[wine] Mediteranian at Muffies on 7/31

Ribs and Zin was fantastic. Great seeing you all. Next week, we're going to Muffies. We can have the back room if we garantee $300. Trivial for a group of 12. Bit of a stretch for a group of 6. Including an article on N. Cent. Coast Pinot. Cheers, Jim ----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> ----- Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:10:58 -0500 From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> To: wine(a)thebarn.com Subject: [wine] Mediteranian at Muffies on 31 July Been a long time since we went to Muffeletta, 2+years. They are not available this week, but can accomodate us next week. From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> To: wine(a)thebarn.com Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 15:12:28 -0600 From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> To: wine(a)thebarn.com Greetings, Happy New Year, Bah-Mitzvah! Had some truly fantastic food at Alma. The three course, $39, prix fixe was the order of the day for most of us. Alma tasting option is unusually flexible. Diner's are able to pick "one form each column". That is any starter, any primi/pasta and any entree. Local pheasant and the risoto were very good. This week, we've been invited to Muffuletta. Muffuletta Cafe 2260 Como St. Paul, 55108 St. Anthony Park 651-644-9116 Style du jour is "Mediteranian". Yes Joyce Warren/Ruth Betsy Bob Russ Lori Jim Guess: Nicolai Karin Directions: Take Hwy 280 to Como, go east up the hill and then to the second light (Carter). Alt: Take Snelling to Como, West to Carter. Cheers, Jim The Chronicle Wine Selections: North Central Coast Pinot Noir Lynne Char Bennett, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, July 25, 2008 Pinot Noir is happiest when grown in cool climes. The northern portion of California's huge Central Coast appellation has regions with cooling ocean winds, which can drop hot daytime temperatures 30 degrees in some locations. Stretching south from San Francisco to the San Luis Obispo County border, the North Central Coast is home to well-known appellations like the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Lucia Highlands, which produce Pinot Noir that has cherry-berry and dark fruit with good acidity that's a result of the cooler evening temperatures. Most of the 58 wines tasted are from the 2006 vintage, which had a cool, wet beginning and a midseason heat spike. Slightly cooler temperatures toward the season's end resulted in a delayed harvest with great quality fruit and slightly lower sugar levels. Last year's tasting of North Central Coast Pinot Noir was primarily of the 2005 vintage, which in general had a very high quality and quantity of grapes. Though there were approximately the same number of wines as this year, we awarded twice as many 3-stars in 2007's tasting. This year we recommend more wines from a very solid group of North Central Coast Pinot Noir; most of the recommendations received 2 to 2 1/2 stars. Many of these wines have limited production, with a few available for purchase only through the winery. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Bargetto Reserve Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir ($40) Menthol and high-toned notes on the nose, underscored with cranberry, chocolate-covered sour cherry and coconut. Some breadth and stuffing on the palate; blend of red and black fruit, with toasty notes and tannic structure on the finish. Contains 85 percent Pinot Noir and 15 percent other unspecified grape varieties. Winery only; limited. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Bargetto Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir ($25) Vibrant cherry-berry, sarsaparilla and Asian spice, which lifts the aromas and flavors. Nice acidity, but finishes a touch short. Includes 5 percent Petite Sirah, which is an unusual grape to blend with a Pinot. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Black Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir ($39) Dry spice, eucalyptus and mint amid black plum, cherry and tightly knit raspberry aromas and flavors. Nose is somewhat subtle. Good acidity with soft tannins on the finish, though there is a slightly acrid bite. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Calera Mt. Harlan Cuvee Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir ($30) Delicate nose of juicy rhubarb and loam with touch of musk and thyme. Darker fruit dominates the elegant palate but tart cranberry comes through. Broad, chalky grip on the finish, which has rigid tannins. Needs food and some time. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2005 Calera Ryan Vineyard Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir ($40) Proprietor-winemaker Josh Jensen specializes in wine from Mount Harlan, including four single-vineyard releases. Mount Harlan - located in San Benito County's Gabilan Mountains - has a higher-than-usual elevation and limestone soil. This wine has dark earth notes, lavender and ruby red fruit aromas with sweet plum, dusty dried herb and hint of spice and roasted pasilla. Palate shows more fruit density but focuses on chalky mineral, with broad tannins through the finish. Will age. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Estancia Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($28) Floral, slightly earthy, mushroomy nose supported with plenty of oak. A grapier profile overall, with strawberry on the light, almost thin palate, which has almost aggressive acidity. One panelist really liked this wine. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Hahn Estates Monterey Pinot Noir ($20) Rich berry, rhubarb and sweet red fruit with spice and a touch of coriander on the nose and palate. Aged 10 months in French oak, 65 percent of which was new. A classic Pinot Noir that should be readily available. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Hilltown Vineyards Monterey County Pinot Noir ($7) A lighter-bodied quaff that has just-enough red and black fruit plus some conifer and high-toned floral notes on the nose; tart and a touch pinched with a bit of fruit tannins on the finish. Fermented in stainless steel with an additional 6 months on the lees. An everyday price for a nice, everyday wine. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Hunterdon Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($15) Rich strawberry jam, plenty of red fruit, toasty spice, coconut and damp tree bark aromas. A lighter, fresher profile, with rich cherry a surprisingly broad structure for this wine's lightness. From Mayro-Murdick Wines proprietors Michael and Tina Cox. Good value. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Kendall-Jackson Vineyard Estates Highland Estates Seco Highlands Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir ($35) There is 2 percent Chardonnay in this wine, which is aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 50 percent of which was new. A nose of darker oak and toast notes underscore the black plum and wild strawberry. Soy and savory herb can also be found; similar flavors, plus vanilla and tart blackberry on the long finish, which shows a bit of alcoholic heat. Rating: THREE STARS 2006 Miner Garys' Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($60) Winemaker Gary Brookman has crafted a rich, balanced wine with concentrated fruit - red apple, cherry and bright strawberry - on the palate. A pretty, slightly more subtle nose of dark fruit, toasty, dry earth and floral tones. Tart red fruit helps brighten the tannins on the finish. The full package. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Miner Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($60) Sweet oak surrounds strawberry tart and slight pepper with coconut highlights. A note of tart, acidic brightness reins in the oak influence. A style that has been created with obvious effort. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Morgan Twelve Clones Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($31) Morgan's Double L Vineyard - which is 40 percent of this blend - is organically farmed. The wine's Twelve Clones moniker refers to this vineyard's 12 different clonal selections of Pinot Noir. Black cherry, spiced cranberry relish, young tea leaf and mineral aromas. Engaging palate has plenty of fruit, toast and fine-grained tannins. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Pey-Lucia Vineyards Frisquet Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($39) Jonathan and Susan Pey named this wine Frisquet, which is French for "very cool," referring to the vineyard's cool climate location. The 34-year-old vineyard borders highly regarded Rosella's Vineyard and can have a 30 degree variation in daily temperatures. Bright, lively and engaging on the nose with a generous palate; blackberry, cherry and spice plus warm oak closes the sale. Elegance and persistence on the tart-edged finish. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Roar Garys' Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($50) Another rustic, barnyardy wine, but with underlying fruit. Nose of lemongrass, root beer and high-toned currant with a slightly smoky back note. Generous, sweetly tart Bing cherry plus a chalky grip on the lively finish. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Roar Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($38) This workhorse bottling from winery and vineyard owners Gary and Rosella Franscioni has a polarizing earthy rusticity - but some will like this style. Yeasty with less ripe fruit. Cool strawberry and a bit of berry leaf; more rich vanilla plus finely grained tannins. Rating: TWO STARS 2005 Roessler Brosseau Vineyard Chalone Pinot Noir ($42) This is winemaker Scott Shapely's first vintage from Jan and Jon Brosseau's vineyard, planted in 1982. A combination of limpid red berry, dark fruit and forest floor with tangerine highlights plus a hint of mint. Camphor aromas with truffled popcorn. Great minerality with an attractive overlay of oak on the finish. Rating: THREE STARS Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Branciforte Creek Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir ($32) This vineyard, planted in 1988, is at a site that was originally planted in 1863. Winemaker Jeff Emery has made a pretty wine with great fruit balance. Cranberry, strawberry and dusty blackberry combine with forest and delicate mineral aromas. Dense, tart blackberry and bright red fruit flavors with minerally texture and grip on the finish. One taster thought it a touch brash. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Siduri Garys' Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($49) This wine is still a baby, but is showing earthy barnyard, violet and bright, high-toned red fruit - rhubarb and strawberry - plus some mineral notes on the nose. A touch narrow, with a tannic grip on the rather young, aggressive palate. Needs time. Rating: TWO STARS 2006 Siduri Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($48) An earthier style, which one taster thought a bit too "horsey" on the nose, but it is balanced with deep, concentrated fruit, bay leaf and spice. There is certainly power and stuffing, with a lingering finish. Give it a few more months. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Testarossa Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($59) Subtle nose of violet, strawberry and leather with a note of spicy pepper. There's depth and breadth on the more assertive palate that is enrobed in rich berry; lovely white mineral grip on the finish. A transitional, complex Pinot Noir that is not austere and funky - great for both geeks and connoisseurs. Winery only. Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS 2006 Testarossa Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($59) Completely ripe with aromas of olallieberry, bright red-toned raspberry and sweet candied notes. Loamy highlights add interest, while the softer, silky palate offers similar flavors with elegant fruit. Tart and tamarind-like on the finish. Slightly evolved and enjoyable now. Panelists include: Lynne Char Bennett, Chronicle staff writer and wine coordinator; Jon BonnéChronicle wine editor; Evan Goldstein, president and chief education officer, Full Circle Wine Solutions. For additional recommended wines, go to sfgate.com/wine . ----- End forwarded message ----- -- ------------------------------ * Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, mobile : 651/645-0753 * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *