Dinner at the Nasher Sculpture Center Dallas brings back some great memories over an amazing glass of Quintessa

Meredith and I celebrated Hockaday Graduation with Friends at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.   Although there are many notable things about the center... the art, the amazing sculptures and activities, I am writing this evening to mention the amazing wine served at the event.    Among the many options at the bar that evening was a 2007 Quintessa Napa Valley Red Wine.     You may have read in previous posts that this is one of my most favorite selections.    As a refresher,  I came to know this wine around 2002.   My good friend Mike Edwards, from lubbock, Texas, had insisted on a bottle during a dinner at Al Biernat's in Dallas.      That night, after a couple of bottles (ouch), I admit it -I was hooked.    It was an amazing wine and I promised myself I would visit the winery someday.   Finally in 2009, I visited the winery with my Mother, Meredith and the rest of my wine family.     It is truly an amazing winery, with one of the most magnificent views in the Napa Valley, an amazing wine story and an impressive facility for making one of the worlds finest wines.   The tasting have become rather difficult to book, but it is one of my highest recommendations while in the wine country.   It is a Napa "Don't Miss" for the wine snob for sure!

So back to my story...     this wine was served at the graduation ceremony this week and it brought back some great memories of finding this wine with my good friend Mike Edwards and memories of visiting the winery with my mother and Meredith many years back.     Thanks to my friend David Haemisseger for the excellent wine selection this week and congratulations to Sarah and all the 2012 graduates from the Hockaday school!

Where to stay in Napa

Had a friend ask for some recommendations of where to stay in Napa.   I thought it might be helpful to share my response.    His request was for a nice retreat for he and his wife, special occasion type thing, NOT for a cheap weekend getaway so keep that in mind when you view my comments:

WHERE TO STAY:

The Carneros Inn:    Expensive and a little far away from the action, but it has a farm feel and the breakfast area overlooking the pool and the wine country is pretty priceless.

Bardessono:   You guys would probably like this best.   In yountville, which is basically the middle of the valley, half way between Napa and Calistoga.   It is way modern and is in the middle of all the action.   Walking distance to Bouchon Bakery, for your morning Joe and muffins, plus near a bunch of other restaurants and shopping, like Bottega and Napa Style

The Yountville Inn: Newly renovated, also in Yountville so ditto above, just a little less modern, but equally nice.   Just compare prices of all three above, check out the websites and you can't go wrong.

Meadowood:    This is a lot of people's favorite.   It is older, but very nice.    Their restaurant is the only other 3 Michelin star rated restaurant in the San Fran area other than the French Laundry, which should need no explanation.    It is great, we stayed and ate there but prepare to barf from your wallet if you eat there because they don't give out three star ratings everyday and they want to keep their, so the food, presentation and the bill are remarkable.

Auberge De Sole:     Have not stayed there, but had drinks and been in there many times.    It is super high end and always someone famous staying there.

Backup Ideas: 

Avia:   New hyatt in downtown Napa, haven't stayed or been in yet, but heard good things and it is a new Hyatt boutique brand, so i would guess it would be nice.  This might be an option if you want to save a little cash on room rates.

Marriot:   There is also a Marriot in Downtown Napa; its a Marriot, so you know that drill with that.   

Just some helpful ideas for all my followers, feel free to comment or ask questions.

Spring in Napa Valley

Breakfast at Carneros Inn

Just got back from three days in the wine country.   This time we were back at the Carneros Inn, this place is a little pricey, but it is simply one of my most favorite places to stay, anywhere.     The service is always great and the food is amazing.   TO the left is a very of the wine country from the restaurant on the hill.  

This trip was a new adventure for both of us.   We decided NOT to visit any of our normal hangouts.    We tried some new and amazing places.

