Dallas Wine Expert Darrryl Beeson Dies...

Many Dallasites that frequent some of the better wine establishments in Dallas will miss him...  

Read the Story here:    http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2010/jan/29/dallas-wine-expert-darryl-beeson-died-friday/

New Years Eve 2012 called for the Magnum!

January 1, 2012:  Once again this year we celebrated the coming of the new year with our college friends the Bryants and the Jacksons.   I am not sure how many years this tradition has taken place and in fact I am a little scared to try to figure it out.   Nevertheless, we love to celebrate with them and this year was no different; great food and great company.   

This year we decided to dine out at Ocean Prime in downtown Dallas.  We were seated in the Wine Room, fittingly enough, had a pretty good dinner with average service, but for a New Years eve dinner out, we were pretty pleased with the experience as a whole.    It was a steak and potato night, and if you know anything about Dallas Steakhouses you know that most make a pretty mean steak.    Oh, don't forget to order the truffled deviled eggs, you wont be dissapointed.

The notable event of the night was the special the sommelier offered a special rate on a magnum bottle of Verasion Stagecoach at just over $200.    A great wine at a great price and it was certainly fun to celebrate the new year with the magnum bottle.    When you are out, especially with big groups, dont forget the large format options.   Often you will have to ask for a special list or ask the somellier, but if you are going to order two or more bottles, than often this can be the way to go.  

Happy New Year!!

Want to see some really cool wine?

I was reorganizing some of my wine and I was looking through a few notable selections , many of which were given to me by my late mother and wine enthusiast, Camille McBee.    As I was looking them over, I thought it might be fun to share them with you.   As you read through this please think about some unique wine that you have and please post your selections here so we can all check them out.

1) Have you ever seen the movie "Bottle Shock"? if you have not and you are a wine person, rent it.    In it you will learn of the story about how the United States and more specifically Napa Valley, CA made onto the map of worldwide wine culture back in the early 70s.   The movie talks about the 1976 Paris tasting where Napa Valley's Chateau Montelana beat all the French whites in a blind test with their now famous Chardonnay.  What the movie did not chronicle was that in that very same year a Napa Valley Cabernet won the same tasting when placed against all the famous French Bordeaux wines of the time.    Stag's Leap Cellars 1973-74 vintage Cabernet kicked some French butt!   and I have two bottles of it...   and to me that is a pretty cool thing!   link to Paris Tasting info

2) Chateau Latour is a famous French winery.   Vines have been planted since the 14th century.   The winery possesses one of the most famous and respected wine history and heritage in french wine and shares winemaking and ownership with names including names such as Chateau Lafite and Chateau Mouton.   For most this is the most important Claret in the world and frequently found to be one of the best wines in the world.    1972 is my birth year and I love that i have this bottle.  It was a gift from my good friend, mentor and wine teacher, winemaker Bobby G. Smith.

3) One of the most famous wine makers in all the world partners with the most famous winemaker in the Napa Valley to create one of the greatest and most celebrated large production wines in ever made and one of the most unique and interesting tasting rooms in the Napa Valley.  In 1982 Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi created a single Bordeaux style blend based upon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.    The first bottle, possessing a 1979 vintage was released in 1984.    The wine has remained one of California's most coveted selections ever since.    My 1998 vintage is one of my favorite bottles and was a gift from my late mother, wine enthusiast and educator, Camille McBee.

White Buffalo Club in Jackson, WY

January 18, 2012: Had dinner with Meredith and her brothers Phillip and Porter.   It was a slow night in the restaurant which turned out to be lucky for us. We had the opportunity to sit and visit not only with the onsite wine consultant, but also with the chef, Will Gahagan.   The steaks were great and their scallops were exceptional and the service exceptional - thanks to Chris Dick.  

 THE WINE: We were trying to make a reasonable selection and had that conversation with the waiter and he suggested we bring in their wine guy.  We discussed all the usual suspects, Groth, J Phelps, Jordan... But the resident wine consultant, Jason Budd, was pounding the table on a bottle of "Pirouette" from Walla Walla Valley in Washington.   It was priced a almost half the price of the other options under discussion, but he assured me that I would not be disappointed.  I dont have a lot of experience with Washington State wines, other than some Pinot Noirs and some Chardonays that I have had in the past.      All I can say is the man was dead on. This was a superb bottle for the money.   After returning home I looked this bottle up and now it makes more sense; this is a creation of Napa Valley celebrated vintners Philippe Melka (Vineyard 29, Hundred Acre, among others) and Agustin Huneeus Sr. (Quintessa) joined with Long Shadows founder Allen Shoup.   Thanks Jason for opening my eyes to the Walla Walla of Reds.    For my readers if you hit JH this year eat at the White Buffalo and if you eat there, don't miss this wine!

Entertaining Clients at Dee Lincoln's in Dallas

January 10th, 2012:       Hosted a business Dinner at Dee Lincolns Restaurant and Bubble Bar.      We had a great dinner and some good wine.    It was a cool place to host some clients.    The hip atmosphere and casual setting made for a unique experience and break from the everyday steakhouse in town.   I was joined by good friends Ted Morrow and Kevin Morgan and work associates Cody Lummus and Brittany Smith.   OUr special Guest of the evening was JP Morgan Market Strategist and Economic Expert, Joe Tanious.  (Joe is quite a wine enthusiast himself by the way) The unique thing about this dine was that each guest was able  to walk around and pick thier own selection from the "by the glass" wall.    We then ordered a "Migration" Anderson Valley Pinot Noir from Duckhorn to start, followed by a sommelier suggested Titus Cab for the meal.   Dee Lincoln was there and made our night perfect.   She is one of the most gracious hostesses in Dallas.   Have your next business function at the Bubble Bar!

Snake River Grille, Jackson, WY: Happy Birthday Erin!

January 19th, 2012: A Jackson Hole favorite, we return again and again to the SRG. This year marks the 4th year in row Meredith and I have celebrated a birthday with our good friend Erin McNeil along with her husband Scott and friend Mellisa Pogue while in JH for our family ski vacation.  

Basically, it's Erins birthday so she gets to choose and this year is was the SRG.    We started with an amazing steak tar tar pizza, sausage stuffed dates and crab claws. All were great, but the pizza is not to be missed!   The elk loin was back on the menu this season and I was stoked.    I always order this when on the menu at SRG.    Everyone tried a bite and I feel certain that each was pretty jealous of my elk ... It is simply amazing.

We had a J Pinot Noir with the appetizers, which matched up perfectly with the pizza.   Good Pinots can get up there, so for the money, this one is a great deal.  I think it was under $50.  For the main performance...    Paul Hobbs, Corssbarn Cabernet;  What an excellent bottle of wine!     Everyone loved the selection and also another reasonable selection that was perfect with the steaks and the elk.   If you have not had a Paul Hobbs wine...   please, for your own good, go have one!