Often when I go out for dinner, I take two bottles of wine with me so I'll have something to suit most anything on the menu.
Last night, I took a bottle of David Coffaro Sauvignon Blanc '12 (estate, 100 cases) and a bottle of Yoakim Bridge Dry Creek Cuvee '07 (several vineyards in DCV, Bordeaux style blend) and went to Chef Patrick's in Guerneville.
When I went in on the rainy evening, I was the only customer, and Patrick came out and offered to cook me a 5 course tasting menu for $95. He said, "I know you like good food and to enjoy your wine and your meal. I don't offer tasting menu all the time. I will waive the corkage, too"
So, as I've never had a meal I didn't like there, I took him up on the offer. What a meal! It ended up being 7 courses.
The SB was fresh and citrusy, with a little grass and a good dollop of apricot-like flavor. Wonderful with the salad, better than the red with the salmon, and ideal with the prawn and scallop and spinach sautee.
The Cuvee was big and brawny. Very dark color, very firm tannin, showing some oak and lots of DCV black berry and bramble. I have another bottle and it's going on the Ignore List for a couple more years. It was a match for the filet mignon with a wine reduction and Brie on top, a bit too much for the Atlantic salmon, and just perfect with the lamb chop.
The next to final course was broiled lobster and Patrick brought out a glass of Riesling with actually fit the lobster better than the SB. And chocolate mousse and a glass of Port for the final course.
It was a 5 course meal that ended up as 7. (Ok,salad, filet, salmon, lamb, prawn and scallop, lobster, mousse: 5 entrees wrapped by starter and dessert.)
It took me 2 1/2 hours to enjoy it all, and enjoy it I did! And I brought home more than half of each bottle. I didn't want to drive home on a twisty road in the rain after having too much to drink.