A lot of folks in Dallas need to get out more.
Wine list sucks. Service is horrible. Food is overpriced. Ugh.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Dinner and Wine at Del Frisco's Grille
Had dinner at Del Frisco's Grille Friday night which just has fantastic food. I love to eat dinner there but that place is LOUD. I wish they would put something on the walls to mute things a bit because it is very hard to carry on a conversation anywhere in that place. (The food still rocks.)
They have an infused pineapple vodka martini that is nothing short of dangerous. I drank 2 of them.
The wine list had changed a bit so I took time to review before dinner. I could not believe it when I saw a Gargiulo Merlot on the list. I have NEVER seen Gargiulo on a restaurant menu. It's a very small production winery that sits next to Screaming Eagle vineyards. If you're fortunate enough to schedule a tasting, you'll have an amazing view from their patio while you sample their terrific red wines. We ordered a bottle and it was as good as I remember. I wish they carried Gargiulo Cabernet but I'll settle for the yummy Merlot. (You can read my review of Gargiulo here).
Word is they are going to add some pizazz to their wine by the glass list in the next few week. I'll have to stop back by and see if they can surprise me again.
They have an infused pineapple vodka martini that is nothing short of dangerous. I drank 2 of them.
The wine list had changed a bit so I took time to review before dinner. I could not believe it when I saw a Gargiulo Merlot on the list. I have NEVER seen Gargiulo on a restaurant menu. It's a very small production winery that sits next to Screaming Eagle vineyards. If you're fortunate enough to schedule a tasting, you'll have an amazing view from their patio while you sample their terrific red wines. We ordered a bottle and it was as good as I remember. I wish they carried Gargiulo Cabernet but I'll settle for the yummy Merlot. (You can read my review of Gargiulo here).
Word is they are going to add some pizazz to their wine by the glass list in the next few week. I'll have to stop back by and see if they can surprise me again.
Wine Wars at Max's Wine Dive
Your friendly neighborhood wine blogger was recently invited to participate in "Wine Wars" at Max's Wine Dive. I wasn't sure what Wine Wars consisted of but it had the word "wine" in it so I was IN!
I had read about Max's Wine Dive but this was my first time to visit. Arriving by 5:45, I found the place pretty empty. It was, however, a Tuesday. I took a seat at the bar to review the menu and get the feel for the place. Loved this flag on the wall:
I immediately noticed that one of my favorite wines, Cedar Knoll, was on the wine list. I NEVER find this wine in Dallas. Yes, I was now impressed. You can read my review of Cedar Knoll and its winery, Palmaz, here.
As the event began, the place started to fill up with diners. There was a large party of some sort that began to gather in the back. By the time I left, the place was rockin'. (Did I mention it was a Tuesday?) Andrew Chalk from CraveDFW was there with his lovely wife to participate in Wine Wars. His review is here.
The crowd was a mix - 20 somethings up to couples in their 50's. The menu looked terrific - chicken, some macaroni and cheese dish that likely caused me to gain 5 lbs simply by reading the description, a fried egg sandwich, shrimp and grits. I made a mental note to come back for dinner ASAP. (NOTE: They serve brunch on the weekends and the menu looks phenomenal.)
Wine Wars is held every other Tuesday beginning at 6 pm. 8 wines are up for a blind tasting - 4 white and 4 red. Each participant chooses their favorite red and favorite white. Winning wines advance to the next level the following week.
Not being the great lover of white wine, I still took my job as "judge" seriously. We started with a fruity white that I mistook for a Sauvignon Blanc. It was dry, crisp and perfect for a hot Texas day by the pool. I was ready to buy a case. This wine was actually a French Marsanne/Viognier blend made exclusively for Max's. You can buy it to drink there or take some home. It's called Chez Jerome and my recommendation is to BUY.
White wine #2 was a tart Sauvignon Blanc (got it right this time). I think it was called New Harbor. Not my favorite but pretty good.
White wine #3 was a Russian River Valley Chardonnay out of Sonoma that was not too buttery. Not being a Chardonnay fan, I could drink it if it was the only option I had. This was the Newton Chardonnay.
