust lingering finish. 

It was so bright and vibrant, it needs food or a cheese accompaniment such as tonight’s seafood, which was an ideal pairing, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of both, food and wine. It was great with our seafood entrees.

This release was aged nine months in 100% neutral oak barrels but any sense of oakiness is muted.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5299506

https://www.bygregbrewer.com/brewer-clifton

For a red wine with the filets of beef, we finished off this bottle we had open from earlier in the week. 

Madame de Beaucaillou Haut-Médoc

I wrote about this new release label in this earlier blogpost, excerpted here. 

Madame de Beaucaillou Haut-Médoc 2018 

We're long time fans and collectors of the grand vin Ducru Beaucaillou and picked up a case of this new label in its inaugural release. 

We visited the famous Château Ducru Beaucaillou during our Bordeaux St Julien wine experience in 2018 and tasted the 2018 release from the barrel. That vintage went on to receive 100 points from Wine Enthusiast and 99 points from just about everyone else. They released this new label for that vintage so we were compelled to pick some up. 

As I have oft written in these pages, in top vintages, 'all boats rise with the tide', meaning great Chateaux will produce great wines even in their second and third labels, such that those labels often provide tremendous QPR - Quality Price Ratios, superb wines at a fraction of the price of the grand vin. 

Wine critic Jeb Dunnuck wrote about the 2018 Bordeaux: "In short, 2018 is a thrilling vintage with no shortage of legendary wines and I cannot imagine anyone who purchases these wines will be disappointed...It’s possible to find attractive, well-made, even outstanding, wines that punch well above their price points." 

This is the very first vintage of this new label coming from the cellars of Ducru Beaucaillou. The new wine comes from vineyards located in the Haut-Médoc; plots brought by Madame Eugène-Borie on her marriage and more recently by the acquisition of plots from Madame Fort-Pradère. This wine label was created to pay homage to the woman who chaired the Board from 1998 to today, but also to an attentive and loving mother. Under the Haut Medoc appellation, this wine offers Borie quality at an entry-level price.

In recognition of Ducru's long line of women owners, the chateau released this label noting, “equally inspiring and demanding… all of them had an essential role in the development and renown of Ducru Beaucaillou’s signature style – strength and grace.”

Ducru Beaucaillou is a Bordeaux Second Growth that dates back to 1720 and is named for its terroir – the beautiful stones - ducru beaucaillou ... that are a large part of the composition of the soil of the vineyards adjacent the Gironde River. These stones, and the vineyards planted on them, are part of what gives Ducru Beaucaillou its particular Saint Julien character. Adjacent is a commemorative 'beautiful pebble', engraved with the historic chateau, in a gift box given to guests at to the estate.  

With the 2018 vintage, Ducru Beaucaillou decided to honor it’s 300^th birthday and its Chairman [chairwoman] of the Board, Mrs. Eugene Borie, for the past decade by creating a new cuvee from her family’s home vineyards. The cuvee is this one, the Madame de Beaucaillou, released in 2020. 

This is vinified in the cellars by the Ducru-Beaucaillou team, receiving the same care and attention: the technical winemaking process, selective blending, and careful ageing for 12 months in barrel (including 20% new oak). 

In classic Bordeaux style, this is a blend of 39% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 

Deep garnet-colored, medium bodied, bright expressive vibrant blackberries, blueberries and plum fruits, accented by graphite and a touch of clove, hints of coffee tobacco, cigar and cedar with a savoury round finish with firm structured backbone and sturdy, fine-grain cloying tongue coating tannins that are not for the feint of heart but will impress big Bordeaux enthusiasts. 

This was delicious already and I can only imagine how this will be with three to five or more years of additional integration and aging. 

RM 90 points. This was awarded 91 points by James Suckling

Upon tasting this, I quickly got on line and ordered the current release of this label, available through En primeur (futures purchase). 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?3662209

@DucruB #stJulien #medoc #bordeaux #GrandCruClasse1855

http://chateau-ducru-beaucaillou.com/  

https://freshfishdestin.com/

Grilled beefsteak dinner with summer vegetables, fine wines

Grilled beefsteak dinner with summer vegetables and fine wines 

Enroute back from our Bloomington getaway weekend (Anniversary dinner at Truffles Bloomington), we stopped by Dr Dan’s in Northwest Indiana for a wonderful grilled beefsteak dinner. He prepared a delicious vegetable medley of squash, onions, peppers, artfully crafted roasted potatoes with a subtle hint of curry, and fresh picked Indiana sweet corn, which was as good as any I have ever tasted. 

We enjoyed a medley of fine wines before and with dinner.

