Pistache Bistro dining in Palm Beach

Pistache Bistro dining in Palm Beach

Visiting Palm Beach with friends, we dined at Pistache French Bistro for authentic French bistro cuisine and surprisingly, also an authentic French Bistro atmosphere, setting and vibe! 

The ambiance of Pistache exceeded our expectations in its authenticity, warmth, comfort and setting. 

Despite the chic and fun dining room (s), we opted to dine al fresco, outside on the patio, overlooking the nearby park and inter-coastal waterway in the distance. 

What fun! It felt like we were in San Tropez on the Côte d’Azur in the south of France, sans the men playing bocci in the park!. 

And the menu was equally authentic! 
.
The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winning winelist featured a selection of French as well as American labels, with selections in each wine group, at the range of price points from budget to ultra-premium. 

I spent a fair amount of time studying the wine list on-line before hand, and selected a Champagne, a white and a red wine considerations for our dinner accompaniments/pairing. 

Not knowing what which entrees and thus associated pairing would be selected, or whether the wines would be available, I took along two bottles, BYOB, just in case, as back-ups. Notably, I selected, and took along, somewhat moderately priced, but high QPR labels in deference to our friends. 

In the end, each of my preferences were no longer available, and with the blessing and consent of our server, we opened both of my BYOB bottles. Typically, I would purchase a bottle from the winelist, in addition to opening a BYOB label, not offered on the winelist. The corkage fee (s) more than compensated for my bottles. 

 
I can’t help but partake of French fine cuisine delicacies, I started with the PATÉ DE CAMPAGNE, with House Made Pickles, Mustards, Petite Salad, Toasted Crostini, along with the SEARED FOIE GRAS, with Roasted Apple, Grapes, Cranberry Reduction and Brioche Toast. Both were delicious although the Foie Gras would’ve been better had it been served warmer, or hot. 

For our entrees, our friends selected the Coq Au Vin and the Roasted Chicken entrees. 

Linda selected the Branzino, which was by far the selection of the evening. 

For my entree I selected the Beef Borgogne.

The white wine was an ideal pairing all the others’ selections, aside my Beef Borgogne.  

Lloyd Cellars Carneros Chardonnay 2023

I challenged Bob at Total Wine in Palm Beach Gardens for a rich, full, round Chardonnay, in a forward but ‘well behaved’ or balanced style - a poor man’s version of two recent Chardonnays featured recently in these pages - Kosta Brown One - Sixteen, and the David Arthur Carneros Chardonnay. He without hesitation pointed me to this top seller favorite, from a notable Winemaker.  

Winemaker Rob Lloyd and his wife Bonnie Lloyd founded Lloyd Cellars in 2009 with the mission: “to make the wines we love – big, flavorful, and deeply connected to California’s best vineyards”. They partner with leading growers in Napa Valley Carneros, Sta. Rita Hills, Clarksburg, and the North Coast to source grapes to craft expressive, small-lot wines that “punch way above their weight”.

Rob Lloyd became one of California’s most respected winemakers, honing the craft over decades working from the lab to the vineyards in several notable wineries including La Crema and Rombauer.

Rob earned his Master’s degree in Enology from the University of California, Davis in 1999. 

He began working at La Crema in Sonoma working as an Enologist and Assistant Winemaker, where gained invaluable experience producing exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

Rob worked at well known Rombauer Vineyards from 2001-2008, progressing from Assistant Winemaker (2001-2003) to Associate Winemaker (2003-2006) and eventually Head Winemaker (2006-2008).

Since 2008 when Rob and his wife, Bonnie Lloyd, founded Lloyd Cellars, they have pursued a shared vision to produce rich, full-bodied wines, specializing in expressive Chardonnays and balanced Cabernet Sauvignons, sourcing from the best vineyards across California.

From 2009-2014, Rob worked as Co-Founder and Winemaker of JaM Cellars, becoming one of the best-selling wine brands in the country. 

Since 2009 Rob served as Executive Winemaker at Handwritten Cellars, and Jessup Cellars, and since 

2014, as Owner and Winemaker at Prescription Vineyards, crafting wines that showcase the unique terroir of the Clarksburg region, with a focus on Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This Lloyd Cellars 2023 label is 100% Chardonnay sourced from the Sangiacomo Vineyard in the Los Carneros AVA (appellation). Spanning the southern end of both Napa and Sonoma counties, down near San Pablo Bay, the area’s cool growing conditions produces some of California’s best-known Chardonnays.

