In regards to the original post, we ended up splitting the difference between a Jarvis 1997 Cab and a 1985 E. Guigal Cote du Rotie. Our menu is still taking shape. Any opinions?

. Sunchoke-buttermilk soup, hot/cold with asian pear, cocoa nib and mint (paired with the E. Guigal Cote du Rhone Blanc, France 2007, which was wonderful.) 5. Young carrots roasted in hay, sprouts, pecorino (paired with Domaine...

A good point. Surely there are some excellent, or at least good, negociant wines out there. E. Guigal comes to mind. As for Binny’s and Sam’s, we’ve had some bad experiences at Binny’s, but Sam’s has...

I’m mad about Rose for summer drinking... it rather replaces red for me during hot weather. There are many good ones, and they don’t ahve to be expensive. One of my favorites is E. Guigal's Cote du Rhone Rose at...

of e. guigal.

tatrare, shrimp and avocado mango and green lemon emulsion. Next was the glazed organic duck breast with seared wild mushrooms and a prot wine juice. I ended with the Saint Amour Fantacy (three delicious desserts) and coffee. We...

! With the lobster, we had a 1/2 bottle of Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc. Portobello Ravioli in duck broth: tasty mushroom stuffing in a very flavorful reduced broth with subtle asian touches of sesame oil, etc. The chef had paired...

), Silver Oaks (Ca), Penfolds (Australia), I think there may have been a E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France). It seemed to me that someone was paying close attention to lists such as Wine Spectator, Advocate etc... I almost...

little about the food, even less about the wine. He couldn’t fill the drink orders because he “forgot” and messed up our check in a way that was hard to fathom. The wine prices are very high. A half bottle of...

:20, check came around 9:45, we left just after 10:00. Fine by us as we’re slow eaters, but anxious folks might have been looking around for their waiter. Best part was a very wine-knowledgeable wait staff. I had selected...

. Fairly plain with some herbs and salt and pepper? A very rich sausage or other meaty stuffing? A very distinctive glaze or basting liquid, e.g. maple syrup, or wine or soy sauce etc. Those are the flavors your wine is going to...

...such as 01' don melchor, 99' cinq cepages, 01' e guigal cdp all below secondary price after getting huge scores.

“garlic wines”. D) Serve with a wedge of a very Chardonnay-friendly cheese such as Gruyere, Comte, and/or plain Chevre. E) A few grilled asparagus spears would match this dish incredibly with a chardonnay. At the end...

Cerajeras from Portugal, available at the Wine & Cheese Cask for well under $10. E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone, available everywhere for around $11. Definitely ask the sales staff at any good place that you trust, such as the Cask or...

are embossed with various party bosses, e.g., Mao. Good intensity and balance for such an inexpensive wine, with a bit more Petite Sirah in this year’s blend, lending more depth and spiciness. High on the pure deliciousness...