Had a good meal at Costa Mesa’s Pinot Provence. For starters, a nicely crisp vegetable gallette with lump crabmeat, chased down with Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs champers and '90 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile late...

stripe bass. High light of the evening was the pairing of the chaucuterie platter with a glass of Weinbach L’interdit Grand Cru Riesling 2004. Steep mark-up for the wine though. Charged $300 for the bottle!

possibilities here but at the end of the day your first objective has to be to “match the lemon”. And that calls for Sauternes or Late Harvest Riesling. The berries are a secondary taste note in this dish, but...

. We decided on a compromise – 4 half bottles (what the hell – it was Christmas!) to cover as much as possible. Claire’s choices: - Champagne Rose Premiere Cuvee B. Paillard - Riesling Clos Sainte Hune Trimbach...

. ‘Alte Reben’ means “Old Vines,” and it shows. Very pure, stony, tasty wine, with that Trimbach-like sense that having powerful, deep fruit doesn’t mean that you have to be over the top and out...

guessed that we’d have an Alsatian Pinot Blanc. Close, but it was the ‘99 Trimbach Domaine des Seigneur de Ribeaupierre Gewürztraminer. There was enough acid in the Gewurtz to work with the Goat Cheese and with the wine’s age,...

, the feast continues with monkfish medaillons, sautéed zucchini, and left-over rice. And left-over carrot cake. A riesling from 83. And the best part: no left-over turkey :-D