It was barrel-fermented, 100% malolactic fermentation, aged 10 months left on the lees in American oak barrels.

It was rated 94 points by Tasting Panel Magazine.

Winemaker’s rating notes - “ This is a white wine for people who drink red. Big, rich, and unapologetically bold, with tropical pineapple and toasted coconut on the nose and ripe apple and pear bringing the acidity that most Chardonnays in this style never find. Full malolactic and generous oak aging build a creamy, full-bodied palate, but the acidity runs underneath the whole thing and keeps it alive from the first sip to the last. That's the balance. That's what makes it worth finishing the bottle.”

Golden straw colored, medium plus bodied, rich, creamy, and buttery, bold, expressive, aromas of yellow apple, butter, toast, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit, brioche, with notes of oak and vanilla and hints of spice, caramel and butterscotch, with moderate acidity on a long finish. 

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5177069

https://www.lloydcellars.com/

For my Beef entree I took BYOB this Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend. 

Robert Craig Affinity 2022 

This label is the Bordeaux varietal blend from Robert Craig. We have a long history with this producer and their numerous Napa Valley Cabernets dating back to their inaugural release in 1993, and they represent one of the largest and longest holdings in our wine cellar collection.

I wrote about our long history with and collection of Robert Craig wines, and this label in this earlier Robert Craig Affinity Duo with Grilled Beefsteaks, blogpost, (https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2025/09/robert-craig-affinity-duo-with-grilled.html) 

excepted here.

Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2022

I’ve written about Robert Craig and their Cabernet Sauvignon portfolio and this label numerous times in these pages, which are excerpted here - as last featured March 2, 2025 - Robert Craig Affinity Napa Cabernet 2007, and previously January 25, 2022 Robert Craig Affinity 2007.

We hold more than two decades of this label dating back to the inaugural release in 1993. This is part of a case we acquired of this label at the release party at the winery high atop Howell Mountain, so it is one we know well. 

I have written about Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in these pages many times including this detailed blogpost back in 2019, and again in 2021 in this post - Tomahawk Rib-eye Dinner features Robert Craig Affinity Duo, both partially excerpted below.

Robert Craig is one of our favorite Napa Valley producers and represents one of our largest holdings in our cellar. We've held many wine dinners with Robert and Lynn Craig and attended many events at the estate and winery. We have many fond memories of those dinners, lunches and other tasting events, and hearing Robert talk about this label. 

We visited Robert Craig's site high atop Howell Mountain several times, as shown here with wine buddy Andy, sister Jan and bro-in-law Bill, and wine buddy Bill and Beth C. One of our memorable trips featured a picnic lunch at the site overlooking the valley below shown below. It was during that trip that Bill discovered and subsequently sourced Howell Mountain Cabernet, Affinity and Robert Craig Zinfandel which they served at daughter Krista's wedding.

With Robert Craig at the estate high atop Howell Mtn 
back in 2008.

As mentioned above, we hold as many as two decades of Robert Craig’s portfolio of labels’ vintages dating back to the inaugural vintage release in 1993. This label, Affinity, represents the Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon based blend of Cabernet Sauvignons and other Bordeaux varietals sourced from the various Napa Valley appellations.

Robert Craig flight of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

Affinity is the Bordeaux Blend of the Robert Craig portfolio such that Robert always took immense pride in this label, as the entry level introduction to his 'three mountains and a valley' appellation select Napa Cabernets, referring to his appellation designated premium labels from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn and Spring Mountain. There were also bottlings from Atlas Peak and Mt George and in later years he would say ‘five mountains and a valley’. He took pride in this providing early gratification quality drinking at an early age, yet as shown tonight, it has some longevity for aging for a decade or more.  

I recall many times, Robert speaking fondly of this label and the QPR - quality price ratio it provided, as he strived to hold the price point of this wine to provide excellent value and be a draw to the Robert Craig brand. The appellation designated labels sold for twenty to thirty percent more. I wrote recently about the discontinuation of the Mt Veeder label after two decades of being one of the flagship labels. This was especially poignant as this was Robert's favorite label of the portfolio, having started his career on Mt Veeder. 

Sadly, Robert passed away in 2019 and I wrote about him in a Tribute Blog at that time. I opened a 2007 vintage of his favorite label, Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon that evening. 

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/09/robert-craig-tribute.html

I wrote back in 2019 about Robert's passing in a Tribute to Robert Craig, when the business turned over to new leadership.

