RN74 Chef's Tasting Dinner and Wine Pairing

RN74 Chef's Tasting Dinner and Wine Pairing

We visited Seattle for a Seattle Culinary and Washington Wine Tour. On our first night, we dined at RN74 Modern French Bistro where we chose the five course pric fixe Chef's Tasting Menu with Wine Pairings. RN74 offers two wine pairing flights, a premier flight and a premium 'grande' selection. We chose both so we could sample two flights of wines against the food courses.

RN74 -Wine - No-Wine

RN74 Seattle features global interpretations of American and French cuisine with an extensive wine list highlighting the Burgundy region of France, along with boutique wine producers from Washington and Oregon. Locally-sourced, seasonal highlights include house-aged steaks, vegetables from local organic farms and pristine Puget Sound seafood.

RN74 offers an impressive extraordinary 89 page wine list that is wide and deep with international selections from all major regions.  The list offered a broad selection of Washington and Oregon wines but was equally impressive in Bordeaux, Burgundy, California and beyond. There's also a extraordinary selection of half bottles and large format bottles. The Burgundy selection was the most extensive I've ever seen with the widest selection from each appellation, many top producers and a deep vertical collection across vintages.

RN74 Somm Table - tending to each selection

RN74 is one of thirty restaurants run by San Francisco-based Mina Group, a restaurant management company specializing in creating and operating upscale, innovative restaurant concepts, led by Founder and award-winning Chef Michael Mina, operating since 2003. Mina Group restaurants are in many major metros and destination cities from California to Florida and WDC including Chicago, Scottsdale, Boston, Hawaii and internationally in Dubai.

Renowned Chef Michael Mina sets the standards for creative food dishes and service delivery for an extraordinary culinary experience. I admit I have never heard of the group or their restaurants but was sufficiently impressed that I'll seek them out with every opportunity. 

For our wine pairings, I believe the differential between the premium and the more expensive grande selections were negligible. In fact for the first three courses, we preferred the more modest selection. Only with the last flight was the Sauterne a resounding upgrade from the second wine. All but the most discriminating might be well served to follow the more economical route. Of course, best is to try both and compare!

The Chef;s Tasting Menu with wine pairings:

RN74 Chef’s Tasting Menu

Chilled English Pea Veloute – Crispy Leeks, jamon de coppa, wild mushroom crème fraiche

Hiedler, Gruner Veltliner Loess, Kamptal, AT 2015
Domaine Pinson, Chardonnay, Chablis, Burgundy, FR 2016

                

Heirloom Tomato Salad – Crenshaw melon, French feta, watermelon gelee, grapefruit, basil

               Chateau Gassier, Grenache Blend Rose’, Cote du Provence, FR 2017
               Beckham Estate, Olivia’s Pinot Noir Rose’, Chehalem Mountains, OR 2017

Sweet Corn Agnolotti – smoked duck breast, puffed forbidden rice, parmesan-porcini brood

               Clusel Roch, Gamay, ‘Traboules’, Coteaux du Lyonais, Rhone, FR 2016
               Domaine de la Cote, Pinot Noir, ‘Estate’, Sta. Rita Hills, CA 2014

Grilled NY Strip – Japanese eggplant, smoked cauliflower, foraged mushrooms, cherry gelee

               WT Vintners, Syrah, ‘Destiny Ridge’, Horse Heaven Hills, WA 2015
               Domaine Lombard, Syrah, Brezeme, Northern Rhone Valley, FR 2014

Coconut Panna Cotta – Farmers market fruit, mango gelee’, raspberry sorbet

               Renardat-Fache, Cerdon de Bugey, Savoie, FR, 2016
               Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste, Sauternes, Bordeaux, FR 2015

              

 

 Our courses:

 

 Chilled English Pea Veloute – Crispy Leeks, jamon de coppa, wild mushroom crème fraiche

 

Heirloom Tomato Salad – Crenshaw melon, French feta, watermelon gelee, grapefruit, basil

           

Sweet Corn Agnolotti – smoked duck breast, puffed forbidden rice, parmesan-porcini brood

 

Grilled NY Strip – Japanese eggplant, smoked cauliflower, foraged mushrooms, cherry gelee

 

Coconut Panna Cotta – Farmers market fruit, mango gelee’, raspberry sorbet

Are those all mine?
Somm table upper right

Del Dotto Piazza Sangiovese at Angelis Italian Anniversary Dinner

Del Dotto Piazza Sangiovese BYOB at Angelis Italian Anniversary Dinner

We celebrated our anniversary with dinner at our local neighborhood trattoria, Angelis Italian. Deliberating on wine I select I considered Caymus Cabernet which I've written about in these pages, that shares the same anniversary year and started commemorating such in their new packaging a couple years ago.

