Thanks so much to Russ for meticulously typing up our tasting notes from this event. For this post I’ll give you the pure RAW notes, straight-up. You fill in the jokes.
Hearts, YWSF
Our lovely cooks
- Spring Rolls w/ Sauvignon Blanc (Chateau Chevallier 20o7) [Rating 5/10, $12]
- Nose:
- Ducker – Grapefruit
- Russ – Oro Blanco
- Alea – Lemongrass
- Dave – Empty of offensiveness, honeydew
- Katie – Woody-like
- Palate
- Ellen – honey
- Andrew F – Paired w/ food, it’s not as sharp
- Dave – it’s better with the spring rolls
- Nose:
- Pinot Blanc w/ Spring Rolls (Bethel Heights 2008) [Rating: 6.5/10, $15]
- Nose:
- Ellen – Honey
- Dave – Empty; cucumber water
- Ducker – Subtle
- Colin – Subtle grapefruit
- Nikki – Floral
- Alea – Canteloupe
- Andrew F – Honeydew
- Palate:
- Kelly – Mellow, minerally, lime pith
- Katie – Refreshing
- Russ – Refreshing
- Colin – Lime flavored sparkling water
- Karl – Citrus rind (specifically orange)
Spring rolls
- Nose:
- Sushi w/ Sherry (Lustau Solera reserve dry amontillado los aros sherry) [Rating: 3-9 bowling pin split, $16]
Note: half of us had never had sherry before- Nose:
- Nikki – Nuts, dried apricot
- Karl – Plum, brandy
- Ducker – Raisin, whiskey, nutty
- Russ – Sugary almond
- Katie – figs
- Ellen – Vinegar
- Colin – Dark rum
- Alea – says it burns
- Palate:
- Andrew F – Syrupy
- Dave – Pecan
- Ellen – Bourbon pecan pie
- Paired well w/ spicy tuna sushi
- Katie – “Sherry + fish = smooth nuttiness in my mouth”
- Nose:
- Sushi w/ Gewurztraminer (Willm Gewurztraminer 2007) [Rating: 6.5/10, $18]
- Nose:
- Colin – Rose-flavored turkish delight
- Katie – Papaya and macadamia
- Tim O – Caramel Apple
- Alea – Potpourri
- Russ – White chocolate macadamia
- Kelly – Ripe pineapple
- Nikki – Celery salt
- Karl – Musky wine cellar
- Palate:
- Nikki – Pineapple gummy bears
- Colin/Chris – grapefruit
- Alea – rose
- Ellen – mixed fruit hookah
- Kelly – well balanced
- Katie – White cake / angel food
Tasting
- Nose:
- Lumpia w/ Edelzwicker (Albert Boxer Edelzwicker Reserve) [Rating: 7/10, $16]
- Nose:
- Kelly – Apple, perfume on an apple
- Andrea – Baklava
- Colin – the lady that works at the cider factory (in Baltimore) got fancied up for the evening
- Palate:
- Katie – lime
- Nikki – biscotti (anisee, dipped in earl gray tea)
- Ellen – pairs well w/ lumpia
- Alea – apple
- Kelly – like an old perfumed lady fell into a vat of cider (in a 1930s bathing suit)
- Nose:
- Orange Chicken w/ Gewurztaminer (Fetzer Gewurztaminer 2005) [Rating: 5.5/10, $Ask Alea]
- Nose:
- Alea – Raisin syrup
- Katie – Prunes
- Colin – White grape juice
- Josha (?) – Welch’s white grape juice
- Fish – stewed canned tomatoes
- Ducker – Dole canned tropical mixed fruit minus cherries
- Palate:
- Colin – sour OJ / OJ from Europe
- Alea – flat orange fanta
- Ellen – honey
- Katie – pairing w/ wasabi and it goes well!
Yuuuummy!
- Nose:
- Fruit Salad w/ Viogner (Rosenblum) [Rating: 5/10, $Ask Alea]
- Nose:
- Dave – strawberry
- Colin – white gummy bear, marshmallow
- Katie – peach O’s, floral
- Alea – honeysuckle
- Palate:
- Andrew H – sour grapefruit
- Dave – salty lemon
- Nose:
- Sesame Noodles w/ Pinot Noir (Poppy Monterey County Pinot Noir 2007) [Rating: 6/10, $18]
- Nose:
- Nikki – smells like a syrah; smokey and peppery
- Alea – leather, pepper
- Katie – Strawberry fruit leather
- Kelly – raspberry fruit roll up
- Colin – plum
- Palate:
- Dave – sticky pepper
- Fish – olives
- Eric R – Very peppery
- Kelly – if a cranberry and strawberry made whoopie, it would taste like this
- Alea – and if a peppercorn jacked off on it (see above)
- Nose:
- Lumpia w/ Zinfandel (Novella Zinfandel Pasa Robles) [Rating: 7/10, $7]
- Nose:
- Katherine – Buttery
- Katie – Melted butter w/ sugar
- Dave – step 1 of cookies
- Alea – olive
- Katie – plums
- Kelly – berry jam
- Palate:
- Nikki – It pairs very nicely
- Dave – lots of head in the back
- Alea – allspice
- Nose:
- Chicken w/ Sangiovese (Tusan Moon Sangiovese 2008) [Rating: 4.5/10, $<7]
- Nose:
- Alea – Licorice, bar soap
- Dave – cherry tart
- Kelly – red cherry
- Palate:
- Alea – plum and raspberry married w/ bing cherries
- Katie – red meats like WHOA
- Fish – lots of orange
- Kelly – burney
- Eric R – Rhubarb
It. never. gets. old. Or does it?
- Nose:
the young winos of san francisco 