The KLWM Crew Goes to Dinner

Talking about wine all day is an enjoyable and some might even say envious occupation. We here in the retail shop certainly have a good time, but every so often we need to get out, visit restaurants with exciting menus, and experience the reality of our everyday musings. Last Saturday, we headed up to Napa and visited Oenotri, a southern Italian restaurant. We experienced what will likely be referred to as the “epic dinner at Oenotri” from here on out. Knowing we would be tapping into our personal cellars for the night, Chef Curtis Di Fede suggested we give him a list of wines we were bringing in order to flip the usual wine to food pairing upside-down. Curtis, with the suggestions of Oenotri sommelier, Sur Lucero, wanted to pair the food to our wine.

Here is what happened:
Wines
2011 Ajaccio “Faustine” Rosé • Domaine Abbatucci
2011 Rosé de Sciacarellu • Domaine Marquiliani
2004 Meursault-Genevrières • Domaine Coche-Dury
1990 Hermitage Blanc • J.L Chave
2009 Carcajoulu Neru • Domaine Abbatucci
2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva “Phenomena” • Sesti
1988 Cornas • Auguste Clape
1985 Mazis-Chambertin • Domaine Maume
2009 Ben-Rye, Passito di Pantelleria • Donnafugata

Menu
Starters
16 different house-made Salumi
Spelt pizzetta frola with Pecorino and honey (from Oenotri bees!)

        

Duo of Crudo Platters
Albacore Belly with Charantais and Watermelon, pansies, borage blossoms and fenugreek
Carne Cruda with Chanterelle mushrooms, circulated egg, ice lettuce, Mexican marigolds and nasturtiums

Pasta
Garganelli with broccoli rabe pesto, flagolet beans, and cicciolata
Tricolore Tagliatelle of nettles, egg, and tomato conserva with lobster mushrooms and fried caper leaves

Mains
Wood oven roasted whole rock cod stuffed with nettles and lemon
Myrtle berry studded porchetta with tomatoes and arugula

Dessert
Fig tart
Cookies

Upon arrival of each course, we were informed of each dishes’ ingredients which included nearly all produce coming from the Oenotri gardens just a half mile from the restaurant. It truly was a knockout, start to finish.  Great wines, amazing food, genial company; what more could one ask for?  Perhaps another reservation sometime in the future…

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