Wine Club Food and Wine Matching $35. 2008/03/15

Year	Wine	Price	Rating
2004	Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine, Napa wet earth, alcohol, bread, pear, yeast, somewhat volatile. The crab salad on endive is very good - so - ws	26.99	**
NV	Henriot, Champagne bubbly, complex, smooth, citrus peel, long finish - so - ws	36.99	****
2006	Valle Reale Vigne Nouve, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo grass, olive, mineral, loam, nice match with light ham. probably undrinkable without food. earthy, herbal. - so - ws	13.99	***
2005	Vietti Scarrone, Babera d'Alba blackcherry, chocolate, heavily oaked, vanilla, pencil lead, aroma better than flavor, the oak is getting in the way having some cardboard flavor. The ham is heavenly. - so - ws	34.99	***
2005	Neyers High Valley Vineyards Zinfandel, Napa Valley very full body, strawberry, nutty, herbal, quite complex, but doesn't seem to match with the lighter veal tortellini with roasted yellow pepper pesto too well... the latter is under seasoned and over sweet. - so - ws	23.99	***
2001	Pian Cornello Reserva, Brunello di Montalcino raspberry liqueur, mineral, tannic, pepper, olive, herbs, a hint of jam. - so - ws	69.99	***½
2006	Adelsheim Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley vanilla, pomegranate, chalky, fruity, concentrated, a little too much oak. Just had great Burgundy yesterday... not sure if I can ever rate an Oregon Pinot higher than 3.5 stars immeidately after that... sorry for being human. - so - ws	24.99	***½
2004	Artazu Santa Cruz de Artazu, Navarra violet, astringent, blackberry, hint of pepper and thyme. The chicken skewers have a nice light cumin marinate which is rather difficult to match with wine and none of these perfectly matches. Perhaps a burgundy will do better. - so - ws	32.99	****
rhone	Chateau De Saint Cosme "Valbelle", Gigondas plum, herbs, floral, short finish, astringent. - so - ws	44.99	***½
2004	Torbreck Runrig, Barossa Valley orange peel, blueberry, blackberry, lavender, complex, long finish, concentrated but balanced, anise, very difficult to drink more than a glass with such concentration. I think we should have a braised short rib to match. The lamb has no lamb aroma or flavor (which is good for me). - so - ws	169.99	*****