Robert never promoted or played up the fact this label was a carefully crafted  Bordeaux Blend comprising all the Bordeaux varietals, rather he focused on it as an introduction to the portfolio of Robert Craig Napa Valley Cabernets.

Producer’s note - “The 2021/2022 bottlings of Affinity marks our departure (at least for the next few years) from the La Londe Vineyard in Coombsville. For this vintage, we looked to our mountain estate vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder to provide the backbone of the wine, rounded out by a handful of longtime Napa Valley growers who have long contributed to this hillside Bordeaux blend. We continue to produce a wine that is powerful and ageworthy, yet supple enough to be enjoyed upon release. More so than ever, Affinity provides savvy Craig lovers with a Napa collectible at a tremendous price point.”

This is sourced from numerous Craig Vineyards: Winery Estate Vineyard, Candlestick Ridge Vineyard, Amentet Vineyard and Temple Vineyard in the Napa AVA’s (appellations):Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Pope Valley, and Napa Valley

The blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc

Producer’s tasting notes - “ The 2022 vintage of Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon is marked by an increase in power and complexity over more forward-fruit driven wines from Southern Napa in previous vintages. For this vintage, we looked to our mountain estate vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder to provide the backbone of the wine, rounded out by a handful of talented Napa Valley growers who have long contributed to this mountain and hillside sourced Bordeaux blend. We continue to produce a wine that is powerful and ageworthy, yet supple enough to be enjoyed upon release.”

“A powerful yet slightly restrained wine with sweet spices on the nose and generous dark-fruit flavors on the palate. A full body and fine-grained tannins support black cherries, star anise, black licorice, iron and blackcurrants. Drinkable now but best from 2028.”

James Suckling awarded this 93 points and Vinous gave it 92 points. 

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, bright, expressive, round concentrated black berry, black plum and black currant fruits accented by notes of black tea, anise, hints of tobacco leaf and leather with polished fine grained tannins on the lingering finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/5119384

https://robertcraigwine.com/

To close out the delightful dinner we shared the profiteroles … 

https://www.pistachewpb.com/

Angeli’s Italian dining and BYOB in Naperville

Angeli’s Italian dining and BYOB in Naperville 

Dining with friend and former protege/colleague Tom O, visiting from NY/NJ, we dined at our usual meeting point, Angeli’s Italian, our favorite neighborhood trattoria, in Naperville (IL). 

For starters he had the Caesar salad and we shared the antipasto Fried Calamari, which was excellent as usual. 

For dinner entrees, Tom ordered the Angry Butterfly Shrimp, and coming off the same dish and similar wine pairing at another ristorante, for comparison as shared in this blogpost - Pazzo Italian dining in Destin, I had the Saltimbocca. 

For a wine accompaniment with the dinner,  I took, BYOB from our home cellar this Nebbiolo‘d’Alba Nebbiolo. 

Cellar records shows this is the second bottle to be consumed out of four that I acquired late last year. I wrote about this producer and label in an earlier tasting note blogpost at that time, excerpted here. Tonight’s tasting was consistent with that earlier tasting. 

Valmaggiore Sandrone Nebbiolo d’Alba 2022

This is from the Sandrone family winery in the town of Vezza d'Alba, from their 66 acres of vineyards spread between Langa and Roero, one of the most iconic producers in the Barolowine region.

Luciano Sandrone learned viticulture from the early age of 14 or 15. After years of work as a cellarman he depleted his life savings and purchased his first vineyard on the Cannubi hill in 1977, managing his land on the weekends while continuing to work his ‘day job’. He produced his first vintage in 1978, in the garage of his parents, continuing at home every vintage until 1999, when the winery he constructed in 1998 was ready for use.

Through 50 year of harvests, he focuses on the native Barolo region varietals: Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, crafted in a portfolio of six red wines.

The estate is situated in an amphitheater in the Roero zone, in the town of Vezza d'Alba, on the left bank of the Tanaro river on the concave Valmaggiore hill, facing the south, the steep slopes have full exposure to the sun, with soft and sandy soil. 

Valmaggiore Sandrone Nebbiolo d’Alba 2022

This is 100% Nebbiolo, designated Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC. During the harvested six separate passes were make to bring in fruit at optimal ripeness. It was fermented from indigenous yeasts, with maceration and fermentation in open steel tanks, and aged in French Oak tonneaux of 500 liters for 9 months before release. This label was first produced in 1994, sourced from the Valmaggiore estate vineyard in Roero,  in the village of Vezza d'Alba. Production was 28,000 bottles.