The fine wine flight of ultra-premium wines included a sparkling white wine and a single vineyard Sonoma Chardonnay before dinner, and a Napa Cab for pairing with the food. 

Before dinner he served a special limited release label we tasted at his recent private wine producer tasting event - Joe Phelps Ovation Sparkling Wine. 

Joe Phelps Ovation Sparkling Wine 2019

Dan acquired this special limited release ultra-premium sparkling wine through the Phelps Wine Club. This wine was included in our producer private tasting at Dan’s earlier last month wherein wine ambassadors from Joe Phelps winery visited and curated a wine portfolio tasting - featured in these pages in this blogpost - Joseph Phelps Private Tasting.

This Methode Champonaise (traditional production method) white wine is a blend of 79% Chardonnay and 21% Pinot Noir. It is 100% estate sourced from the Phelps Pastorale vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA in western Sonoma County. It was bottle aged fifty-eight months ‘en tirage’, meaning it was aged in the bottle in contact with spent yeast cells after secondary fermentation which us what creates the bubbles to become a sparkling wine. This aging method rests the bottle horizontally in cool cellars as the yeast cells slowly break down. The results is adds rich, creamy textures and complex aromas like brioche, toast, and nuts to the white wine.

Winemaker’s harvest notes - “The 2019 harvest began one to two weeks later than usual, shaped by heavy February rains particularly in the Sonoma Coast and Russian River areas. A wet spring with precipitation during flowering resulted in lower crop yields, while the cool growing season provided an extended ripening period that allowed grapes to develop full flavors with naturally fresh acidity and superb balance. The overall Chardonnay fruit quality was exceptional, and since sparkling wine grapes are harvested early in the season, our Chardonnay blocks offered pristine fruit for production.’

“The 2019 Sonoma Coast Ovation Sparkling Wine opens with vibrant aromas of Meyer lemon, ripe pear, apricot and freshly baked brioche, complemented by delicate notes of white flowers. On the palate, this wine displays elegant textural complexity with silky layers of golden apple, nectarine, lemon curd and toasted almond, finished with a subtle mineral edge. The 2019 showcases bright, refreshing acidity and excellent structure, with the potential to develop further complexity and depth through extended bottle aging.”

I brought from our home cellar a premium Sonoma County Chardonnay from the same area. 

Wayfarer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2019

Wayfarer is the project of legendary Napa Valley wine producer Jayson Pahlmeyer, and his daughter Cleo Pahlmeyer.

Jayson Pahlmeyer crafted his first wine in 1986. Working with viticulture professors at the University of Bordeaux, Jayson obtained and planted French vine cuttings in Napa Valley in 1981. Working with another legendary winemaker, Helen Turley, they produced the award winning Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red.

Helen Turley discovered the Wayfarer Sonoma Coast estate for sale in 1998, which she shared with Jayson who sensed it had the essential elements to produce world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Jayson acquired the property and recruited renowned vineyard developer David Abreu to plant Wayfarer, which he completed in 2002. For several years, Wayfarer Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were blended with fruit from Russian River vineyards and bottled under the Pahlmeyer branding.

In 2012, Jayson's daughter Cleo Pahlmeyer, who had been working by his side since 2008, founded Wayfarer and released the first Wayfarer estate wines in 2014. 

In 2017, Cleo was appointed President of Pahlmeyer wines. She led the sale of Pahlmeyer Winery in 2019 to focus entirely on Wayfarer, which she heads and manages to this day. 

Wayfarer Winemaker is Todd Kohn who grew up in Northern California and graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology, He worked at Napa sparkling white wine producer Schramsberg,  then gained further experience in the vineyard, lab and cellar, gaining knowledge of winegrowing and winemaking working at several premiere Napa Valley wine producers including Opus One. He then worked at Moorooduc Estate on the Mornington Peninsula region of Australia, where he gained insight into growing and crafting world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

Todd joined Wayfarer in 2013 as Assistant Winemaker working with the Consulting Winemaker and took over as Winemaker in 2017.

The Wayfarer vineyard spans 30 undulating acres on a remote reach of the Sonoma Coast. This distant landscape tucked in between redwoods gets the Pacific fog which cools the grapes at night extending the growing season, ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Producer photo of Wayfarer Vineyard

“Winemakers vintage and production notes, “We hand-picked each block and delivered firm, cool clusters to the winery before sunrise. After gentle pressing, the wine settled for 24 hours, followed by a carefully monitored racking to French oak barrels, 63% new. Native yeasts slowly guided alcoholic fermentation, with careful batonnage until malolactic fermentation was complete. The wine aged in barrel for 15 months, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.’

