Dinner with my closest and dearest friends – Jenny & Brendan, Audrey & Ray, Christina & Jack and Jojie & Daniel!! It was an elegant evening to celebrate Brendan and Daniel’s birthday and honoring Christina who just sang the national anthem at the SF Bulls Hockey game at the Cow Palace! She is truly a superstar!! 

The menu and food pairing of the evening consist of: Appetizers: Artesian Cheeses, Spanish Olives and mix nuts.  Classic Devil Eggs with Crispy Carnita Strips
Salad: Mustard Greens Salad with Gruyere and Anchovy Croutons
Palate Cleanser: Lemon Sorbet
Main Course: Mushroom-Stuffed Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Parsley Vinaigrette, Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Smoked Ham, Parmesan Scalloped Potato Stacks
Dessert: Kahlua Tiramisu by Goldilocks, Peets Coffee with assorted liquors, See’s Candy Peanut Brittle

The selection of wines for the evening were from New Zealand and Australia!! 

• Marc Ollivier Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie Domaine de la Pépière 2011 – Fresh and pure, with a rounded feel to the tangy lemon curd and thyme notes.  Jojie and Audrey decide to forego cocktails so they swigged through this Muscadet (Cougar Town style)!
• Saintsbury Chardonnay Carneros 2009 – Very tight and intense with flinty peach, citrus and honeydew melon notes.  Clean and refreshing, ending with a minerally edge.
• Cloud Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 2010 – Tangerine, mango and citrus flavors were pure and focused!  Naturally smooth, round and wonderfully refreshing, with peach, key lime pie, and bell pepper elements that really lingers on the finish! 
• Cloud Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 2011 – In comparison to the 2010, the 2011 is pure with a tangy expression of lemon, white peach, passion fruit, melon and green tea notes; slightly sweeter than the 2010. It’s powerful in its persistence and juiciness, yet maintains an air of elegance.  A total feeling of “cloud nine” sipping this Cloudy Bay!
• Kangarilla Road, Shiraz, Australia McLaren Vale 2011 – Great depth of flavor with loads of vibrant juicy blackberry and plum. Wonderful structure with an abundance of silky tannins complemented with nicely integrated oak resulting in a lingering flavor.
• Wynns, Shiraz, Australia Coonawarra 1998 Thorn-Clarke – Brawny and flavorful, lavishly oaked but generous with its blackberry and dried cherry flavors, which persist right through the long, solid finish. It was the blockbuster of the night!!  Impeccably well done!
• Shotfire Ridge, Shiraz, Australia Barossa Valley 2003 – Saved the best Shiraz for last!!  This exquisite wine was rated #18 of 100 in Wine Spectator 2005.  It had magical layers and layers of flavors; big, rich and fully concentrated!  The nice mouthful of black cherry, plum and exotic spice flavors all pulls together into a supple wine that strives for elegance and just lingers beautifully. This wine could last another 5 years!!  We have two more bottles so this magical feeling will duplicate again; hopefully soon! 

My honey pulled out great stuff tonight!! The best for the “best of friends!!!”