It was rated 93 points by Decanter, Vinous and Jeb Dunnuck, and 92 points by James Sucklng, Wine Advocate and Kerrin O’Keefe. 

Winemaker Notes - “Valmaggiore is an exercise in restraint. It offers up pretty, uplifting aromas of red fruits, roses, white pepper and freshly-picked violets. On the palate, red fruits are front and center, framed by tobacco, spice and mineral notes. The tannins are both strong and soft yet give the wine its unmistakable mid-weight structure. The acidity is bracingly fresh, and the finish long and layered, with red fruits, graphite and earth notes lingering.”

Bright but somewhat opaque ruby colored, medium-bodied, vibrant, smooth, structured, fresh ripe red raspberry and cherry fruits with notes of nutmeg, clove spice, rosehip tea, orange peel, earth and dusty rose with hints of kirsch on a long moderate silky tannin and fresh acidic laced finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5011990

https://www.sandroneluciano.com/en/web/collezione/valmaggiore/annata/2022.php?lev1=5&coll=5a&year=2022&coll=0

https://www.sandroneluciano.com/

https://angeliscatering.com/

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2026/04/valmaggiore-sandrone-nebbiolo-with-pizza.html

Pazzo Italian dining in Destin

Pazzo Italian dining and Sebaste Barolo BYOB in Destin

Sunday evening, our last night at our second home, Destin, FL, we made a last minute decision for Italian dining for dinner. Finding no seating availability until later at usual suspect Italian restaurants, we booked a table at a nearby restaurant that we have overlooked and not tried before.

Pazzo Italiana Ristorante & Bar is located a short six minutes from our vacation rental. in the commercial center at the major intersection of Hwy 98, Emerald Coast parkway and Mid-bay bridge hwy 293, across from the Destin Commons shopping mall.  

Pazzo was awarded “Best in Destin Magazine Reader’s Choice Award” in 2023, 24, 25, and 26.

Despite being a rainy night, and a commercial strip mall setting, we opted for ‘al fresco’ seating, which means "in the fresh air", dining or eating outside, on a patio, terrace, or sidewalk café. With the authentic Italian dishes and ambiance, the setting almost felt like an Italian city piazza, like dining in Turin, Milan or Florence! We also loved the piped in music playlist. 

It turned out to be a wonderful, delightful evening - ambiance, food, service, and even the music. 

For pairing with dinner, I took from our home cellar an Italian Barolo, Nebbiolo varietal wine. 

The extensive menu had all the traditional Italian offerings. We each ordered one of usual favorites - a point of comparison between restaurants. 

Linda ordered the Eggplant parmiagana - marinara, mozzarella, ricotta, Parmagiano, Regianno and Béchamel sauce, (a classic French white sauce made from a butter-and-flour roux whisked with milk and seasoned with salt and nutmeg).

I ordered the Saltimbocca - pan seared veal, prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella, in a Porcini mushroom cream sauce … 

Both entrees were absolutely delicious, as good as any. Pazzo is definitely on our short list and must return for future dining in Destin. 

https://www.pazzodestin.com/

Our BYOB wine from our home cellar … Mauro Sebaste Barolo 2019

Mauro Sebaste Barolo 40° anniversario 2019 

This “ Mauro Sebaste 2019 Barolo Edizione Limitata 40 Vendemmia” is a limited release bottling from the family owned and operated Mauro Sebaste in Alba, founded by Mauro in 1991 after he left the family winery founded by Sylla Dogliani, Mauro's mother and grandmother of Sylla and Angelica, known as "La Dama di Langa," after Sylla's untimely death.

He is joined by his wife Maria Teresa and, since 2018 by their daughters Sylla and Angelica, and more recently the next generation, consisting of Sylla's daughters Costanza, Celeste and Camilla.

The winery is in Alba municipality. Their estate vineyards covering 75 acres of are located in more than 10 different communes, between Langhe, Roero and Monferrato and Astigiano. The primary vineyards, Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba and Nebbiolo d’Alba are located in the area of Santa Rosalia, on the ridge of the hill that lies between Diano d’Alba and Grinzane Cavour.

Mauro Sebaste produce an average of 150,000 bottles a year, divided into different labels and types which also include a range of grappas made from the pomace.

