Bring your Best Bottle Tasting at WWWB

O thou invisible spirit of wine! if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!

William Shakespeare 1564 - 1616
Othello [1604 - 1605], act II, sc. iii, l. 285

April means it’s time for our annual “Bring you Best Bottle Brown Bag” tasting at the Wine Watch! Were a bit late getting the menu out for the Wine Bar this week but we are open every Thursday Friday and Saturday night most weeks and still have a few tables left for tomorrow night but our vintage Brunello tasting is SOLD OUT.

This tasting is more like an excuse to get together and have a good time with friends that a formal tasting but there is a kicker, the winner of this “Bring your Best Bottle Brown Bag” tasting doesn’t have to pay for dinner! 

Let me explain how this works, the admission to this event is one bottle of wine per person and the value of this bottle needs to be at least $150 on average as listed on www.winesearcher.com.  You have to call the store or respond to this e-mail to let us know what you are bringing and your wine must be brought to the store in a brown bag the night of the event ready to go- meaning decanted if necessary.

We will be serving the wines blind to our 14 guests this evening and the only fee for the event is for the dinner.  The menu is below and if you have any specific dietary restrictions just let us know and Toni will be happy to accommodate you.  The fee for the dinner is $75 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com
Menu
Selection of Charcuterie
Buffalo Motz Wrapped in Grilled Romaine and Prosciutto with Sundried Tomato aged Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sous Vied Rib Eye with Turnip honey mash and Mushroom Cognac Sauce
Chocolate Crème Brulee with Cherries on top

The Winner of the “Bring your Best Bottle Brown Bag” tasting from 2017:

2012 Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
Price: $227.00    Your Price: $192.95          Quantity in Stock: 10
This wine is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and the vineyard is located in Oakville next to Harlan Estate.  We have been following this wine from the first vintage and this is the best made to date a very balanced wine with lots of fruit but also has a firm hand of acidity and just the right touch of oak spice leading into a finish that goes on for over a minute.  We had some great wine on the table last year and this wine got more votes for first place than all of the others combined!  Finish 50+ KILLER!

A bit about the Vineyard House:

The Vineyard House was originally Hiram Crabbs place in the late 19th century, it was sold to the Stelling family and then to Gil Nickel.  Gil left this house to his son Jeremy to ensure that he would always have a place in Napa Valley.  Although Jeremy is on the board of directors for Far Niente and Nickel and Nickel Wineries, he does not work at either winery.   On the Vineyard House property there is a 2 acre vineyard which some of the fruit from this site now goes into the this exciting new wine and he has also purchased 35 acres right there on the valley floor located just 50 feet before you get to Harlan estate and Bond Wineries.  In the very near future this wine will be 100% estate bottled.  Bill Ballentine is making the wine and the first vintage was 2005.
The Vineyard House (TVH) is an exceptional and rare Cabernet Sauvignon created by proprietor Jeremy Nickel as a tribute to his late father Gil Nickel, founder of three of Napa’s most acclaimed wineries: Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, and Dolce.  Like his father before him, Jeremy’s vision for TVH is to build a world-class estate winery around his one-of-a-kind property in Oakville, and to produce an extraordinary and inspirational Cabernet Sauvignon that is at once drinkable and collectible. To that end, TVH has received rave reviews and held its own twice in blind tastings against Napa’s most renowned cult wines.  TVH takes its name from a 19th century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards in a picturesque valley in Oakville, California.  Known  as The Vineyard House, the home was built in 1853 by William  Baldridge, one of Napa’s most prominent citizens. It was bestowed to  Jeremy by Gil when he passed away in 2003.
Jeremy is proud to continue the family tradition of great winemaking.  “Here’s to all we do that would make our fathers proud!
"My father taught me many life lessons, one of which was “never compromise on quality.” The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to my father’s commitment to excellence, as well as his passion for fine Cabernet. An “Okie from Muskogee,” who established three of Napa Valley’s most iconic brands, Gil Nickel was not only my father, but my hero, whose lessons continue to inspire me every day. here’s to our fathers!"  Jeremy Nickel

This Weeks Menu at the Wine Bar

Lemon Gremolate & Parmesan Dusted Shoestring Fries
Price: $18

Shutty Fries - Montreal Seasoned Steak Fries
Price- $14

Italian  Sausage & Caramelized Onion Pizza with Smokey Tomato Sauce
Price: $24

Beef Sliders with Truffle Mushroom Aioli and Provolone
Price $28

Vietnamese Pork Belly Buns with Kimchee & Chili Oil
Price: $26

Seared Yellowtail Snapper, Korean BBQ Sauce, Coconut Basmati Rice, Charred Baby Bok

Choy
Price: $42

Indian Butter Chicken Tartine with Garam Marsala
Price: $18

Buffalo Mozzarella stuffed Arancini with Smokey Tomato Sauce
Price: $28

Salmon Carpaccio with Grapefruit Segments & Lavendar Aioli
Price: $18

Smoked Mozzarella & Duck Ravioli with Sundried Tomato & Basil Brown Butter with

Reggiano Parmesan
Price: $28

Tuna & Avocado Tartar with Sesame Seeds & Lemon-Sweet Chili Aioli
Price: $32

Seared Sea Scallops over creamy Grits & Citrus Beurre Blanc
Price: $42

Braised Beef Short Rib with Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Romanesco
Price: $42

Blood Orange Tart with Meringe
Price: $15

Dark Chocolate Bark
Price: $15

Dark Chocolate Crème Brulee
Price: $15

Meat Selections
$5/1 ounce Serving

Bresaola-Italian Dried Beef
Principe Truffle Salumi
Duck Prosciutto
Prosciutto di san Daniele
Iberico Chorizo
Coppa Spicy Molinari
Felino Italian Wine Salumi
Sopressa Veneta Italian Salumi
Principe Cacciatori Chubs Salumi
Iberico Salchichon Dry Cured Salami

Cheese Selections
$5/1 ounce Serving

Imported Gorgonzola
[Italy]
Extra Sharp Cheddar
[Canada]
Turtle Creek Goat Cheese
[Oregon]
Tartufo Bianco Pecorino
[Italy]
Beehive Smoked Cheddar
[Jersey]
Triple Cream St Andre
[Normandy]
Blue D’auvergene
[France]
Manchego Artisan Raw 12 Month
[Spain]
Groene Oorsprong Gouda
[Holland]
Reggiano Parmesan
[Italy]
Stilton Blue
[England]
Smoked Provolone
[Italy]

Wine By the Glass

Pol Roger Rich Champagne NV
(7 Ounce Pour) Price: $15.00
Lucien Albrecht Rose Cremant Alsace
(7 Ounce Pour)  Price: $8.75
2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Russian River Valley
(7 Ounce Pour) Price: $8.75
2012 Zind Humbrecht Zind
White blend Alsace
(7 Ounce Pour) Price: $10.75
2013 Clos Du Val Sauvignon Blanc Napa
(7 Ounce Pour) Price: $9.75
2015 Hartford Court Russian River Pinot Noir 
(7 Ounce Pour) Price: $11.00
2011 Spring Valley Nina Lee Syrah
(7 Ounce Pour) Price: $16.75
1999 Friggiali Donna Olga Brunello di Montalcino
(7 Ounce Pour) Price: $37.50
1895 Araújo De Barros Verdelho Madeira
(2 Ounce Pour) Price: $125
1886/87 Blandy Terrantez
(2 Ounce Pour) Price: $150
1937 D’Olivera Sercial Madeira
(2 Ounce Pour) Price: $65
1907 Blandy's Vintage Bual Madeira
(2 Ounce Pour) Price: $87.50