Bonaccorsi 2003 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

Not the first time I have had and reviewed a Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir, and although I always think they are stellar, for some reason I am particularly enjoying the 2003 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir tonight.

I decided to try all new recipes for dinner and served it with BBQ red wine flank steak, bulgur/roasted beet/mushroom/red onion pilaf, and a red wine vinegar braised carrot and leek dish. It turned out awesome! (both the food and the pairing)

The 2003 Santa Maria Valley has a dark, dense, slightly cloudy, garnet color in the glass. To me indicating big, lush, savage, fruit. But I should have known better. Bonaccorsi usually leans toward the more elegant side, although the dark fruit is there. It stays true in this case as well.
The nose, sure enough, displays black cherry, raspberry, blueberry, vanilla cola, and notes of dried grass. All powerful but with the recognizable finesse.
On the palate dark raspberry, black cherry, a touch of blackberry and subtle spice. The berries are accompanied by good acidity that keeps the wine lively, and well integrated but still noticeable, on the firmer side, tannins.

This wine definitely makes a statement with its dark and powerful, but more on the elegant side fruit, balanced nicely with proportionate acidity and tannins. All laced with oak.

Find it at...(?) I am frankly not quite sure where to find it. No sources online that I usually use seem to offer it. I paid $35 for it about 3 years ago. If you can get your hands on it now, 3 years later, for under $55-60, I would jump on it and give it a try. This Pinot is definitely worth it.


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Bonaccorsi 2003 Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

Saturday night and we are revisiting an old friend of ours, the Bonaccorsi 2003 Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills. I had this bottle for the first time in Dec-06 in Las Vegas (after which I had to get some for home), could not wait and opened one in January this year. Time for a new taste tonight, and then there is only one bottle left in my stack for future enjoyment.

The color in the glass is a dark ruby red with a slight purple shade. The nose is still bursting of bright fruit and berries, with dark cherries, dark raspberry, plum and for the first time I am noticing an herbaceous note. On the palate the dark cherry rules again with dark raspberry, and oak notes. The acidity is mouth watering and the tannins are well integrated and have mellowed down a bit from last time I had this wine, at that point I remember them being firm with an edge. The edge is gone...

Hard to get a hold of I found just a fews site online where you can order it, Wine-Searcher.com for $54.99. Winezap.com also has it for a slightly higher price.

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Bonaccorsi 2004 Sanford and Benedict Pinot Noir

Bonaccorsi makes some fantastic Pinot Noirs from the central coast. I've had quite a few of them before and also reviewed a couple for them. Read my four earlier reviews here. This is however my first bottle from the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard and I was anxious to see how it compared to the other vineyard designated Pinots.

The Bonaccorsi 2004 Sanford and Benedict Pinot Noir shows a very dark, ruby red, medium dense, color in the glass. On the nose big, black cherry, blackberry, earthiness and a hint of vanilla, greets me. Moving on to tasting it dark raspberry, round, dark plum, and black cherry initially leaves a big impression. As it moves toward the finish, silky tannins and juicy acidity steps in, along side the fruit and berries, and gives this medium to full bodied wine a long beautiful finish, with pencil lead leaving you a final impression at the very end.

This wine is definitely up there with both the Melville, and the Fiddlestix Vineyards that Bonaccorsi also makes (among others). I see this as a little bit more silky and smooth compared to the other two. But considering that the last three ones I have had all have been from different vintages they are not really comparable.

This one, just like the rest of their bottles, is hard to get a hold of and I can only find one source on-line, Wally's Wine and Spirit for $64.99. Pricey, I know. But if you are looking for something special this definitely fits the bill...


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Bonaccorsi 2002 Melville Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot noir

Bonaccorsi rocks! I've said it before and I'll say it again... (Review here, here, and here.)
The Bonaccorsi 2002 Melville Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir has a dark, dense reddish purple color in the glass. The very first moment you pour it in the glass and inhale, you get a whiff of strong cinnamon. That wears of almost immediately and after that I can not quite detect it again. Dark, ripe, cherries and fruit shows on the nose, with the dark cherries following the wine to the palate, accentuated by dark berries and pleasantly neutral, but very much existing, acidity, and firm tannins. This all wraps up in a nice clean finish with a trace of spice. This is a fruity but very much structured Pinot Noir with the pleasant fruit and berries that are not to overwhelmingly fruity or jammy. It has that nice fruit you are longing for in a slightly more elegant style...
Only 200 cases was made of this wine and the only place I can find it online today is at RaedersWines.com for $57.99. Pricy, but oh so good!

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Bonaccorsi 2002 Red Monkey Syrah

This is not my first time reviewing a Bonaccorsi wine, one of my favorite wineries in Santa Ynez Valley. Read more about the history and their Pinot Noirs here and here.
The Bonaccorsi 2002 Red Monkey Syrah is made from fruit primarily from the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, with some Fiddlestix Vineyard blended in. It has a a dark red/purple color. At first a burst of plum, cherries and raspberries greets you on the nose. After letting it sit for a couple of minutes, tea and vanilla reveals itself. On the palate not to ripe, dark fruit and berries, with some spice to it. Great acidity and notable tannis, medium long finish.
I am a big fan of Bonaccorsi wines since several years and this wine is no exception. We got several bottles of this wine about 2 years ago for $30 per bottle (a great price for a great wine). We have opened one of them about every six months and today we really thought it was at it's best so far. We have one bottle left and are looking forward to enjoying it in the near future. Today you can find your own bottle from $44.99 at Wine-Searcher and WineZap.

