We had an errand to run at the Ala Moana Shopping Center yesterday afternoon so we decided to stop by Vino for dinner. I now carry a couple of bottles with me just in case any of the wine regulars also happen to drop in. As it turned out, almost everyone was there and in usual fashion, we closed the place. The evening started with trio of 2 ounce tastings - the Castello di Ama Rosato (3.75/5) which had strawberry and dried cranberry with mineral on the nose with a medium body, good palate flow and a medium finish, the 2009 Punta Crena Vigneto Ca da Rena Pigato (4/5) which had stone and stone fruit and concentrated citrus on the nose and a seamless over the palate with medium concentration and viscosity and a medium finish and the 2008 Ojai Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay (3.5/5) which had lighter stone fruit and citrus on the nose but a full concentrated palate with oak and butter and a very long finish.
We then sampled a special for the evening, the Seared Kahuku Shrimp which had shelled tails but still with the heads that were crispy fried (like Chinese salt and pepper shrimp) so you could consume the whole thing. This was served with Kahuku corn ravioli and homemade ricotta cheese with red jalapeno cream and a touch of truffle oil.
I then ordered another trio of 2 ounce tastings, the 2009 Cantina Terlan Pinto Bianco (3.75/5) with light citrus and mineral on the nose with a nice balance of fruit and mineral on the palate and a seamless flow and medium short finish, the 2009 Bouchard Bourgogne (chardonnay) (3.5/5) which had stone fruit and chalk on the nose with good concentration of stone fruit, citrus curd and mineral on the palate and a medium long finish and the 2009 Artazuri Old Vine Garnacha (3.75/5) which had concentrated ripe cherry with a touch of mocha and tobacco on the nose with a full but not heavy palate flow and a long finish. BBQ ribs anyone?
We also sampled the Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms with Hamakua mushrooms and cheese (gotta have them while they're in season).
And the Big Island Smoked Pork with Fresh Fettucine and Organic Egg. I love that runny egg yolk mixed right into the fettucine... almost like a breakfast pasta since the pork is almost ham-like...
The Mrs then finished the evening with the Banana Mousse Cake and the Plum Tarte...
...while I had the Salumi and Cheese Platter for dessert... hey, B and Co, the I's, the K's and K were joining our table with more vino...
I then uncorked a bottle of Michel Arnould Grand Cru Brut Rose (3.75/5) which had good apple and semi-dried red fruit with mineral and a touch of brioche on the nose and a medium mouth feel and good palate flow and a medium long finish.
Chuck also had us guess a "mystery wine" (3.75/5) - it had loads of earth and a touch of funk and gravel on the nose with medium concentration on the palate and a nice flow with a medium long finish. I was sure it was French, probably from the Rhone (I though it was primarily Syrah based) but not a Cornas. It was French... but not Rhone... it was Bordeaux from Haut-Medoc.
There was a 2nd mystery wine provided by the I's... again I bombed. I detected cherry so I assumed Grenache based like a Chateauneuf du Pape, especially there was loads of earth and a touch of tobacco. It was from Southern France but not the Rhone... from Bandol... which is pure Mourvedre. Guess I need to keep my day job...
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