Wine Tasting at The Butcher's Block - Sarasota, FL

Date: Tue, Mar 9, 2010 Wine Tasting

So, I have previously mentioned our recent discovery of The Butcher's Block and tonight was my first experience with their monthly tasting. I was expecting more, but still had a great time and enjoyed one of the best tastings since leaving Birmingham.

There were 4 tables of wine and several tables with various food and cheese from the store. There was a decent sized crowd, but not so many as to make it difficult to get to the tables for tastings. The caliber of the wines was definitely a notch up from what we have been seeing, perhaps in part due to the $10 cover or perhaps just a different approach to what a tasting should be.

I managed to hit all of the wine tables, although in a couple of cases I did not taste everything. All but one of the tables had some sort of tasting sheet, some with more detail than others. If the tasting sheet included comments/notes about the wine, those are included in quotes and blue text. All of my comments are in red text.

These tastings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 7 PM to 9 PM. Hope to see you there next time.

Cheers!

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Boston Lobster Feast - Orlando, FL

Date: Sun, Mar 7, 2010 Wine Tasting

Do you like lobster? Do you like all-you-can-eat lobster? Do you also like over 60 different seafood choices for one low price? If you don't, then you can quit reading now. Otherwise...

Allison is a member of the Sarasota Bay Parrothead Club. One of their members actually lives in Orlando and invited some folks up this past Saturday to head over to the Boston Lobster Feast for some lobsters. This is actually a restaurant, and not an event! We went back and forth about whether we were going to make the drive, but in the end decided to give it a go and boy are we ever glad that we did.

A couple of things that you should know about this. 1) Get there early. Before 6 PM the buffet is $32.95, although the prices does move up periodically. After 6 PM it goes up to $37.95. While the price difference is not huge, it is worth going early to beat the crowd which seems to line up before they open. 2) While there is a menu, the only reason to go is for the buffet. Check their website and you can print a coupon which is good for including drinks (non-alcoholic) or a discount on alcoholic drinks. 3) Go with a crowd. Yes, they have some two and four top tables but the fun is having a large group of people. There were 8 of us and we had a blast!

Now, this is a buffet but in terms of quality this was pretty darn good. Yes, some of the lobsters were a bit overcooked but they are turning them out by the hundreds... I also sampled some fried clams that were quite tasty, steamed vegetables (very al dente) and lobster bisque which was surprisingly good. Other offerings include multiple types of oysters, shrimp, crab legs, fish (salmon in particular in a couple of variations) and even some sushi rolls and simple pieces.

The service was pretty good considering how busy it was. For tables of 7 or more, there is an automatic 18% gratuity but our waiter was worth it.

Go when you are hungry! There are two locations in Orlando - we went to the one on International Drive.

Cheers!

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Wine Dinner @ The Tuscany at Freedom Village with Taste Dining & Travel

Date: Sun, Mar 7, 2010 Wine Tasting

The past Friday we once again had the priviledge of attending a delectable wine dinner over at The Tuscany at Freedom Village. If you missed our post about our previous wine dinner there, you may want to check it out here.

As with all of the Taste Dining & Travel wine dinners, this one was for a cause. In this case it was the Women's Resource Center of Manatee. We had the privilege of sitting with a great group of folks, including Neal & Vanessa from Taste Dining & Travel, the executive director of Freemdom Village & his wife (Kevin & Jane) as well as Lisa from the Women's Resource Center who was instrumental in getting WRC connected with Taste Dining & Travel to make this dinner possible. We once again were blown away by executive chef Luciano Silva's creations as well as the fantastic service from all of the staff. We were saddened to learn that there is no longer a Sunday brunch at The Tuscany but they do serve lunch during the week that is open to the public. I urge you to give them a try; you will not be disappointed.

The dinner consisted of a starter course, salad, entree and dessert and each course was paired with a complimenting wine. I would also like to give Chef Silva a big thanks for making mine cheese free to accomodate my allergy.

Each appetizer portion was perfectly cooked and presented in a delighful display of color and contrast.

The wine pairing with this course was the 2008 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc from Sonoma County. Everybody at our table was surprised at how floral this fume blanc was. It hinted at being somewhat "fat" on the palate as opposed to the normal acidity that you would expect to find. It worked well with the course, but personally I would have like one with a bit more zip to it.



A refreshing salad with a nice mix of vegetables to accompany the greens. The vinaigrette was nicely acidic, which helped to cleanse the palate in preparation for the main course.

