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March 18, 2010
Serratto Restaurant and Bar
2112 NW Kearney Street
Portland, Oregon 97210
At the conclusion of last month's tasting, we all agreed that skipping this month's tasting due to Brad's travels to Washington D.C. didn't make much sense. Greg happily volunteered to locate a restaurant for this month's tasting. The idea was simple - locate a restaurant with locally sourced food that would supply a private room, a knowledgeable and friendly staff, and an abundance of stemware. This month's tasting also provided the group with an avenue to invite several potential alternates to one tasting.
Serratto and it predecessor, Delphina's, has been the flagship of NW Portland's Italian dining scene for nearly three decades. Dephina's opened its doors in the early 1980's and was named after then owner Michael Cronin's grandmother, Delphina Serratto. The restaurant was purchased by the husband and wife team of Alex and Julie Bond about five years ago. Day to day operations are carried out by a wonderful and experienced staff headed up by Tyler Burby and Catherine Gledhill. The menu has been revamped over the past few years, bringing classical Italian dishes with a hint of Pacific NW flair. Chef Tony Meyers has married his unique French training with farm to table principles instilled while growing up in a family owned ranch in California.
The theme for this month's tasting was, as it turns out, a product of those attending and the nature of the setting. Only five current members were able to attend (six if we count, and we do, Neal Bell). Members attending included Greg Bunnell, Brant Blodgett, Mike Webb, Howard Johnson, and Bill Kimmer. With four potential alternates at the table, including Aaron Hillman, Jim Shaw, Eric Miller and Keith Gover, it seemed appropriate to blend our typical monthly tastings with a twist. Each person attending would bring a bagged bottle of red wine. Greg suggested that each bottle be randomly numbered and that each person in attendance (alphabetically) would comment on a bottle - aroma, taste, balance (well, you get it). The object was to see if members, or guests, could correctly identify the varietal or blend.
Tyler graciously agreed to waive the private room fee and corkage ( or maybe it was Greg's negotiating skills). We all arrived to a very busy Happy Hour crowd and settled in to the nicely appointed room. Greg, Brant and guest Jim Shaw shared some white wine to get things started. Brant brought a very elegant Spatlese that went extremely well with the Mediterranean Blue Mussels. Greg brought a Vermintino from Corsica - not one person at the table had previously tried this varietal from the small island off the coast of Italy. And Jim Shaw shared a 2005 Girard Sancerre. In addition to the mussels, we also sampled the Calamari, Anderson Ranch Lamb Albondigas and Antipasti.
After getting our palates in order, we moved to our first flight of three reds. Neal Bell was up first. He thought the wine was a Napa Cabernet. As it turned out, it was a 2003 Reininger Syrah from Walla Walla. Brant Blodgett was next - he was one of only two that mentioned the correct varietal. It was a 2003 Manzanita Creek Old Vine Petite Syrah. Greg Bunnell was on tap next and thought that the 2002 E & E Black Pepper Shiraz from the Barossa Valley was a New World Cabernet. The first three wines were tasted with fresh bread and olive oil.
We moved into the next flight of three reds as our main entrees were appearing through the closed doors. Guest Keith Gover, as with Brant, correctly identified the wine as a California Cabernet - a 2004 Roth from the Alexander Valley. Guest Aaron Hillman was next in line and thought the 2003 Paul Hobbs Cabernet from Napa was a Cabernet Franc. Howard Johnson rounded out the last wine of the flight suggesting it too was a California Cabernet - instead, it turned out to be a 2002 Viento Alder Ridge which is a blend of Sangiovese, Syrah and Merlot from the Columbia Valley in Oregon.
We ended the evening's tasting with a flight of four reds. Bill Kimmer started off the last flight's guesswork. He opined that the varietal was Malbec - nope, it was a 2002 Rudd Estate Cabernet from Oakville. The next victim was guest Eric Miller. He believed the wine was a Pinot Noir - it was a 2000 Sineann Merlot Hillside Vineyard from Columbia Valley. Guest Jim Shaw went with Pinot Noir for his guess too. It turned out to be a 2007 Reynvaan Syrah "In the Rocks" from Washington. Last but not least, it was Mike Webb's attempt to steal the show. He believed the 2003 Alban Reva Syrah was a Rhone - close, but not good enough to count.
At this point, we had some left over wine so we offered samples to Katie, our wonderful and delightful waitress. There was no hesitation on her part to try the wine. Katie, and Serratto's sommelier, Joel Duarte, did their best to identify the varietal. They didn't do much better.
For entrees, we had the Tagliatelle with Wild Boar Ragu, Seared Sea Scallops, Carlton Farms Pork Loin, Anderson Ranch Lamb Shank, and Roasted Muscovy Duck Breast. The food, and service, were exceptional. Katie's wine service was superb.
Serratto's moniker is Delicious Food, Friendly People. We could not have said it better.
Salud!
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