We made it to LA on time Sunday. Checked into the Doubletree Culver City (which is about as close to LAX as it is downtown CC), then headed into Culver City for dinner. Betsy chose Meet, a nice little reasonably priced bistro. Nice bistro food (moules, frites, etc. - I had moules Dijonaise) and inexpensive if uninspiring list. We split a carafe of 2010 Domaine Jarras Cotes de Provence rose ($20/500 ml)- light, touch of sweetness, herbsl, not bad. B- Monday we spent morning with Betsy’s stepaunts in Westwood, then headed for Central Coast. On the way we stopped at Woodland Hills Wine, where I’ve orderd for years, but had never been in. Nice store - nice staff.In Cambria we had dinner at Wild Ginger -great fresh salad, ok calamari, overdone and oversweet satay, tasteless pork confit. Two wines by the glass- a 2007 Beckman Syrah (low acid, jammy, formless C+) and a 2008 EOS Pinot Blanc (hint of sweetness, could use more acidic structure, but clean B-/C+).
Tuesday we visited Hearst Castle (really quite something to see, though our tour had the worlds worst docent) and the elephant seals. Dinner at the Sow’s Ear was better food- chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, as well as, scallops in orange rosemary sauce. Again, 2 btg- 2008 Qupe Syrah had clean berry fruit, light tannins, and moderate acidity, B; 2008 Tobin James Sauvignon Blanc was a bit on the heavy side, with an edge of heat, but good full flavors. B-
Wednesday we did a lot of beach walking, then made the drive to Paso Robles for dinner at Artisan. Truly excellent meal- I started with great morel mushroom toast with runny egg, Betsy with cheese stuffed squash blossoms and grilled baby artichoke salad. My main was rabbit 3 ways- loin, sausage, and ragu over cavatelli; Betsy had wild boar, braised pig cheeks, freshpea risotto, and mushrooms. They have a nice list, but I brought my own wine - the 2008 Bize “les Bourgeots” Savigny Les Beaune. Good wine and an excellent match with the food- black cherries, smoke, forest floor. Very good acids, light tannins, excellent length. Young but does its job. B+/A-
Definitely recommend restaurant.
Over 3 nights in our room (refrigerator, yea!), we tried the 2009 Gurrutxaga Bizkaiko Txakolina Rosado. Light hint of spritz, just a whisper of RS, strawberries and cherries, still fresh, B
We headed from Central Coast to Sacramento, outside Paso Robles we stopped for quick visits at a couple of wineries. Windward had pleasant enthusiastic staff (dealing with us and a limo on a “girl’s trip.”). They say they strive for Burgundian style PN, but I don’t think that is possible in Paso Robles. They weren’t bad wines, just very Californian. My favorite was the 2006, ripe but not overbearing, full, a good CA PN. B. The 2007 and 2008 had ripeness, yet with a light green streak, and seemed a bit flabby. B-/C+. The 2007 “Gold” PN was again described as Burgundian by pourer- maybe if your standard for Burgundy was 2003. Big, full, tasty but a little hot. B-
We also tasted 5 wines at Niner. The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc was actually pretty good for CA SB (not my fave category)- big, ripe fig and guava fruit but with orety good acidity and only a hintof oak. B. A rose seemed hot, heavy, and horrid. C-. My favorite red was a Bordeaux bland called Twisted Spur (I think all of the reds were 2007, but no sheet and I can’t swear to it)- not a lot of oak, fairly balanced, good length. B. The Bootjack Cabernet was showing more oak, less acidity, but good length. B- The flagship wine, Hog Catcher, was to me hot and flabby The pourer kept describing flavors (licorice, coffee, caramel, soy) but to me just tasted like oak. C/C+
Thursday night we went out for Vietnamese (I drank water), Friday spent afternoon at an 80th birthday party for Betsy’s dad. No alcohol at party (couple of cousins in recovery) but plenty of good food, but that evening I opened a bottle of 2009 Reinhold Haart Piesporter Grafenberg Riesling Kabinett with leftover jellyfish/shrimp/pork salad from pho place. Just what the doctor ordered- good acidity, riipe white fruits, balanced sweetness, full and long. Mineral, classic, good ripe vintage Mosel. B+/A-
tonight dinner with an old Bordeaux-loving friend.
usual disclaimers apply