WINERIES  

Overlook of Napa at Cade

Corsin Winery was a new one and we really enjoyed the people ant the wine there.   We had a scallop lunch and bubble tasting at Chandon.     This was a little commercial for my taste, but i can't take anything away from the food or the champagne, it was all great.   We visited Ladera Vineyards for the first time and ended up joining their wine club, this one was a real great value.  Our good friends the Sachs hooked us up with an amazing tasting with the winemaker at Cade, an offshoot of the Plumpjack people, where we were treated to a cave tour and a barrel tasting of their soon to be released Cabernet.    We made a quick stop an fought the madness at Silver Oak and had a tasting a toured the grounds at Duckhorn.   A new favorite, Spring Mountain Winery.     I really like a lot of the Spring Mountain Area wines, so we had to try this and we were not disappointed.   OK, I lied, we had to stop in and see our friends at Nickel and Nickel, and of course had to belly up to the bar at Napa Wine Company.

Farmstead Burger with Farm Fresh Egg

EATS
We stayed with our plan and tried some new places to eat.  We had dinner at Farm at the Carneros Inn and it was very nice.  We had a casual lunch at Farmstead.    They are a working farm, Long Meadow Ranch, grow their own beef and other items to make for an absolutely fresh menu.   All I can't tell you is GET THE BURGER! OMG!

After a day of wine a cheese, we changed it up and had an amazing experience at Morimoto Napa.  I can't even begin to explain how complex the presentation was on all the food.    I felt bad eating it!  

Another amazing trip to Napa Valley in the books, can't wait to go back.  

Dinner with Friends - Some Super Wines

Our Good friends Sandy and Chuck Hutchison were over for dinner a few weeks back.    Chuck and I are always comparing notes on wine and he appreciates wine, especially a good California Cabernet.  

Dinner was a garlic and salt rubbed beef tenderloin with simple baked potatoes along with a great green salad.  

This seemed like a good occasion to pull out some of the Napa Wine Company collection wines.    We started with a Ma(i)sonry Pinot Noir... stunning, seriously amazing, I loved it!   This was an amazing wine.    I have been to the Ma(i)sonny tasting room in Napa, which a really cool venue, as you taste your wine while surrounded by super expensive art.  It is all for sale so be careful not to spill anything.

The Next bottle was a Nickel and Nickel Cabernet from Napa Valley.    This is also a great wine and is a big wine that matched the steak perfectly.

It was a great night, with good friends!

Dinner with the Plano Group - Never a Dull Moment!

Dinner with the "Plano Group" (only one couple actually lives in Plano by the way) is always a good time.     Kevin and Libby, who live in Dallas, just built a new house and invited Donna and Clint and Tracy and Lee, who live in Frisco, Meredith and I, Dallasites and of course Michelle and Rob who live in Plano, over for dinner.   Now it is easy to see why we all still refer to this as "The Plano Group".   No one would disagree that it is always so much fun with this clan, there is never a dull moment and you're always learning something new about each other, even after 20 years!  

Anywho, Libby served Homemade individual Chicken Pot Pies and they were great.    Kevin dug deep in the wine fridge and opened the evening with a few bottles of Ramey Cabernet.    I think that was his way of saying "It's On!".  With dinner, Kevin served a Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon and a Stag's Leap Cabernet, it was hard to make a choice but the Stag's Leap was closest to me so it seemed the appropriate choice.    We had some really superior wines all night, but near the end of dinner Kevin opened a 2007 Seghesio Zinfandel and challenged everyone to not like it, evan after enjoying the list above.   He was right, everyone really liked the Zin, thanks to Kevin for making the intro.   This wine sells for the mid $20s in the store and for the money I highly recommend you check it out.   As a matter of fact I am going to add this to my list for Great Pics under $25.     THANKS JACKSONS!!

After further research i see why we all liked it...


Online Comments:   #10 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2008

Scents of raspberries and blueberries intertwined with briar patch spices. Ripe raspberry and blueberry flavors persist. A hint of creamy oak and a silky and refined texture with a juicy character. Juicy acidity and integrated tannins smooth the finish.

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!!