Aimee & I celebrated Valentine’s Day yesterday (Saturday night I was at the shop till after 11 – popular game night! – so we postponed it a day) and went to dinner at the Capital Grille. Why the Capital Grille, you ask, given that we generally favor local independents? 1) it was Sunday night, and just about every restaurant in Milwaukee is closed on Sunday; and 2) we had a gift certificate.
We brought our wine, of course (for a hefty $25 corkage fee) – a 2004 Sea Smoke “Southing” Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills (the AVA formerly known as Santa Rita Hills, but the winery of the same name in Chile sued to have it changed) in Santa Barbara that our friend Peg gave me a while back. It was stunning – rich and full (14.7% alc.), but with great depth, varietal character, and acidity. Loads of dark cherry fruit, so concentrated you’d think it’d be syrupy, but it wasn’t; the acidity kept everything in check, and the fruit was complemented by integrated oak tannins and earthy, mushroomy undertones. Food friendly, too -Big enough to work with Aimee’s filet, elegant enough not to overpower my rare ahi; also worked surprisingly well with the chunks of blue cheese that were in our salads.
Great meal, excellent wine, wonderful night.