The June dinner of the RBSB club was held at O'Connell Street Bistro - one
of Auckland's top restaurants.

Our small club does include among its membership such noted names as
winemakers Joe Babich (Babich Wines), Nick Nobilo (formerly Nobilo Wines,
now Vinoptima), Andrew Hendry (Coopers Creek); wine writer Michael Cooper
etc..

The theme was California comes to O'Connell Street"

Few CA wines make it to NZ - (relative to NZ) high US domestic prices and
unfavourable exchange rate differential makes them very expensive when
compared to local or Australian or European imports.

The format is simple - all wines served blind - a pre-dinner "starter", then
each course is accompanied by 2 or three wines.

And usually, the organisers throw in a ringer - just to keep everyone on
their toes.

After each course, two or three people are asked to comment on the food; the
wine(s); the match and then "guess" the what/where/when of the wine.

The starter was bubbles - crisp, even austere, but fresh and lightly fruity.

Most thought Champagne - well, close!

Roederer Estate Brut from Anderson Valley - here in NZ, this would retail
just slightly less than most NV champagne, and above many minor labels, but
this was a very pleasant start to the evening.

Entree was Crispy Calamari with roasted garlic & saffron aioli and wild
rocket salad.

Two whites were presented:

(1) 2005 Au Bon Climat "Nuits-Blanches au Bouge XXV" from Santa Maria
Valley
(2) 2006 Hyde de Villane Chardonnay - Napa Valley.

Both well made examples - I preferred the latter with the squid dish - quite
a serious wine with a good dollup of acid, mineral hints with ripe nectarine
flavours. The former was fleshy and ripe, spicy (oak?) pear and spice - very
good but IMO the HdV was a better match.

Main course was Wild Goat Osso Bucco, with polenta fritta and cavolo Nero;
three reds were poured (decanted three hours we were told!)

(3) 2007 Jacob Franklin Petite Sirah - Hayne Vineyard, Napa Valley. I
liked this wine - inky black, smoked bacon / mushroom on the nose, hints of
ripe plums, black pepper and dark chocolate - good acid / fruit / tannin,
maybe a little out of balance owing to extreme youth, but this went very
well with the chevon.
(4) 2005 Hyde de Villaine "HdV" Carneros Syrah. I thought this wine was
totally bizarre - I could not get past overpowering nose of burnt rubber!
Medium weight, sappy, tight as hell. Unlike any syrah/shiraz I have had in
my life.
(5) 2005 Seghesio Family Old Vine Zinfandel. I picked the variety
immediately (thanks to gifts from Mark Lipton and Joseph Coulter. I
understand this wine is made from old (nearly 100 years) head-pruned vines
from Alexander and Dry Creek valleys. I could become a real fan of this
style of wine.This wine was a dark purple hue with hints raisin and spice.
Not overtly jammy or chewy, this Zin was a spicy, peppery wine, with a hint
of dark cherries.

The meal was finished with a selection of cheeses - served with another red.

I was busy extolling the virtues of this wine, when I was put on the spot
and asked to comment (followed by Nick Nobilo!)

I was initially torn - between a Pauillac and a quality CA Cabernet
Sauvignon. The wine was very Bordeaux like (and a very young example too I
thought). Medium / full bodied, good acidity, clean style, cassis and
cedar - I opted for an excellent CA wines about 5 years old. (Nobilo went
for a first growth Bordeaux as a tricky inclusion!)

When unveiled it proved to be Ridge Monte Bello 2003 (good guess by his
lordship!) - god! this was a very special wine!

Faced with a two hour drive home, I opted out of coffee and port - trying to
think of a way to get my hands on a case of this wine (impossible I am
afraid!)

Apart from the very weird showing of the HdV syrah, this was an excellent
selection from the West Coast.

--

st.helier