Wild and Wonderful DC

httvinturiI just had a wonderful three days in Washington, D.C. celebrating my belated/the wife's early 30th birthday.  Good food, wine, and friends always earn an A+ in my book.  Unfortunately, Monday afternoon came too soon as usual. 

I realize that I'm a little long-winded when I write this "thing" so I'll try to be brief.  Bullet points are good, right?  Lazy you say?  How about this once?  I am trying to find another job during the evenings so give me some slack.  Some weekend highlights included:

- some of the most authentic fish and chips outside the British Isles at Eamonn's in Alexandria.  You need to order the curry sauce for your chips.  It's delectable. 

- a cheese and charcuterie platter at our friend's house pre-dinner accompanied by 2005 Nicolas Catena Zapata and 2009 Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler Bernkasteler Badstude am Doctorberg Riesling Spatelese.  The Zapata was open for two hours beforehand before being poured through a Vinturi straight into our glasses.  I should have opened it earlier because it still felt "tight" until the last few glasses we shared.  I don't have any specific tasting notes other than deep color, fruit and spice nose, and silky smooth finish.  My earlier post on the 2009 German rieslings should tell you how excited I was to taste another offering from Dr Heidemanns.  This particular one had bigger body, white raisins and minerals, and a finish that hung around beautifully.

- dinner at our favorite French place in Georgetown, Bistro Francais, accompanied by a magnum each of 1999 Provenance Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and 1997 Chateau Haut-Batailley Pauillac (French Bordeaux).  The group seemed to be split between the two while I narrowly gave the edge to the Cab.  It just had more balance between fruit and secondary notes like earth and meat.  The rack of lamb and duck rillette were superb as usual.

- dinner at a new place in Van Ness, Jake's American Grill, that was very mediocre.  It's only been open for a few days so the staff and kitchen are still working on a few things such as timing, trying to open a screw-top cork with a wine key, and making sure a molten lava cake is actually molten.  Our pre-seating rose was so-so.  My pork stew was decent but not mind blowing.  We split a bottle of 2007 Argyle Pinot Noir "The Nuthouse," which was drinking really well with cherry, raspberry, and a touch of mocha. 

All in all a great weekend.  What was everyone else drinking this weekend?

Happy sipping!



Me with the Provenance and Haut-Batailley magnums