The Chop House did it again! On Dec. 15 I attended another delightful wine tasting featuring six wines. Manager Charlie Eblen is an old pro at hosting these events and always makes sure they go off without a hitch.
I don’t know if the fabulous wines were partly to blame, but I became smitten with our presenter, Allie Baxter from Lipman Brothers. She was bright, cheerful and unpretentious. It was refreshing to experience a truly interactive wine presentation. She made her rounds to every table after each taste to share questions and comments.
The crowd was a nice mingling of youth and wisdom, which lent a lively, joyful atmosphere.
The first wine the guests tasted was Eroica, Riesling from Washington State. I picked up oranges and Granny Smith apples in the aroma and taste. A little sparkle on the palate paired with a beautiful balance of sweet and dry. The finish faded evenly and was a perfect segue to a bite of food. Washington (or any for that matter) Riesling has gained a new fan in me.
Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio from Italy followed; and the palate had a distinguishable profile with notes of honeydew and vanilla plus an evergreen floral. This wine also earned its distinctiveness of Pinot Grigios with a short, mint finish.
The Geode Chardonnay from Santa Barbara was not on the menu but a treat to try. It exuded tropical notes of coconut and mango with a buttery background. This rich wine finished smooth and on time.
Eblen offered hors d’oeuvres as the crowd helped itself to The Chop House’s famous stuffed portobello mushroom caps, scallops Rockefeller and no-filler crab cakes. Publix provided a lovely cheese and fruit tray that included fresh strawberries and a raspberry-chardonnay brie to die for. Even though I saved room because I was having dinner afterwards, the portions were more than enough to satisfy a dinner craving. The food alone was well worth the price of admission.
The first red was my (biased) favorite as I am a big fan of Pinot Noir. It was Cambria “Julia Vineyard,” Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley in California. I think the all-organic soil had everything to do with the bright red crimson color and beautiful relationship between tart and sweet in this wine. Ripe Bing cherries stood out with cranberries to lead to a drier finish. One quote from the crowd was that this wine had “a Kool-Aid-like drinkability.” Say what you will, I am the voice of the people!
We needed to calm down to move onto a more serious Perrin “Reserve:” Cotes du Rhone. This red possessed a French Olde World feel. The nose showed an earthy, musty quality while the round, mouthy palate explained well-balanced tannins. It bid “Adieu” quickly and softly.
Another California wine, Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon from the North Coast, concluded the tasting as the surprise celebrity guest because this one is also not featured on the Chop House menu. At 14 percent alcohol, this spicy, smoky Cabernet packed a punch. This wine does not play well with others because its uniqueness demands that it stand out. I wouldn’t recommend it with any sharp tasting foods. The palate was darkly sumptuous with black fruits and I finally figured out what that wonderful background flavor was: sage.
The tasting event was a fun, luxurious evening. The surroundings at The Chop House are always elegant, but with the crowd being more vocal this time it produced a communal, cozy atmosphere. Everyone left a little more informed and a lot more pampered?another wonderful evening to eat a little, drink a little and be merry with others.