The wine served with this course was the 2007 Macon-Villages Cave de Lugny Chardonnay Bourgogne. An interesting choice, this wine was lighter in style that can be expected from a good Bourgogne but it worked well with all of the ingredients.



I went with the filet, which was paired with a 2008 Bodega Septima Malbec from Argentina. Instead of the biscuit, Chef Silva paired mine with a creamy polenta that was finished with red pepper (at least that is what it appeared to be!). Cooked absolutely perfectly, the meal was a true delight. While the malbec was tasty in its own right, it really did not seem to mesh well with the dish. It was a bit more dry and earthy, whereas I prefer a more full-bodied, tannic styled red. In any event, everybody seemed to like the wine.

Allison stayed with the fish, and said that it was very tasty as well. It was paired with 2008 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc. If you read this blog very often at all, you know this is one that we love a lot and I was happy to see it being offered.


I believe that this is the signature dessert dish at The Tuscany as it is what we had for dessert last time. In any case, it was every bit as good now as it was then. I made short work of both the chocolate, which was a rich, dark chocolate similar to a very heavy mousse as well as the vanilla creme brulee. Dessert was paired with Sandeman Tawny Porto which again worked reasonably well and was a good balance to the differing level of sweetness in the dishes.


As always, we had a fantastic evening and are already looking forward to the next event. If you are in the area and have not tried The Tuscany, I seriously urge you to get out there and partake. And if you have not attended one of the Progressive or Wine Dinners hosted by Taste Dining & Travel, then you need to check out their website or pick up a copy of the magazine (available throughout Sarasota) and come on out for the next one!

Cheers!

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2007 Bramblewood Zinfandel

Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2010 Wine Tasting

Back in May of last year we reviewed the 2006 Bramblewood Zinfandel and since that time have drank a pretty good bit of it as it turned out to be pretty darn good and very consistent.

Recently, the 2007 vintage was released and I picked up a couple of bottles to try.

The two vintages appear to be pretty similar, with the 2007 being slightly more closed and having less of the earthiness and more of a fruit and spice profile. The fruit is pretty dominant but there is still a good bit of spice. There is still a bit of cocoa on the finish.

At this point, I definitely would prefer to drink the 2006 but I suspect that this one will develop as well.

Cheers!

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2006 Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 Wine Tasting

This is another one that we used to drink on a fairly regular basis but for whatever reason had fallen off our list. We were both very pleased that I grabbed a bottle the other day.

This is a very well balanced cabernet that is not overtly tannic. While the tannins are definitely present, they are more reminiscent of an aged cabernet where have burned off but with the fresh fruit of a young wine. Full of black cherry and currant, this was extremely silky throughout. The finish hinted at some white chocolate and lingered moderately.

Generally I would recommend putting some food up with a cabernet, but this one actually does better by itself in our opinion. While it would certainly work with food, I think you would lose the nuances of this fantastic wine.

This is also drinking very well right now, and I do not think that it will significantly improve with age. However, I think it will stay consistent for 4-5 more years before any tapering off.

Cheers!

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2007 Xiloca Garnacha

Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 Wine Tasting

This past weekend we found a new wine shop for us here in the Sarasota area. Not that it is a new shop, just new to us. The cool bit is that it is actually a butcher's shop so we found a great source for quality meat and a fantastic wine store. Check out The Butcher's Block if you are in the area.

There were a couple of bottles open for tasting while we were there. We liked this one enough to bring a bottle home with us. And we enjoyed it just as much at home with our steaks as we did in the store, so it was a good decision. And the price was tough to beat... $11.99.

The nose was full of red and black fruit, notably cherry but also some blackberry. We were somewhat concerned that this might be a fruit bomb as there was nothing on the nose to suggest anything else, but from the first sip to the last drop there was a solid core of black pepper that blended nicely with the fruit. The only negative to me on this one was the very short finish that it had.

Cheers!

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2008 Rosenblum Cellars "Vintner's Cuvee" Sauvignon Blanc

Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 Wine Tasting

We were disappointed with this sauvignon blanc. Not that it was bad mind you, but it was certainly not the style we like.

This was a rich, fat sauvignon blanc that did not exhibit the zesty, mineral style that we love so much. Rather there was lots of white flowers and perfume on this, with peach notes across the palate. There was little, if any acidity, that showed itself.

