DinDin

A good time was had by all and all were had by the good time last night at ZaZa's Cucina.

Steve, Izzy, Jann and I started with drinks and snacks at Steve's apartment and then went to dinner. The wines were notable, especially the Newton 2002 Chardonnay, and the red Sassicaia from Esa-Pekka. Unfortunately the Barolo was past its due, but was great in its day.

Food and service were excellent, and afterwards we had some single malts and Preferidos from La Aurora.

Read about my previous adventure at Zaza's here.

Dinner

I had the most charming dinner with new friends last week in Ithaca (at Zaza's Cucina). I left immediately from work, and it being Friday the 13th, had quite an adventure driving, but made it barely in time for the reservations.
The company was exquisite, the food plentiful and tasty, and the wine numerous and succulent! Here are the bottles we enjoyed:

2000 Vieux Télégraph Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau (France)

2003 Domaine la Barroche Chateauneuf-du-Pape (France)

2002 Finca Sandoval (93% Syrah, 7% Mourvedre) (Spain)

2003 Arietta Variation One (60% Merlot, 40% Syrah) (California)
2003 Clarendon Hills Grenache Old Vines Romas Vineyard (Australia)

2003 Clarendon Hills Syrah Liandra Vineyard (Australia)

It's hard to name a favorite, although the Finca and Arietta were superb and our host, an amazing composer and brilliant man, had a "bad" bottle of Clarendon Grenache, so it would have ended the supper, had it been in top shape.
Afterwards, we joined our host at his apartment for cigars and scotch.