Mrs. Barbarian & I went out for dinner last night. It was Christmas Eve and we’d done nothing to prepare, so when the better half declared “let’s go out” I was already dialling our favorite small town bistro for a reservation. Our little foothills burg had been blanketed with an unusual snowfall. Not that we don’t get snow, it is just we rarely see more than a dusting. For the past nine days we’ve been getting dumped upon. Our home is buried under over 3 feet, and down in town things are Alaskan in appearance. Our favorite bistro was indeed open on this semi-holiday, and we secured a table for two.

Upon arrival we found a festive atmosphere and a likeness of the owner/chef, Chef Martin in snow out front:

We were seated in a comfy spot at the back, beyond a large party of revelers, but adjacent to the wine racks and small bar. We both ordered one of their “signature martinis”… neither of which are really martinis in the traditional sense. Mrs. Barbarian’s was more like a margarita, with a salted rim, and tequila as the main liquor. Mine was called a “Toasted L’Orange” and is a bourbon-based concoction. Both were awesome. Chef Martin had a special for the occasion, a slab of prime rib that looked too good to pass up, so I ordered that along with an onion soup. Mrs. Barbarian ordered a pair of appetizers as her main course, some potato latkes with smoked salmon, and an amazing glazed prawns thing which she prevented me from tasting in a fit of selfishness. Her soup was a squash/curry contrivance that was spec-effing-tacular. Midway through our soups I ordered some wine. Martin’s business partner Steve always has a great wine list and introduces me to all sorts of good stuff. Last time we visited we enjoyed a wonderful Cabernet Franc (review coming soon) so I was paying close attention to that varietal. I didn’t see anything that caught my eye until I ran down the list of blends and here was something at a reasonable price point that just had a promising ring to it: Fall Line Winery Horse Heaven Hills Red Wine 2005, 39% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon.

It proved a wonderful accompaniment to our meal. Smooth and flavorful. Very drinkable. Very deep and satisfying.

The wine retails for around $30, so it is just a bit outside my usual range but I always throw my cheap side under the bus when I go out to eat. Mind you, it still calls out to me when I order so I never do anything stupid like order anything in triple digits! This wine falls into that grey area between “cheap” and “expensive” so I’ll classify it as both. However, I will be pursuing this one on my own and perhaps more of the output from this small winery in Washington state. From what I read on their website they make very limited quantities, so if you want to get yours before I hoard it all for the apocalypse, get off the couch and buy some!

The Vinagoth can’t take a photo obviously. Of course if you knew the circumstances leading up to this photo you might be more forgiving. It was at the Office Xmas Party last Friday night. I ended up at a table with the CEO, who said “You’re the expert, pick the wine!” That’s like handing a chainsaw to a psychopath! How could I resist?

So, perusing the long list I picked a Cab Franc that looked promising… a total wild ass guess to be honest. The Sommelier thought I was some sort of genius, saying something like “That is my favorite!” She brought the first bottle, which she expertly poured for the FIVE of us at that end of the table sharing that bottle. I thought she was a genius for getting the pour exactly right in each glass while and ending up with nothing left and all even. Damn this wine was good. The place where we had our party charged $60 a bottle, and I didn’t pay for it… well, I did pay for one bottle later, but it’ll be covered on my next expense report! I think between the five of us we polished off five bottles. It WAS a five course meal though.

Everyone at my table thought I was a genius, and everyone loved the wine. So what is it? Have a look at the photo above, can’t you read?

It is a O*S Winery 2006 Cabernet Franc. I can’t take a photo, but I can make an blur-free HTML link:

Here you go.

I have no idea what it goes for retail, but I may seek it out and buy some. How can you resist? It makes you into a genius!

Forgive me reader, for I have spent.

I classify this under my “on somebody else’s tab” category as it is an expensive wine… but I’ll admit, I spent my own hard earned money to acquire it. To be honest it is an act I mildly regret. Not that this is a bad wine really, in fact it was quite good. Excellent even! It is just that it goes against my character to hand over big bucks on a wine. Mind you what is big bucks to me is spare change to others.

This was a bottle of Carver Sutro 2004 Palisade Vineyard Napa Valley Petite Sirah, and I blew about forty five bucks on it. That is about double what I usually consider to be my limit on spending for a bottle of wine. This however, was a temptation I could not resist.

You see Carver Sutro is probably as passionate as I am about Petite Sirah… likely more. OK, I’ll be honest, WAY MORE. Petite Sirah is all they make (though I imagine some readers here suspect that it is all I drink!) At Carver Sutro they are dedicated to Durif. So you see, I HAD to buy this wine.

