by Christina Waters | Jun 21, 2009 | Home, Wine |
If you like to try wines by the number, you might want to look for vintage 2006 wines under the Vine Hill wine group’s Cumbre label. These Cumbre wines blew away the reviewers at Wine Enthusiast magazine — you’ll find their point spread in the July 2009 issue.
2006 Cumbre Hicks – 94 points
2006 Cumbre Raffaelli – 93 points
2006 Cumbre Santa Cruz Mountains (blend) – 92 points
Vine Hill’s playful Gatos Locos label garnered 89 points for a 2006 Gatos Locos Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. Keep your eyes peeled for the group’s new Vine Hill label, named for the historic vineyard location, showcasing the work of winemaker Sal Godinez.
In fact, why don’t you come on down and meet Godinez, taste some of his ridiculously drinkable wines for yourself?
He’ll be pouring the Cumbre label at Vinocruz, on Saturday, July 11th, from 3-5pm.
by Christina Waters | May 30, 2009 | Art, Home |
Give your eyes a plein air odyssey, at the 79th Annual Statewide Exhibit, filling the Santa Cruz Art League from May 30-June 28.
Irreplaceable Places: Contemporary Landscape Painters of California — showcases fine work from some of California’s leading landscape painters, including Santa Cruz painter Pat Woodman, a virtuoso of clouds.
Reception: Saturday, June 6, 3-5pm (more…)
by Christina Waters | May 30, 2009 | Food, Home, Wine |
That would be Bonny Doon Vineyard’s Cellar Door — where Friday night hosted out-of-towners and locals, artists — including “Cigare” sculptor Michael Leeds, who sat directly under his distinctive metal creation (see post below) — and robust ultra-fresh dishes (shown is what’s left of our beef panzanella salad with arugula and fresh peas) that perfectly matched the wines (in this case, the 2004 Cigare).
A terrific time – all the curved tasting bars were full, and each of the family-style tables was packed with new-found best friends. Kudos to chef Charlie Parker and his amazing staff — quite an achievement for this brand new cafe concept. Three courses, prix fixe, $28. Plus the small plates menu.
Make a res immediately, or risk being hopelessly out of the culinary loop.
Cellar Door Cafe – 831.425-4518 – 3-course, prix fixe dinners Thurs – Sunday.
by Christina Waters | May 30, 2009 | Home, Wine |
The all-Fiestaware platters, bowls and plates at Cellar Door Cafe somehow enhance the colorful, regional ambience of this new Westside magnet.
A velvety puree of broccoli, with a float of crème fraiche — nice partner for Ca’del Solo’s Le Cigare Blanc.
by Christina Waters | May 29, 2009 | Home |
Most dishes rarely taste as good as they look. Except the ones at Gabriella, dreamed up with fresh attitude by chef Brad Briske.
Consider this supple halibut creation. Adolescent beet sprouts, micro-zest of lemon, drizzles of scented oils – unbelievable.
This dish — shared last week with soon-to-be-ex-pat Dan Dickmeyer — tasted even better than it looks. The accompanying Hunter Hill blend of viognier and roussanne didn’t hurt one bit, either.
by Christina Waters | May 24, 2009 | Home, Movies |
What blockbuster author Dan Brown needs more than anything right now is a witness protection program. If English teachers, theological archaeologists and script doctors across the land ever found out where he lives, his life wouldn’t be worth the pixels Ron Howard’s new film is made of. In addition to a jowly Tom Hanks reprising his lifeless role as Harvard “symbologist†Robert Langdon, and semi-smoldering Ayelet Zurer as CERN nuclear physicist with a stripper’s name, Vittoria Vetra — both avoiding even a neutrino of sexual chemistry — Angels & Demons had to be Brown’s high school term paper about that merry band of Renaissance conspirators known as the Illuminati.
Langdon is summoned to Rome where hell’s a poppin’ in the form of a vial of anti-matter (cooked up at CERN) that has fallen into the wrong hands. The Church is in disarray, having just lost one pope and heading toward seclusion in the Sistine Chapel (nice photoshopping here) to vote (more…)
