Chablis and Sagratino!

Had a lovely (if expensive ) dinner with friends at Cole's Chop House. At least I got two meals (dinner and breakfast) out of my expense.

From their wine list: Christophe et Fils "Fourchaume" Chablis Premier Crus 2014. This was a wow wine for me. Lovely bright minerality, lemon, brine, freshness but also some richness and weight. We had tried some California Chardonnays earlier in the evening, and this absolutely transcended those wines!

I brought: 2011 Da Vero Sagratino (Dry Creek Valley-Organic/Biodynamic (I think). Brilliant cherry fruit...still quite primary. Great acidity-very food friendly for the rich meal. But there was also an interesting and enjoyable bitter? note to the wine that added some intrigue. I prefer this wine to the Umbrian versions (admittedly few) that I have tried,.

Interesting seeing a CA sagrantino. What did you like about it compared to the Italian ones? I like them, but the 100% varietal ones can be tough as nails for a long time.

Coles chop house is a good restaurant but we haven't eaten there in years. We sometimes buy some prime steaks and we barbecue them on the patio. We can duplicate Coles but for a lot less money. When we go out to eat my wife wants to eat
something she wouldn't ordinarily prepare at home. Glad to know that Coles is still good.

Interesting seeing a CA sagrantino. What did you like about it compared to the Italian ones? I like them, but the 100% varietal ones can be tough as nails for a long time.

There is that, Mark...but the major problem, I think, is my samples came from Arnaldo Caprai, which I understand makes their wines in a somewhat "spoofy" heavy on the oak style. The expensive cuvee was downright terrible, I recall.

I need to be more "fair" and find some better Italian producers. DaVero is inspired by the Bea Umbrian wines, which I have tried once and did enjoy. Definitely more IPOB than Caprai!

Lou: My friend mans a mighty fine home grill (and smoker) himself, but this was a lovely steakhouse experience nonetheless. And neither of us have any Chablis in our cellars, so another reason to go!

[Jenise]

Brian, drink every '14 Chablis you can while you can. They're gorgeous.

Brian, drink every '14 Chablis you can while you can. They're gorgeous.

Sounds like an excellent directive, Jenise!