I opted, instead for this Del Dotto Piazza Sangiovese in remembrance of our tasting experience there during our recent Napa Valley Wine Experience (2018), (shown right), which was the highlight of our trip, coupled with the fact our Caymus experience was one of the lowlights! Our server checked the wine on offer and determined it was the same vintage that drank last year at our anniversary dinner so we stayed with our BYOB choice. Had it been the most recent incremental release we would have chosen the latest #44 Caymus label.

Regretably, our dinner was not up to normal standards at Angelis casting a bit of a pall over the evening. Following my dinner at Italian Village
earlier this week, I was eager to try the Veal Marsala wine sauce as it was the highlight of that dinner and I was looking to compare and recapture that wine entree combination.

Firstly our server lost track of our orders and we got lost in the cadence of the courses. When our entrees finally arrived, my veal plate was completely void of sauce. The explanation was that it must have been absorbed by the pasta. I asked for a dish of accompanying sauce which arrived to reveal a thin watery broth instead of the rich gravy like sauce served by Italian Village (shown pictured as part of trio of medallions of veal including the Marsala and Piccata).

Worse, Linda's entree selection was also a disappointment, the Salmon with Avocado relish Special was completely overpowered being saturated with olive oil. Upon re-plating, pouring off the Olive Oil, the entree was much more enjoyable.

Despite it all, the Del Dotto Piazza Sangiovese was spectacular and was the highlight of the dinner.

Del Dotto Piazza Napa Valley Sangiovese 2015

We tasted and acquired this wine during our Del Dotto Estate Winery Cave Tour and Tasting last year. This prompted me to check my records which indicate we also tasted this in the 2106 vintage during our recent Del Dotto Piazza tasting at which we acquired that vintage as well.

This was dark garnet colored with a slight grayish hue that signaled caution but the wine was fine, we'll monitor the next bottle (s) with interest to see if this is an early warning of trouble ahead; medium full bodied, this was delicious with sweet ripe raspberry fruits accented by notes of vanilla and almond with supple smooth silky tannins on the lingering finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2579868

www.deldottovineyards.com/

Italian Village Chicago for Reliable Business Wine and Dine Experience

Italian Village Chicago for Reliable Business Wine and Dine Experience

For an important business partner dinner, we hosted dinner at our reliable go-to venue, Italian Village in Chicago. The Village has three different restaurants, each with its own kitchen and chef, each with its own ambiance and personality.

We dined in the 'Village' dining room upstairs at our regular table where our group selected six different entrees and all were excellent. We traversed a flight of three different Italian wines that perfectly complemented the courses of our dinner.

 Carpineto Poggio Sant' Enrico Toscana IGT Sangiovese 1999

At nineteen years of age, this is at the apex of its drinking window but not likely to improve with further cellaring, rather more likely to start to diminish from here forward. Great starting wine with our caprese and starters, dark, deep, blackish-ruby colored, full bodied with firm backbone of bold, intense black berry and ripe plum fruits, notes of black pepper, hints of smoke, leather and subtle vanilla with a long lingering supple tannin finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=101164
 

Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2012 

For the salad courses, this was slightly lighter and more approachable for pleasant drinking, especially for those less feint at heart for big robust wines. This was dark garnet colored, subdued fruits of black cherry and black berry fruits accented by earthiness and tones of tobacco and brown spices with moderate tannins on the well behaved finish.

RM 90

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2631507

 Paolo Scavino Barolo Monvigliero Nebbiolo 2008

This was an ideal finishing wine as it was quite expressive and vibrant. Bright dark garnet colored, full bodied, forward bright lively forward red berry fruits that jumped from the glass and excited the tongue, turning to full firm but manageable tannins with bright tangy acidity that projected the berry fruits on a long expressive full finish.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1315282

Normally, we'd meet and be attended to by good friend and Wine Director Jared Gelband who oversees the massive 15,000 bottle wine cellar that serves all three restaurants of Italian Village. Tonight he was consumed attending to a large party of forty in the Vivere wine dining restaurant to whom he served a selection of ten different wines (shown below).

https://italianvillage-chicago.com/

Sea Smoke Gratis, King Richards, Del Dotto Highlight Beef Tenderloin Dinner

Sea Smoke Gratis, King Richards, Del Dotto Highlight Beef Tenderloin Dinner

Saturday evening wine dinner with Dr Dan, our Lindas, and Beth visiting from SC featured beef tenderloin, haricot verts and scalloped potatoes. I pulled from the cellar this Del Dotto Estate Napa Cabernet 2001 and Fantesca King Richards Reserve Pinot Noir. Dan brought Sea Smoke Gratis Chardonnay and Chassagne Montrachet 1999.

Sea Smoke 'Gratis' Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay 2010

Dan brought this allocated limited production Chardonnay from his collection. At eight years, this must be at the apex of its drinking window. I cannot imagine it getting or ever being any better. This was the richest and most vibrant flavorful Chardonnay I've ever had. I've certainly never had one more enjoyable or suitable to my pallette.

Gratis Chardonnay is Sea Smoke's way of telling their direct customers 'thank you for your support!' This wine is only available to regular club members as a gift by Sea Smoke Cellars, and was not available for purchase to the general public. 

Golden colored, medium full bodied, this was rich, flavorful, a nice balance between creamy and acidic, a symphony of nicely integrated and harmonious layered flavors of layers of vanilla, toasted almonds, notes of apricot and hints of caramel with a thick mouth puckering finish.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1329721

https://www.seasmoke.com/

Fantesca King Richards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2008

We tasted and acquired this wine at the Fantesca Estate and Winery on Spring Mountain during one of our several visits there with Duane and Susan Hoff, proprietors.

Readers of this site know we're Cab drinkers and not normally into Pinots but this was part of the Club allocation deliveries from Fantesca. King Richard refers to Susan's father who is a Pinot lover so they arranged to acquire a Select barrel of Russian River Valley special product and bottle it under the Fantesca brand.

This was opaque garnet colored, light medium bodied and tastes like red berries, strawberry, raspberry, and notes of cranberry with tones of dusty rose, leather and tobacco.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1044739

https://fantesca.com/

Del Dotto Estate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Since Dan and Linda and Beth were with us at our visit to the Del Dotto Estate for our cave tour and estate wine tasting last year, I chose to pull a vintage Del Dotto Cab from the cellar in remembrance of that event. Also, our Delicacies Tasting at the new Del Dotto Piazza Napa Valley Winery was a highlight of our Napa Valley trip last month when we acquired several cases of current release Del Dotto wine at that visit so we also need to clear out some room in the cellar and will hence replace some of the older Del Dotto with a more recent vintage release.

Consistent with earlier tastings notes, medium to full bodied, deep dark ruby color - black berry and sweet black cherry fruits accented by clove spice and a hint cassis and whisper of English toffee on the 'Rutherford Dust' moderate silky tannin finish.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=13349

Robert Craig Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Robert Craig Napa Valley Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Rick & Bill with Robert at
Robert Craig harvest party

For BBQ rib dinner I pulled this label from the cellar. I was eager to try this after drinking the Marco DiGuilio Mt Veeder Pym Rae Vineyard Cabernet recently, and upon researching that wine, learned it was the same site that provided fruit for this label for two decades. I also learned that the property and estate had been sold to the Tesseron family of France, producers of legendary Bordeaux Chateau Pontet Canet.

The estate was owned by the late Robin Williams, comedian and movie star, who named the vineyard after the middle names of his two kids. Robert Craig managed the property for Robin decades ago and sourced the fruit from there for this label for twenty five years. The final vintage released by Robert Craig was the 2016.

