Witching Stick is best known for their Zinfandel, but my husband is a total Pinot Noir addict, so we pick this wine today. It is a 2012 Pinot Noir from the Cerise Vineyard in the Anderson Valley of California.
The color is a deep garnet. The nose is rose petals and jam. The palate is bright berry and subtle herb. The finish is velvet fruit. This wine is very delicious and we will be keeping our peepers open for another bottle.
Sunday is a great day for an afternoon drive and todays destination, Valley Ford. Valley Ford is a tiny town on the coast of Northern California. I would guess that more cows live there than people, a farming community and very beautiful.
Dinucci’s main building is 110 years old and has an old time feel to it with the slanting floors and the hap hazed floor plan. Super rustic and very cool.
The restaurant has been serving family style italian food since 1939. The menu is filled with options and made for a difficult choice…. mine was the Chicken Parmigiana. A boneless chicken breast served with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. It came with soup and salad.
The soup was delicious. The tomato and spices were balanced and the spaghetti noodles were a nice change. The house salad was served on a chilled plate and very yummy.
My Chicken Parmigiana was killer! It was welled cooked with the tomato acid soooooo good, I over ate. I love cheese, and the cheese was pooled around the chicken. I was so happy with this dish. My to go bag was bulging with delicious food. Yum for me!
Long years ago when I was first getting to know wine and my relationship to it, I tried my first taste of Cakebread. It was a Cabernet Sauvignon…. I know nothing beyond that with the exception that this wine opened my eyes to what wine should be. I was inspired to try more and be brave, because I truly had no idea that wine could be so good.
My palate and I have come a long way in getting to know wine and all the grapes that contribute to it. I have found my loves are Merlot and Champagne.
Over the weekend we opened a 2009 Cakebread Cellars Merlot. I have to say I was in heaven. The color of this wine is bright, deep plum. The nose is warm vanilla and berry juice. On the palate is strawberry and plum juice. The finish is sweet, smooth with a mild spice. This wine had been in our wine fridge for many years. I’m so glad we let this one store awhile, it was amazing. Truly a gem.
everyday bright spots 