If you like fruity, white wines this might be a good choice for you. If however you prefer the New Zealand style of sauvignon blanc, I would look elsewhere.

Cheers!

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2005 Franciscan Merlot

Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 Wine Tasting

What is up with us and merlot lately? For the longest time I can not remember us ever drinking merlot; heck, I do not even remember trying any at tastings. But here we are again writing about a merlot that we have recently drank.

Okay, in fairness this is one that I have always liked but it had gotten so expensive in Birmingham ($22-23/bottle if memory serves) that because of my general disdain for merlot I had let fall off the radar. I noticed a bottle the other day for $15.99 so decided to give it a try, and am very glad that I did.

This is not a fruity merlot like a lot of them are. Neither is it light, or even medium, bodied. This is serious merlot. Drinking this blind you would think that it was an aged cabernet, without the tannin structure. Lots of black fruit underneath with some chocolate on the finish which lingers a long, long time.

If you are not a fan of merlot but do like full-bodied, solid wines you might do yourself a favor and check this one out.

Cheers!

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Upcoming Events in Sarasota/Bradenton

Date: Mon, Mar 1, 2010 Wine Tasting

There are a lot of sources detailing upcoming events in a given market. A couple of good ones for the Sarasota/Bradenton area is This Week in Sarasotaand Local Wine Events(which is also good for a lot of other areas as well). So, I am not planning on trying to recreate what is also out there on the Internet.

However, there are several events over the next couple of weeks that we plan on attending that are worth mentioning:

This coming Friday, March 5, at 6:45 will be attending the next Taste Dining & Travel dinner. Once again being held at The Tuscany at Freedom Village. We previously went to a wine dinner at the Tuscany (see this review) and are very much looking forward to returning. The cost is $55 per person.

On Saturday, March 6, will be at Michael's Wine Cellar for the monthly wine tasting. This is always a great event with a large number of wines from around the world being tasted. Unfortunately, at this time of the year it is extremely crowded in a relatively small space so getting to taste everything (or even most things) can be a challenge. Free for Connoisseur Club members and $10 to join if you are not already a member.

This past Saturday we discovered a new butcher's shop here in Sarasota. We have been looking for a good one since moving here and have at last found it. The Butcher's Block has an excellent selection of meats as well as a range of other produce and essential foodstuff. What is outstanding though is their extensive wine selections. There is a wide range of wines from around the world, as well as a very nice temperature controlled cellar for high-end wine and a good selection of large format (1.5 liter) bottles. Every month, on the second Tuesday, they also hold a wine tasting from 7 - 9 pm and the next one will be Tuesday, March 9. The cost is $10 per person.

Finally, On Wednesday, March 17 (which happens to be St. Patrick's Day) there is a wine tasting over at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits on University Parkway from 5:30 - 7:30. I may even venture a guess that there could be some green beer here as well (but that is just a guess!) $10 per person.

We hope to see you at one (or more) of these events.

Cheers!

If there is enough interest in this, I will be happy to start regularly posting of events that I know are upcoming. Drop us a note and tell us what you think. And if you are hosting an event that you would like to see posted, also drop us a note.

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2007 Ravenswood Zen of Zin Zinfandel

Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 Wine Tasting

We have been drinking a pretty good bit of the 2006 Zen of Zin and it has been consistently very good. We liked it enough to make it an everyday wine. Yesterday I picked up a bottle of the 2007 to go with some grilled hot Italian sausage.

The 2007 is still very good, but it definitely shows that it is younger. There is more fruit and less spice than in the 2006. It is also a bit more full-bodied than before but I would still call this medium-bodied overall.

These are both good wines, but of the two the 2006 matches our palates better.

Cheers!

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2006 Seven Sleepers

Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 Wine Tasting

This was an interesting blend of Shiraz (40%), Petit Verdot (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (23%), Grenache (7%) and Malbec (5%) from the Barossa Valley region of Australia. Known to those of German heritage as "Siebenschlafer" which supposedly fortells the weather conditions for the next 7 weeks as of June 27th. If it rains on this day, then the next 7 weeks will be rainy. Likewise, if it is sunny on this day then the next 7 weeks will be sunny and pleasant. Go figure... :-)

The nose was full of red cherry fruit with hints of some spice underneath. On the front palate, the cherry was dominant but as it opened up some blackberry, licorice and currant showed. The black peppercorn spice stayed in the background as a supporting role but never really stepped up and balanced the brightness of the fruit.