“2019 began with several months of heavy rainfall. Total rainfall for the year was 78 inches, second only to record-setting rainfall in 2017. With a warm April, shoot growth advanced quickly, and energy was plentiful in the soil after heavy rainfall in May. Flowering was also a week later than normal, but aligned wonderfully with a change in the weather, as rain clouds gave way to beautiful sunshine in June. The summer of 2019 was full of sunshine, yet temperatures were moderate to cool. The average high temperature through July and August was 81oF, perfect for gradually ripening the Chardonnay. By the time veraison began on August 4th, the vines were tracking only three days later than normal. 40 days later, we picked our first Chardonnay on September 13th, and concluded harvest on October 5th.”

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes, “Aromas of star jasmine, white peach, lemon zest and meringue emerge from the glass, along with roasted almond, coconut and baking spice. Graceful and subtle in its richness, this wine has plenty to offer. The dense palate is beautifully balanced with fresh acidity and salinity. An elegant chalky texture lingers on the finish, indicating great aging potential.’

This release was awarded 97 points by Jeb Dunnuck, 95 points by Erin Brooks of Wine Advocate, and 93 points by Antonio Galloni, Vinous and Kim Markus of Wine Spectator.

Dunnuck wrote, “This is just about as good as it gets in 2019 with regards to Chardonnay.”

Golden straw colored, full bodied, Burgundian styled with smooth polished, layered but perfectly balanced, creamy notes of peach, honeycomb, nutty almond and touches of citrus, green apple, flint  and chalky minerality, with pleasant integrated acidity on the very long finish.

RM 95 points. 

https://www.wayfarervineyard.com/wines/wayfarer/wayfarer-vineyard-chardonnay/2019

For the dinner course Dan offered a selection of different ultra-premium labels from his cellar collection including Shoup Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Chateau Palmer Margaux 2015 and this California Cab 2008. As part of proper cellar inventory management, I selected the oldest vintage, the California Cabernet, which was likely at the apex of its drinking window, and not likely to improve from further aging, vs the other’s that have a decade or decades of life yet, and likley to mature and improve further. 

Stag’s Leap Cellars “SLV” Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

We tasted the recent release of this label at the producer’s dinner recently featured in this blogpost Italian Village Wine Dinner.

This Italian Village “Crown Jewel of Napa - Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars” Wine Dinner hosted at Italian Village, Chicago celebrated the classic legacy of historic Italian and now American wine producer Marchesi Antinori, and their acquisition of legendary American Napa Valley producer, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. 

We were joined by fellow Pour Boy, Lyle and Terry, along with Dan and Linda,.

This is from the legendary “S.L.V”. Vineyard, also known as Stag’s Leap Vineyard, the winery’s first vineyard, planted in 1970. The vineyard is home to 35 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.5 acres of Cabernet Franc, and is composed of predominantly volcanic soils with healthy drainage. 

This vineyard achieved global fame when the 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon triumphed over Bordeaux’s First- and Second-Growth Chateaux in the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting. This historic Stags Leap District vineyard continues to produce wines with complex black fruit and berry character, spicy intensity and excellent structure. Wines from S.L.V. are craft to be enjoyed upon release, but also promise long life and an exceptional ability to age.

Producer’s notes, “The majority of the 1970s-era vines have aged past their grape-producing prime and have been gradually replanted, perpetuating the life of this historic vineyard. Yes, the notable vineyard, S.L.V. Block 4, planted in 1972, still sourced grapes for this blend. This block on the eastern side of S.L.V. is composed of rugged volcanic soils gives this wine its structure and notes of minerality along with concentrated dark fruit fl avors and ripe, elegant tannins. Vines in alluvial soils in the western part of the vineyard add accent notes of vibrant fruit fl avors and heady aromatics.”

Each lot was vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels for 24 months.

Producer’s vintage notes - “The 2008 growing season was like a scary movie with a happy ending. A hard frost in April and a heat spike in May during bloom greatly reduced vineyard yields. Another heat spike in the first week of September caused concern, yet a reprieve of a cool, calm harvest the rest of the way. Although yields were lower than normal due to poor bloom and set, the concentration and flavor development in the grapes was outstanding, resulting in a beautiful wines despite the challenges.”

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate wrote, “It is one of the better and more complete of the 2008s“

Winemaker Notes, “The 2008 S.L.V. is the 35th vintage since the 1973 S.L.V. won the Paris Tasting in 1976. This rich and generous Cabernet Sauvignon opens with crushed blackberry and ripe plum aromas, accented by notes of anise, fennel and cedar. Full-bodied and supple, the wine flows smoothly across the palate. The wine's texture is reminiscent of enjoying a dark chocolate covered caramel with sea salt. Dark fruit and spice linger on the finish.”

