Good Morning Gentle Readers,
Had dinner the other night with some friends who were laid over at the Westin LAX enroute to a rendezvous with Ka'anapali Beach.
Being that Kent is an actual connoisseur, TWC pulled a 2002 Franciscan Magnificat and a 2005 Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet from the cellar where the good stuff is kept here at Casa de las Rocas Grandes.
Franciscan consistently produces excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot at decent prices. The Magnificat is a meritage, an odd term that was chosen by California vinters to describe a blend of Bordeaux varietals. The wine will generally garner ratings in the low nineties from guys like Parker. It isn't that easy to find so if you stumble upon it, grab several bottles and stash it away.
The 2002 is stunning, deep ruby in color with an aroma of pomegranate and dark cherries. It is a complex and elegant wine that is perfect for a special occasion, exhibiting bing cherry, plum, and black currant flavors on the palate and a smooth, supple lingering texture.
The wine paired nicely with savory New York steak that was served with tasty fries and broccoli at the Daily Grill. Unlike a certain ex-president, TWC ate his broccoli, which was just that. Freshly steamed, plain, boring, broccoli, that could have benefited from a little livening up. TWC rarely does fries, and he left most of these delicious little carb sticks behind on the plate. Did I mention what a treat it is to be served french fries rather than seasoned fries, doused with some powdered chemical concotion?
We appreciated the absence of a corkage fee. That's a nice touch. Keep in mind, Gentle Readers, that good manners dictates that you go heavy on the tip for the server who takes care of the wine when you cart your own along. It was easy enough to for us to be generous, as our server, Sandy, definitely went out of her way to ensure a pleasurable meal.
The food was all very good, but Mrs TWC's meatloaf was TO DIE FOR. Hands down, the best meat loaf ever prepared anywhere. Freshly ground beef, I mean ground right in the kitchen, prepared with wild mushrooms and Bordelais Sauce with a little bit of a bite to it. Fabuloso. BTW, that's Mrs TWC's Pear Martooni.
We finished off the evening with Crème Brûlée, Key Lime Pie, and a superb round of coffee.
Verdict: Would we go back to the Daily Grill? You bet.
Bonus:
As Ever,
TWC
Photo Credit (unless otherwise noted): ©TWC, all rights reserved