How was it? Pretty damn good. I should have decanted it for longer, in fact I should have cellared it given how much I paid… but what can I say? I’m a sucker for a Petite Sirah, and this one was polished off pretty damn quick. Mrs. Barbarian liked it. I loved it.

Should I find a $50 bill lying on the ground I know EXACTLY what I’m going to do with it.

First off this is, by far, the best stuff I have reviewed to date. Seriously good stuff.

A few weeks ago Mrs. Barbarian & I celebrated our wedding anniversary. Unlike my birthday, which is a budget affair, we have to go upscale for this one. I made a reservation at our favorite bistro and spoke to the owner, letting him know this was a special occasion. I requested a great wine at a reasonable price, and this is what he had waiting for us, at our nice table by a window.

Woodinville Wine Cellars 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Stillwatercreek Vineyard, Columbia Valley.

Amazing. Wonderful wine. If life ever takes me to Woodinville, Washington I’m going to have to stop by and say “thank you!”

I recently celebrated a birthday. Mrs. Barbarian arranged a dinner at a local steak place, a chain who sends you a coupon for a free dinner on your birthday. (Have I ever mentioned how frugal Mrs. Barbarian is?) I choose a filet, which they smother in bleu cheese and garlic, along with a twice-baked potato. Mrs. Barbarian selects a New York Strip. Looking for something powerful on the meager wine list I select this Napa blend called “Pazzo.”

It not only stands up to the big food, it is truly wonderful. It is a bit pricey, but as it is from Napa, perhaps it is a bargain at around $30 retail.

Last month while out on a business trip I attended a dinner with a potential client. We enjoyed a great dinner in a steak house with a great view. Being a classless barbarian I hogged the wine list while everyone else figured out what cut of the flesh of lesser beasts they’d be ordering. I always pick the same thing, so I don’t need to look at a menu in a steak place… just give me the wine list. My Petite Sirah radar spotted only one on the whole long list.. it was awash in Cabs, Merlots, and Pinots… but just one of that ballsy, barabaric mis-named varietal, Petite Sirah. I’d never had this one, “The Heretic”, but I figured it was a Petite Sirah, wasn’t an Oak Grove (bleagh!) and we were about to consume massive quantities of burned steer. How could I go wrong.

The sommelier came by and noted that I was the guy holding the (gigantic) wine list and I asked him to bring my choice. He replied that he hadn’t tried this one yet, and was looking forward to opening it. “Coward” I thought. If I had his job I’d be cackling in the cellar amid a pile of Petite Sirah barrels. Leave the Cabs and Pinots to the snobs upstairs, I’ll be hoarding the Petite Sirahs down in the cellar.

He brought the bottle about the time our appetizers arrived and poured me a sample.

oh. my. gawd.

Of the Petites I’ve enjoyed, this one tops them all. Truly awesome. Everyone at the table thought I was a genius.

I have no idea of the vintage to be honest (2005? 2006?). The bottle is heavy and large, almost like a champagne bottle. The label is minimal. I grabbed it and shot two photos with my cell phone on the black leather of the booth… and both of the photos are pretty bad… as you all know I am a LOUSY photographer, sorry. I can make out “Paso Robles” on this shot of the back label.

I must head to my wine merchant and grab a few of these bottles for myself.

Four Vines “The Heretic” from Paso Robles.  

One of my co-workers came back from a Costco run with this wine in hand for our Friday afternoon imbibery. It is a Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Columbia Valley of Washington. It is a big, powerful red. Unfortunately a bit too powerful. This is another one that should be locked in a dark, cool place for a few years before opening. I have no idea what this one cost since i didn’t buy it, so I can’t classify it by price. If you have a cellar it might be good to grab a bottle or two and lock ‘em away to see how they develop. Unless they’re asking more than a fistful of dollars for it. If so, pass it up.

As I mentioned in the previous post, the Vinagoth enjoyed this Spanish wine on somebody else’s tab at a business dinner. Nice. It was pleasant and everyone at the table enjoyed it… until some Barbarian ordered a Petite Sirah to follow and it was mowed down like some civilized village before a plundering host.

I have no idea how much this costs, but it should be a safe pick so long as there aren’t any marauding Vinagoths nearby wielding blunt instruments from Lodi.

Out at a business dinner the client orders a Rioja (review coming) and for the second bottle I chose this one, which blew everyone at the table away… as Petite Sirahs are wont to do. Everyone liked it so much that two more bottles were ordered and a fine time was had by all.

Can’t go wrong with this one folks. It wasn’t that pricey on the wine list either, so I imagine it isn’t that pricey in the stores, likely under $20.

Clay Station 2004 Petite Sirah, Lodi.