Pinot, Seasons, Italy
I've tried a couple of Pinot Noir's since the last post that were memorable. I also had dinner for my first wedding anniversary at Seasons, the restaurant of the Four Seasons hotel in Washington, DC.
Seasons is a very good restaurant. I say that not only because of the food, but because of the service, decoration and setting as well. From our table that evening we could look out over the south end of the city (Georgetown). We had attentative service - the restaurant was deserted for some reason - and we had some truly excellent food. I was most impressed by the originality of the dishes. The beautiful wife had a crab salad that was bursting with citrus and other flavors. I enjoyed lamb prepared two ways, both new to me; no simple garlic and rosemary crust here. Overall an eye-opening (and, of course, wallet-opening) experience. I highly recommend it next time you get a bonus.
As for the Pinot's, I recently sampled the 2005 Edna Pinot Noir from San Luis Obispo county, CA. My wife enjoyed a bottle of this with friends a couple of weeks ago (a bottle I had purchased, not that it's relevant) and recommended it as very smooth, easy and pleasant. I concur with her opinion but would add a touch of up-front sweetness that focuses your attention to the other flavors. It's an easy-drining Pinot that will go well with summer foods of all sorts. At $20, I recommend it.
If you live in Arlington you probably know about the Italian Store at Spout Run. This is the place that makes superb New York-style pizza and awesome subs. They also have good cheeses and dry goods and a decent selection of Italian wine given the size of the store. I picked up lunch/dinner there today and also a bottle of 2003 A-Mano red Tuscan style wine. This got an 87 rating from Wine Spectator and was ranked as a "best buy". Alas it did not impress me. I found it a bit harsh, with flavors that individually might be fine but that in combination didn't mesh. It had some sweetness that was pleasant but wasn't backed with appropriate tannins or fruit flavor. Overall not quite a dissapointment (considering the $10 price) but not a wine I'd buy again.
Seasons is a very good restaurant. I say that not only because of the food, but because of the service, decoration and setting as well. From our table that evening we could look out over the south end of the city (Georgetown). We had attentative service - the restaurant was deserted for some reason - and we had some truly excellent food. I was most impressed by the originality of the dishes. The beautiful wife had a crab salad that was bursting with citrus and other flavors. I enjoyed lamb prepared two ways, both new to me; no simple garlic and rosemary crust here. Overall an eye-opening (and, of course, wallet-opening) experience. I highly recommend it next time you get a bonus.
As for the Pinot's, I recently sampled the 2005 Edna Pinot Noir from San Luis Obispo county, CA. My wife enjoyed a bottle of this with friends a couple of weeks ago (a bottle I had purchased, not that it's relevant) and recommended it as very smooth, easy and pleasant. I concur with her opinion but would add a touch of up-front sweetness that focuses your attention to the other flavors. It's an easy-drining Pinot that will go well with summer foods of all sorts. At $20, I recommend it.
If you live in Arlington you probably know about the Italian Store at Spout Run. This is the place that makes superb New York-style pizza and awesome subs. They also have good cheeses and dry goods and a decent selection of Italian wine given the size of the store. I picked up lunch/dinner there today and also a bottle of 2003 A-Mano red Tuscan style wine. This got an 87 rating from Wine Spectator and was ranked as a "best buy". Alas it did not impress me. I found it a bit harsh, with flavors that individually might be fine but that in combination didn't mesh. It had some sweetness that was pleasant but wasn't backed with appropriate tannins or fruit flavor. Overall not quite a dissapointment (considering the $10 price) but not a wine I'd buy again.
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