I've written often in these pages about Robert Craig and his portfolio of mountain fruit Napa Valley Cabernets from Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn, Spring Mtn, Mt George, Atlas Peak and of course Napa Valley.

We dined and tasted with Robert and Lynn Craig at the winery, in Chicago, and at numerous Napa Valley events over the years. I recall Robert saying that this label, the Mt Veeder was his favorite. Our records show we still hold over four cases of this label over fifteen vintages dating back to the inaugural vintage in 1993. Our Robert Craig collection of these labels is one of the largest holdings in our cellar collection

From here forward, from this bottle, and those remaining vintage labels in the cellar, we'll drink and savor the passing of a legendary brand/label with fondness and great memories.

 
Robert Craig Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

This was still drinking well but likely past the apex of its drinking window, not to improve further with aging, but still holding its own at seventeen years of age.

Dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, bright forward firm structured backbone of tangy black cherry and blackberry fruits accented by notes of cedar, spicy oak, leather, tobacco leaf and tea with firm but smooth approachable tannins on the finish.

RM 90 point.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=48933

Shown left,

Dining with Robert and Lynn Craig, our featured wine producer, special guests at CIA back in 1998.

Fleury Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Duo

Fleury Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon  Duo

We first met Brian and Claudia Fleury at a Del Dotto Estate Winery event (see below) back in 2002. From that meeting we acquired some Fleury Estate Lauren Bryce Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from what I believe was their inaugural vintage release. How surprising then to hear son Ryan speaking of this wine and about he and some of his buddy's acquiring some of the highly allocated select wine for their cellars. Fleury Estate Napa Cab is a favorite of him and several of his colleagues who have extensive collections of numerous releases of this label. 

With this as a backdrop, Ryan and I were looking for an appropriate occasion to comparison taste our vintage releases of Fleury Napa Cabernets from our collections. A Sunday family dinner was the perfect occasion.

Fleury Estate Winery owns 50 acres of Napa vineyards dispersed in three vineyards in three appellations at three elevations. Their vineyards are located in Rutherford, St. Helena, and Howell Mountain. They have a small Rutherford production facility that produces about 4,000 cases a year that is all sold direct to consumer at the winery or via their on-line allocation membership. 


Ryan spent the day smoking and grilling a prime rib of beef. The Fleury Cab was a perfect complement to the beef, baked potatoes, grilled carrots and peppers and Linda's chocolate cake.
The Lauren Bryce label refers to the names of the two Fleury children.

Fleury Estate Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lauren Bryce 2000

This was dark garnet colored with medium full body, aromas and flavors of bright vibrant ripe dark berry and currant fruits with notes of cedar, anise, leather, mocha and oak turning to nicely integrated tannins on a lingering finish. This tasted like it was approaching the end of its apex prime drinking window, not likely to improve further with age but not yet showing signs of diminution.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=93506

Fleury Estate Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lauren Bryce 2009

This vintage was dark blackish inky colored with full body, rich concentrated bright, vibrant, forward unctuous fruits of sweet ripe dark berry, black raspberry and currant fruits with notes of dark mocha and sweet toasty oak turning to nicely integrated tannins on a full chewy lingering finish.

This was delicious, very much my preferred style and profile, but perhaps too sweet for some folks' palette!

RM 94 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1491336

http://www.fleurywinery.com/



Ryan's prime rib shown below. Historic pictures below showing Brian and Claudia Fleury, Dave, Yolanda and Desiree Del Dotto, and Nils and the late Dianne "Candy" Venge.

Brian and Claudia Fleury back in 2002

Brian and Claudia Fleury with Nils Venge, then winemaker and
Dianne "Candy" Venge..

Claudia serving at Del Dotto gala event.

Hosts for the special event,
Dave, Yolanda and Desiree Del Dotto.

Whitehall Lane Syrah 2016

Whitehall Lane Syrah 2016

We tasted and acquired this wine during our recent visit to the Whitehall Lane Napa Valley winery during our recent Napa Valley Wine Experience 2018.