White wine #4 was a super buttery California Chard that I couldn't drink. My least favorite wine in the world so it's not even fair for me to review it. One sniff and I new exactly what it was and that it wasn't for me.
I voted for white wine #1.
Next up - RED WINE!
Red wine #1 was a tricky one. It turned out to be a Cabernet/Merlot blend called Retrospect but I did not recognize it as a Cab. Unusual wine but dry and I liked it.
Red wine #2 was a jammy wine much sweeter than wine #1. Several of the judges really liked it. It was revealed to be Rare Vineyards Syrah.
Red wine #3 was immediately identifiable as a Syrah. It turned out to be Cotes du Rhone Syrah/Granache blend.
Red wine #4 fooled me. I wrote "Cab?" but it was actually a Zin. I was surprised because I love Zin and this just didn't grab me. It's called Guard Shack Zin.
I would highly recommend that the Dallas folks consider attending Wine Wars one Tuesday evening. Check the website for dates and ticket information. At $15/person, it's a great deal.
I had read about Max's Wine Dive but this was my first time to visit. Arriving by 5:45, I found the place pretty empty. It was, however, a Tuesday. I took a seat at the bar to review the menu and get the feel for the place. Loved this flag on the wall:
I immediately noticed that one of my favorite wines, Cedar Knoll, was on the wine list. I NEVER find this wine in Dallas. Yes, I was now impressed. You can read my review of Cedar Knoll and its winery, Palmaz, here.
As the event began, the place started to fill up with diners. There was a large party of some sort that began to gather in the back. By the time I left, the place was rockin'. (Did I mention it was a Tuesday?) Andrew Chalk from CraveDFW was there with his lovely wife to participate in Wine Wars. His review is here.
The crowd was a mix - 20 somethings up to couples in their 50's. The menu looked terrific - chicken, some macaroni and cheese dish that likely caused me to gain 5 lbs simply by reading the description, a fried egg sandwich, shrimp and grits. I made a mental note to come back for dinner ASAP. (NOTE: They serve brunch on the weekends and the menu looks phenomenal.)
Wine Wars is held every other Tuesday beginning at 6 pm. 8 wines are up for a blind tasting - 4 white and 4 red. Each participant chooses their favorite red and favorite white. Winning wines advance to the next level the following week.
Not being the great lover of white wine, I still took my job as "judge" seriously. We started with a fruity white that I mistook for a Sauvignon Blanc. It was dry, crisp and perfect for a hot Texas day by the pool. I was ready to buy a case. This wine was actually a French Marsanne/Viognier blend made exclusively for Max's. You can buy it to drink there or take some home. It's called Chez Jerome and my recommendation is to BUY.
White wine #2 was a tart Sauvignon Blanc (got it right this time). I think it was called New Harbor. Not my favorite but pretty good.
White wine #3 was a Russian River Valley Chardonnay out of Sonoma that was not too buttery. Not being a Chardonnay fan, I could drink it if it was the only option I had. This was the Newton Chardonnay.
White wine #4 was a super buttery California Chard that I couldn't drink. My least favorite wine in the world so it's not even fair for me to review it. One sniff and I new exactly what it was and that it wasn't for me.
I voted for white wine #1.
Next up - RED WINE!
Red wine #1 was a tricky one. It turned out to be a Cabernet/Merlot blend called Retrospect but I did not recognize it as a Cab. Unusual wine but dry and I liked it.
Red wine #2 was a jammy wine much sweeter than wine #1. Several of the judges really liked it. It was revealed to be Rare Vineyards Syrah.
Red wine #3 was immediately identifiable as a Syrah. It turned out to be Cotes du Rhone Syrah/Granache blend.
Red wine #4 fooled me. I wrote "Cab?" but it was actually a Zin. I was surprised because I love Zin and this just didn't grab me. It's called Guard Shack Zin.
I would highly recommend that the Dallas folks consider attending Wine Wars one Tuesday evening. Check the website for dates and ticket information. At $15/person, it's a great deal.
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