This release was rated 95 points by Wine Enthusiast and 90 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Garnet colored, medium full bodied, elegant and refined ripe blackberry, dark plum and black cherry fruits with notes of cassis, new oak, smoke and tar turning to sweet tannins on the finish. 

RM 92 points. 

https://www.stagsleapwinecellars.com/

Bruna’s Ristorante Little Italy Chicago

Bruna’s Restaurant Wine and Dinner in Little Italy Chicago 

In town for a weekend including seeing the Cubs vs. Yankees at Wrigley Field, Sis/bro-in-laws Pat & Rodger joined us for dinner at Bruna’s Ristorante in the historic Little Italy restaurant row, Chicago. 

We had alternate plans but leaving the ballpark, we called ahead and secured a table for early dinner. 

It turned out to be the only table available as the restaurant filled up completely over the course of the next hour after our anrrival.

We featured Bruna’s, their history, menu and extensive winelist in more detail in these pages in this earlier blogpost last autumn - Wine & Dinner at Bruna’s in Chicago’s Little Italy.

Before dinner we had Bruna’s daily specials, Arancini and Zuchini Blossoms, and dinner salad. 

For our dinner entrees, we ordered Eggplant Parmigiana, Veal Parmigiana and their signature Veal Saltimbuca.

 

For a wine accompaniment, I ordered from the extensive primarily Italian winelist, Capparella Sole Olena, which it turned out was out of stock, so, I ordered the Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montaclino. 

Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2019

One of the original estates of Montalcino, Tenuta Col d'Orcia is situated in the village of Sant'Angelo on the outskirts of the medieval hilltop village of Montalcino in Tuscany’s Siena province. The estate dates back to the 1700’s and in 1973, was purchased by the Cinzano family and continues to be owned and managed by Count Francesco Marone Cinzano. Since acquiring the estate, he has upgraded the facilities and substantially increased the vineyard holdings to now be the third largest owner of Brunello vineyards in Montalcino. 

The estate’s name Col d’Orcia, translates to “the hill overlooking the Orcia River,” due to its position in the undulating hills between the Orcia River and Sant’Angelo in Colle. 

The estate includes vineyards, gardens, olive groves, tobacco and wheat fields and is one of the most prolific wineries in Montalcino producing Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino as well as olive oil, grappa and even a Moscadello di Montalcino.  

The estate covers around over 1300 acres of which 350 acres are planted to vineyards spread over several varying terrains, with 275 acres planted with the primary Brunello varietal, Sangiovese. The Poggio Al Vento vineyard is one of the premier sites and sources the Riserva wines bearing the same name. The vineyards of the Tenuta Col d'Almost all Orcia are located on the south-eastern slope of the Monte Amiata where powerful and long-lasting plants produce fruits notable for their vibrant acidity.

The sites enjoy a southern orientation that provides the vines with abundant sunshine and vineyard soils of limestone and marl. The located at about 1500 feet above sea level, in the foothills against Mount Amiata (5,700 feet), it protects them from floods and hail. The climate is typically Mediterranean, with limited rainfall coming in from the Tyrrhenian coast, 21 miles away.

The estate is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and has an ageing hall for storing Slavonian oak and Allier oak barrels. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled steel tanks.

Tenuta Col d'Orcia produces about 800,000 bottles annually, exporting about 80 percent of its production to 70 countries generating annual turnover of is around 5.5 million euros, and according to their statements, are the largest winery in Tuscany.

Col d'Orcia was recognised internationally at the Wine Enthusiast's Annual Wine Star Awards in 2026, receiving the "Environmental Advocate of the Year" award. 

Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2019

This release was awarded 95 points by Wine Enthusiast, 94 points by Decanter, Jeb Dunnuck, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator, and 93 points by James Suckling and Vinous.

Winemaker Notes “The ample and complex bouquet leads with small, ripe red fruits such as cherry and blackberry. It is well integrated with the oak and vanilla aromas from the long refinement in wood. Full-bodied and balanced, the excellent structure and the enveloping tannic texture reveal a fruity and lasting finish. The finish, enhanced by a good sapidity, recalls the same aroma notes.”

Bright ruby colored, full bodied, fruit forward and round with vibrant, expressive ripe blackberry, dark cherry and plum fruits with notes of herb, sweet tobacco, earthy dusty rose, and hints of cedar and leather, turning to elegant smooth full, polished tannins on the lingering finish. 

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/n?12698389

https://coldorcia.it/ https://coldorcia.it/en/home

We were served by their journeymen professional staff, some who have been with the restaurant for decades. Following dinner we enjoyed sitting with owner Luciano Silvestri discussing the winelist and menu selections. 

https://www.brunasristorante.com/