We did a private tasting at the Whitehall Lane Estate Winery on St Helena Hwy just north of the town of Rutherford. This 2016 Syrah was one of the wines we selected from our private tasting and our shipment just arrived and we couldn't resist trying it again. This was ideal for easy casual sipping with some cheese and fresh fruits.


This showed dark inky purple colored and full body with layers of blueberry and currant fruits accented by notes of subdued pepper and hints of cinnamon. I defer to the eloquent and artfully drafted tasting notes from the winemaker below.


"The 2016 Luchtel Vineyard Syrah offers fragrant notes of mixed berry compote, violets, blueberry fritter, white pepper, and baking spices. On the palate, the tannins are soft and supple, while the flavors are showing sweet red currants, stewed black plums, beetroot, rhubarb, and a touch of cinnamon."

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2990406

 

Del Dotto Napa Cabernet 2000-2001

Del Dotto  Napa Valley Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2000-2001

Following our Del Dotto Vineyards Napa Valley Winery visit last week on our Napa Valley Wine Experience 2018 and our tasting the Cabernet Franc last evening, we opened Del Dotto Napa Valley Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 in magnum for a family gathering gala dinner. We tasted the 2000 vintage Napa Cab alongside a Château de Pez St Estephe Leognan Bordeaux of the same vintage. After we finished the 2000, we opened a 2001 for a mini-vertical comparison tasting of the label.

Del Dotto Napa Valley Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Tasted from magnum, tonight this wine was showing remarkably well, perhaps due to the large format bottle which tends to age better and more gracefully than a standard size bottle. While the fruits were a bit subdued, it showed a solid core framework of tasty oak. This predominant layer of oak was cited by Robert Parker in his review when he wrote: "Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits plenty of new oak and black currant characteristics as well as fine texture and an attractive mid-weight style ...."

Parker did not project this wine to last for eighteen years suggesting it be consumed 'over the next 5-7 years'.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=578087



Del Dotto Napa Valley Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
 

Our Cellartracker records show we hold a dozen vintages of this wine label.  Our last tasting of the 2001 was almost three years ago when I wrote:

"Tasted alongside the '99, this is drinking at the apex of its drinking window and demonstrates the longevity of Napa Valley Cabernets. While it will not likely improve any further with aging, it still has several years to go at this level.'

'Medium to full bodied , deep dark ruby color - black berry and sweet black cherry fruits accented by clove spice and a hint cassis and whisper of English toffee on the 'Rutherford Dust' moderate silky tannin finish."

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=485814

We compared these Napa wines against a similar vintage Bordeaux.

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/12/del-dotto-cabs-stolpman-syrah-for-beef.html

http://www.deldottovineyards.com/

Château de Pez St Estephe Bordeaux 2000

Son Ryan pulled from the cellar this 2000 vintage Left Bank Bordeaux to taste alongside the same vintage Napa Cab.

Garnet colored, medium bodied, black berry, cherry and plum fruits with bright acidity and notes of leather and tea; more vibrant fruit although not nearly as structured or well balanced as the Napa Cabs above, coming across a bit flabby in comparison.

RM 87 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3308

Overall, these wines were a perfect complement to grilled beef tenderloin dinner with haricot vert and scalloped potatoes. They also went with the artisan cheeses before dinner and the varied chocolate desserts, brownies and dark chocolate cake with fresh berries and whipped cream.


Additionally, Linda prepared grilled Sockeye Salmon. With the Salmon, I served a California Sauvignon Blanc 2016. 


Oak Farms Vineyards Central Valley Lodi Sauvignon Blanc 2017

The grapes are grown by Mohr Fry Ranches  in the Mokelumne River Sub AVA or the greater Lodi Appellation. The vines are from the same clone (clone 1) that had help put New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on the map. The property has 60 acres of estate vineyards with grape varietals grown on the property including: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Primitivo, Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, Sangiovese and Barbera.

Nice easy every day drinking in this high QPR (quality price ratio) Sauvignon Blanc.

This Sauvignon Blanc is light straw colored with light body, flavors of moderate citrus are accented by delicate tones of tropical fruits with hints of mango and passion fruit with pleasant easy drinking crisp acidity and a lingering finish.

RM 90 points. 


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=293714

https://www.oakfarmvineyards.com/