Help needed - U.S. Red Wine Dinner

in article 9Am_d.1809$ snipped-for-privacy@news-server.bigpond.net.au, Andrew Goldfinch at snipped-for-privacy@bigpond.net.au wrote on 3/17/05 1:24 PM:

If my online converter is correct that's $140/something US Dollars. Pretty steep, in my term of reference, for aa dinner........ but you do have 12 should-be-good wines there that you may not get much exposure to in your part of the world. I'm quite familiar with Kathryn Kennedy Lateral and Lazy Creek - Lateral is a second level blend from a boutique winery whose first level cabs go for north of US$100; I find it to be a very good value (sells in my area for US$30 -$35)... usually tastes like 50% more... a personal favorite. Lazy Creek is a wonderful little winery we stumbled on a few years ago. Their Pinot is usually unfiltered and very good.

Looks like these wines are all in the US$30 - $60 range, and this should be a very good tasting of US boutique wines..IMHO. PLEASE POST NOTES if you go.

Unfortunately, I do not know any of these wines intimately. However, Everything that I have had from Robert Biale, Kathryn Kennedy, and Ken Wright, has been excellent. The same for all producers on Diamond Mountain - I know the Diamond Creek lineup well, and always try every other DM Cab that I can find.

To me, it sounds like a deal. Please try and remain sane and take copious notes, which should then be posted here.

Looks like a lot of fun, wish that I were there! Hunt

Andrew, be aware that Dejan does not provide large serves of wines.

Ron Lel

Hi Ron Thanks. I didn't know that, I've been there a few times with a Burgundy & Beef group (any reds really) and Dejan has always appeared quite generous (we were of course paying by the bottle). What size pours are we talking about? 50mls? Cheers Andrew

Hi Andrew, I used to go there a lot and then he started not letting us take our own wine anymore, even though we offered to pay $20 corkage. He seems to work on about 3/4 bottle per head. Probably 50 mls is about right. $180 seems expensive, though not probably to our US friends who don't realise that a quality steak house here in Oz does not have to cost the earth.

Incidentally if you are looking for an excellent licenced and byo rest to go to, try Alevansi in Toorak Rd. Chef is ex Vue du Monde. Incidentally Shannon Bennet at Vue du Monde will allow you to take your own. Food is fantastic too if you haven't been there, especially if he has been able to smuggle in some beluga.

You should get in touch; we should have a meal some time.

Ron

Hi Ron,

Funny you should mention Vue de Monde and Shannon Bennet.

I'm sure Andrew can fill you in.

Mat.

Ron Lel wrote:

Then Mat wrote in message

Hi Ron Mat came over last Friday and we spent the afternoon chatting about wine and food. Shannon is a pretty good friend of mine and produces, I believe, the best technique driven food in Melbourne (Australia, The World perhaps). I dined at the French Laundry in Yountville Napa Valley last September and I was blown away by it. Magnificient setting in a gloriously renovated old laundry with great furniture, flatware, glassware etc. etc. Outstanding professional service, comprehensive wine list etc. etc. Standing on the balcony as the sun set and washed the gorgeous gardens (including an extensive vegetable & herb garden across the road) with golden sunlight was an ethereal experience. The food however is better at Vue de Monde, not by much and we had some very familiar (similar) dishes, the sheer number of dishes at FL was also staggering (15 courses) this was the most I had ever had in 1 sitting until New Years Eve at VdM this year where we had 17 courses and 12 wines. (menu here if interested