dinner party

Last night we had a couple over for dinner. They brought the wine and dessert and we made dinner. While we were preparing dinner we enjoyed a glass of 2005 Henry's Drive Pillar Box Red that had been open for a couple days. It was actually still holding up nicely with a good balance of fruit and alcohol.

When they arrived we started w/ the bottle of 2004 Larson Family Winery Chardonnay, Carneros. Good stuff, tasted like it was 100% stainless steel and no ML fermentation. A good amount of crisp fruit but with the acidity of a Chardonnay to help it out. We finished that bottle just as dinner was about to be served (Filet Mignon and grilled artichokes). We opened the bottle of 2004 Millerick Road Petite Sirah, California. This is apparently the same winery as Larson Family, just a different name on the label, in fact the back label says Larson Family Winery on it ... Anyways, this was really good ... damn I love petite sirah. Tons of fruit, just jammy, big and beautiful.

We finished that bottle off just as we were finishing dessert (flourless chocolate cake w/ chocolate ganache). As I sat there w/ nothing in my glass an idea came to me. The 2001 Beckmen Vineyards Late Harvest Grenache! Damn this is good stuff. Not too sweet, as you can still tell it's wine you're drinking. But you get the rich raisiny flavor. The color on it was great ... clear, even, garnet. Really glad I got two bottle of this last time I was at Beckmen.

All in all, a great evening ... great people, great food, and great wine. It was the first proper "dinner party" we've had a the new place and it went perfectly. Although if you saw the kitchen before we cleaned up you would've guessed we had twelve people over. I love being able to start w/ fresh wine glasses for each wine :)