This is a limited release of just 3,500 bottles that celebrates their four-decade anniversary. This Barolo designated label comes mainly from Serralunga d’Alba, one of the main communes in the DOCG area. The area is planted to and produces Nebbiolo grapes where the sunny climate and terroir are optimally suited for wines of strength, elegance and complexity. They also have other estate vineyards of Nebbiolo da Barolo grapes are located in the territory of equally prestigious municipalities such as La Morra, Verduno and Monforte d’Alba.

This was labeled as bottle 275 of 3500. 

This is 100% Nebbiolo, specifically sourced from Cerretta (Serralunga D'Alba) 65%,  and 35% from Roncaglie (La Morra). There the soil is Lequio Formation, iron-rich limestone sands for the Serralunga soils; Sant'Agata Fossil marl, marly layers with a higher percentage of clay and silt for the vineyards located in La Morra. 

After summer thinning, the grapes are harvested manually in 20 kg perforated boxes with each single vineyard vinified separately in order to optimize extraction and enhance its characteristic profile. After further manual selection on vibrating tables, the grapes are destemmed and transferred to the winemakers where the alcoholic fermentation takes place. After maceration of 15-20 days in steel tanks at a controlled temperature, then malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in large 15 hl French oak barrels for 30 months. The two fractions are refined separately and are blended just before bottling, then aged in the bottle for another six months before release.

Winemaker’s Notes - “Brilliant ruby ​​red color with slight garnet shades. Intense, rich and complex perfume with small red fruits, cherry, violet and dried rose, sweet spices complete and enrich the bouquet; full and consistent taste, with sweet and enveloping tannins, savory. Long and persistent finish.”

This label was rated 91 points by Wine Advocate.

Somewhat transparent ruby colored with garnet hues, medium bodied, complex yet elegant and refreshing, with bright dried cherry fruits with subtle savoury notes rose petals, spices and cassis, leather and hints of smoke with lively acidity and silky tannins on a long persistent finish.

RM 91 points

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4986236

https://maurosebaste.it/en/home-english/

PS. In retrospect, this was a week before the Destin hurricane, and I write this we are enroute back to check out the aftermath of the storm!  

Lonesome Rock Willamette Chardonnay BYOB at Beach Walk Cafe, Destin

Vacationing at The Cove, our Destin, FL vacation rental home, on our last weekend night in town, we dined at scenic Beach Walk Café, Henderson Park Inn, Destin. This is one of our favorites in the area, and is one of literally a dozen restaurants within walking distance of our place! 

Just like two earlier dinners this trip, as written in these pages, our outing at Vintij Wine Bar and Restaurant, David Arthur Chardonnay at Vintij Grand Blvd in (San)Destin, a near replay of our Delightful wine lunch at Vintij Grand Boulevard, featured in this blogpost last spring, and Italian Wine Month Dinner at Wine Bar Destin, this is another of our favorites restaurants that we enjoy revisiting when we are in town. 

The pages of this forum feature many outings at Beach Walk Cafe with its scenic Beach Walk Café, Henderson Park Inn, Destin, with its picturesque views of the Gulf Coast beach and off-shore horizon, and the towers of Destin across Henderson State Beach Park in the distance, arguably one of the best views along the Emerald Coast.

Another common theme of these postings is taking BYOB wines from our cellar to enjoy with our dinners:

Henderson Beachwalk Cafe Dinner with a view

Hope Cuvée at Beachwalk Cafe, Destin

Beach Walk Cafe and BYOB Dusky Goose Chardonnay

Beach view dinner at Beach Walk Cafe Destin

Sunset dining at Beachwalk Cafe

Herman Story Tomboy Viognier BYOB at Beachwalk Cafe

Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir Inniskillin Ice Wine at Beach Walk Café, Henderson Park Inn, Destin

Lewis Chardonnay BYOB at Henderson Beachwalk Cafe

David Arthur Chardonnay at Vintij Grand Blvd

Tripadvisor named Beach Walk at Henderson Park Inn one of the Top 10 Fine Dining Restaurants in the United States in its 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards, coming in at No. 7. 

While we love the atmosphere, ambiance and menu selections, their wine list is limited, especially for pairing with coastal seafood. So, as usual, tonight we brought from our home cellar BYOB a premium Willamette Valley Chardonnay discovery to try. 

We had with the starter course the caprese salad, split to share for two. 

For dinner I ordered one of my regular selections from the menu fresh seafood local catches, their signature dish, Grouper Vince with Pecan Crusted, Crispy Potato Cake, Haricot Verts, Honey Worcestershire Sauce.

