This picture was posted last night in the kitchen so we could toast Bob, and also taped to the empty chair next to me at the dining room table. It was supposed to be a 24" big/long canvas print, but the one I ordered got lost in transit and so I had to make do with 8.5x11 prints. Sigh.
Last night's dinner started with Negronis, the cocktail Bob fell in love with in Maui. With those I served quesadillas stuffed with Tilsiter cheese, diced fresh jalapenos and mango slices--it was a great pairing. In fact one guest suggested I just cancel the rest of the dinner and let him just eat quesadillas all night. But I didn't.
With shrimp, cucumber and red arugula 'martinis':
2021 Caraccioli Cellars Private Property Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Brut Santa Lucia Highlands
A fine, bright and dry brut style domestic bubbly with mixed yellow fruits, tiny pin-prick bubbles and a good mousse.
As a preamble to the main course:
2014 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah Stonessence Walla Walla Valley
Tight on cork removal so decanted; at three hours deemed ready and returned to the bottle for serving later to celebrate the birthday of my late husband. What better than Stonessence for a man named Bob Stone? Excellent depth and complexity with plummy fruit, black olive, sage and, I swear, fried ham with red eye gravy.
With lamb shank osso buco, kumquat gremolata and black truffle risotto:
2013 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese
From magnum; decanted all day in a giant decanter someone once gave me--I remember thinking, what will I ever do with this. But here we are! Checked on it periodically and it took five hours to get close to ready and was at outstanding optimum openness by the time it was served at 10 hours. Slayed the match with the lamb shanks.
With a marble 70% cocoa and coconut cake:
1946 Domaine Singla Rivesaltes Ambré Héritage du Temps Macabeo
Though classified as a white, with age it's become deep brown. Murky flavors of dried fig, fruit cake and a hint of tar. Not amazing, but perhaps not that bad for 80 years old.