If you like a fruit driven red wine that also has good body, this could be a wine that you would like.

Cheers!

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2005 M. Cosentino "Cigarzin"

Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 Wine Tasting

Remember back in the 1990's when cigars were all the rage? The first vintage of M. Cosentino's "Cigarzin" was released during the craze as a wine with the backbone and structure to standup to a great cigar.

This definitely was a big zinfandel but it did not blow me away. There was a lot of bright red fruit early on, which gave way to a good core of spice and darker fruits. Certainly not what I would call a fruit bomb, but I was surprised at how much fruit showed through. The spiciness was well represented, but did not seem to carry the undercurrent and balance out the fruit. The finish was somewhat short, leaving me to wonder where it went.

Definitely not a bad zinfandel for $17.99, but there are others out there that I would definitely recommend over this especially with a cigar.

Cheers!

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1999 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes

Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 Wine Tasting

This past weekend, Allison was out of town which gave me an opportunity to drink some wines that I know she does not really care for. Some time back I happened to get to taste some Sauternes and fell in love with them and in particular Chateau Rieussec. Since that time I have tried to add at least a couple of bottles per vintage to the cellar. I also try to pick them up in half-bottle sizes (375ml) for two reasons... 1) Allison generally will not be sharing these with me and 2) just a little bit will do you!

So what exactly is a Sauternes? You can read all about it on Wikipedia but in short it is a dessert (sweet) wine from the Graves region of Bordeaux. The principal grapes include Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle and they must be affected by Botrytis cinerea (Noble rot) to make Sauternes. They tend to be sweet, and have an incredible lifespan.

Even though this one is 10 years old I did not expect that it would be anywhere near its peak, but I was not expecting it to be as closed down as it was. The color was turning to a rich, golden honey color which is typical for older Saurternes. I have seen some that were closer to brown than white. The nose really did not show a whole lot, either upon the inital opening nor with over an hour of aeration. The palate was sweet, but not as much as I expected. It was not cloyingly sweet but rather reminiscent of honey and apricot. The fruit definitely was there, balanced with a good bit of acidity but again very subdued.

I took a peek to see what Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) or Wine Spectator said about this vintage but neither one rated the 1999. My best guess for this is that it needs at least 5 more years in the bottle, and probably will last for another 20-25 years easily.

Cheers!

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Redux Libby's Cafe and Bar - Sarasota

Date: Mon, Feb 15, 2010 Wine Tasting

For valentine's day we had thought that we would head over the the Siesta Key Oyster Bar for dinner but upon arrival we found it to be quite crowded and rather chaotic with no clear process for getting a table. We decided that we would look for dinner elsewhere and come back when perhaps it would not be quite as insane. I whipped out the iPhone and launched OpenTable to see what we could find and Libby's had an opening that we decided to secure.

We wrote about our dining experience at Libby's earlier. Since then we had slipped in for lunch and were very pleasantly impressed so felt like this would be a good venue for dinner.

We arrived about 40 minutes early and sat at the bar while waiting on our table. Wow! The drink prices for cocktails are absurd! 2 glasses of wine and 2 tanqueray-and-tonics = $40!

Once we got to our table, we were presented with both the regular dinner menu as well as the valentine's day special menu. The special menu listed 5-6 appetizers and about as many entree's. Allison went with a couple of items from the specials and I took a couple off the regular menu.

For starters, Allison had the Maine lobster and gruyere bisque, accompanied by a Florida State Fair lobster corn dog (more the size of a hush puppy). She said it was very, very good. Being allergic to cheese I skipped it but she said she could not taste any in it at all. Interesting. I opted for the Peachtree Farms deviled eggs with Mote Marine American Sturgeon caviar and chives. Wow! These definitely had a kick to them (from cayenne pepper) and were very, very tasty. I would have preferred more caviar, but that is typical of me ;-)

For dinner I elected to try the yellowfin tuna "nori mignon": sashimi grade tuna with a mango-teriyaki and panko-nori crust, served with a sushi rice and Wakame cucumber salad and ginger-thai emulsion. If the panko crust were 86'd this would have been perfect; as it was, it was just outstanding. Allison choose duck breast served with foie gras and current tortellini, roast pear and port glace. She found this to be amazing as well.

Libby's has become Allison's go-to restaurant, and I have to agree that I am glad we have given them another chance. The food last night was absolutely perfect.

Cheers!

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