Linda ordered her regular selection, the Beachwalk Cafe signature crab cases. 

With the dinner course, we brought from our home cellar, BYOB, a recently acquired but as yet untried, Chardonnay, for such an occasion, pairing with the seafood selections.

Lonesome Rock “The Estate” Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2022

This small production (177 cases) single vineyard 100% Willamette Valley Chardonnay is from high elevation estate vineyard, located minutes from Carlton, Oregon, in the rugged hills, midway between Portland, 70 minutes to the northeast,along the forested edge of the Pacific Coast Range and the Pacific coast to the west.

Lonesome Rock estate vineyard and winery is the fulfillment of a dream of Danny and Susan Kleiman and a promise they made to each other more than thirty years ago.

They met in 1989 at the University of South Florida. Drawn together by a shared love of language, culture, and travel, they moved to Burgundy, France in 1991. There, Danny studied oenology at the Université de Bourgogne and worked in the vineyards and cellar of Domaine Yves Chaley et Fille in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. Spending their free time exploring the vineyards of France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, they promised each other to one day have their own vineyard.

 

After four years in France, they returned to Chicago, where Danny joined Heritage Wine Cellars where his work over the next several decades took him to vineyards and cellars worldwide.

More than twenty-five years later, after focusing on careers and raising a family, they pursued their dream and their promise to produce their own home grown wines. After searching across California, Washington, Oregon, France, and even Greece, they settled on a site high in the hills west of Carlton, Oregon. 

The unique vineyard was isolated, windswept and surrounded by forests. It was planted in 2007 by Scott and Rae Baldwin of De Ponte Cellars. Zak Laster, who helped plant many of the vines, continues to manage the vineyard.

Set at the extreme northwestern edge of the Willamette Valley, the Lonesome Rock  secluded estate vineyard is tucked into the rugged foothills of the Coast Range west of Carlton, Oregon. Defined by fractured volcanic soils, high elevation, and a cool, extended growing season, the site was planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.

Lonesome Rock is what the French would call a “monopole” — a vineyard in a unique place, with a micro-climate, soil, and topographical profile like no other, isolated from neighboring plantings and outside farming influence.

The classic Willamette Valley ‘terroir’, ‘sense of place’, is defined by elevation, exposure, and volcanic soils. The Lonesome Rock estate vineyard sits at a high elevation at 575 to 780 feet above sea level, among the higher-elevation vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley. The vineyard’s north and south-facing 270 degrees of direct exposure to the day’s sun, and nighttime cool marine air extends the growing season, allowing fruit to ripen slowly and evenly while preserving freshness, tension, and complexity.

Proximity to the Coast Range exposes the vineyard to steady marine airflow, resulting in pronounced diurnal temperature variation during the critical weeks of ripening. Daytime warmth builds flavor and phenolic maturity, while nighttime temperatures regularly fall by as much as 45 degrees, preserving acidity and aromatic lift.

These conditions slow the pace of ripening without stalling it, allowing sugars, acids, and tannins to develop incrementally and in balance.

The well-drained hillsides vineyard is planted on fractured volcanic soils that are naturally low in fertility and high in mineral content that limit vigor, encourage deep root systems, and produce small, concentrated berries - ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Naturally low yields, combined with an extended ripening cycle, produce fruit of concentration without heaviness producing wines retain high vibrant acidity, defined structure clarity, and the potential for ageability.

According to the rear label, shown below, this Dijon  76 clone Chardonnay was planted in 2015.

Danny and Susan’s first harvest was in 2021, crafted by winemakers Isabelle Dutartre for the Pinot Noir, and Jackson Holstein for the small lot of Chardonnay. That initial  release was rated 93 points by Wine Enthusiast. .

In May 2023, they released the first wines bearing the Lonesome Rock name and branding.

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes - “Crisp scents of honey crisp, pear, and lemongrass picking up scents of white flowers and vanilla fleck with a mineral, rain-on-rock vivacity.”

Pale straw colored, light medium bodied, singularly focused bright expressive tangy acidity with citrus notes of meyer lemon, hints of peach and chalky minerality with a sharp crisp finish. 

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4905551

https://lonesomerock.com/

After dinner, we enjoyed the decadent Beach Walk Corleone Dessert - Ice cream rolled in graham crackers, coated with caramel and honey, surrounded by fresh whipped cream and berries.  

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