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Bonaccorsi

I just have to pay tribute to Bonaccorsi after so many truely enjoyable bottles during the last three years (for me).
Born in 1960, Michael Bonaccorsi was the twentieth American to be awarded the Master Sommelier Diploma, and did so at a young age. He started out at Masa's in San Francisco and eventually ended up at Spago in Beverly Hills. His dream was always to make wine and in 1999 he and his wife Jenne Lee Bonaccorsi made their first wine under the Bonaccorsi Wine Company brand, inspired by their passion and love for Burgundy and Rhone.
Years later and after achieving great success Michael passed away in 2004, only 44 years old. His wife has since carried on their work to strive for even more excellent wine.
I have reviewed the 2003 Bonaccorsi Santa Rita Hills Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir below under Las Vegas Dining. After our trip to Vegas I ordered some more to enjoy at home and tonight we splurged on one of the bottles. I still agree with my initial tasting notes, although this time I can't seem to find the blueberry... Oh, well...
Bonaccorsi is one of my favorite Central Coast Wineries along with Loring, Sea Smoke, Foxen, Talley... and probably someone else I forgot. Non of them a cheap, ranging from $35-$65 for my favorite bottles, but never the less they have to be tried! All fantastic Pinots!
Do not forget the latest vintage, 2004, from Bonaccorsi. It has some excellent wines to offer. Even better than 2003...

Las Vegas Dining

We just spent 3 night in Las Vegas and aside from shopping, going to a show and a little gambling we had time for some fantastic food. Las Vegas is another one of those places where there is such an large selection of dining opportunities that it can be very hard to decide where to go this trip and what to save for the next... But at the end of the day you have to make a choice...
We started of the first night with BOA Steakhouse at Caesars in The Forum Shops. We have previously had dinner at the namesake sister restaurant at the Sunset strip in Hollywood and wanted to see if the Vegas restaurant stood up to the original in L.A. We started of with the BOA Chop Chop, a great little salad with artichoke, salami, olives, tomatoes, aged Provolone and chick peas. I continued with the 40 day dry aged New York Strip with Bluecheese Crust and a Cabernet Reduction. This could have been great except from the fact that I ordered it medium rare and it came out medium +. Not having the energy to return it and wait for a new steak I ate it and felt a little disappointed... My husband on the other hand had a succulent, flavorfull dish of Syrah Braised Short Ribs with Parsnip Puree, Baby Carrots and Asparagus. We ordered two side dishes as well, Horseradish Potatoe Gratin and Sauteed Wild Mushrooms. Both excellent. We fininshed with S'Mores "All grown up" constructed of Kahlua Chocolate Cake, Marshmallow Sauce, Dulce de Leche Icecream topped with a homemade Graham Cracker. We had a bottle of 2003 Fiddelhead Seven Twenty Eight, Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir. A great balanced Pinot showcasing dark fruit and plum with nice cool tannins. Overall a very good meal if it wasn't for my poor overdone steak...

Night #2: We decided to return to a restaurant we dined at a couple of trips ago, Emeril Lagasse's Delmonico Steakhouse at The Venetian. Our first dining experience at this Creole influenced Steakhouse was fantastic and we were hoping for a re run. My husband started with the Hearts of Romaine Salad with Creamy Bluecheese Dressing topped with Crisp Pancetta while I just had to try the Creamy Lobster Risotto on a Mirror of Lobster Sauce Reduction. For main course I had the Cajun Spice Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Creamed Spinach. This time made to perfection! I savored a great, super tender filet with tons of flavor. My husband opted for a Tagliatelle with Creamy Chicken, Artichoke and Sundried Tomato. Very rich and creamy indeed, almost to heavy... After this rich meal we had no room for dessert... Again overall a great meal with the filet as the stand out. Minus points for the overly heavy and creamy pasta dish which could have been made lighter. The Loster Risotto also suffered of this rich creaminess and would have been more enjoyable if less heavy...
Night #3: Tired after two late night in the city that never sleeps we decided to stay within our hotel, Bellagio, for dinner. We were curious to see what Sensi had to offer and made reservations. This casual restaurant offers Italian, Asian, grilled and seafood classics in a minimalist, contemporary environment where the kitchen is the center. Separated from the dining room with only floor to ceiling glass walls you can witness the creativity in the kitchen as you dine. I just have to start to talked about the wine we had which was an outstanding Pinot Noir from the Central Coast. The 2003 Bonaccorsi Fiddelstix Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir shows great dark cherries, plum and blueberry on the nose with a beautiful balanced palate of dark fruit and berrries and tannins to support a long highly enjoyable fininsh. What a great Pinot! One of the best that I have come across in a long time. Bonaccorsi is a favorite of mine since a couple of years and this one surely will not disappoint anybody... Find it at www.wine-searcher.com from $49.99.
Now to the food. We started of by sharing the appetizer size Italian Thin Crust Pizza with Home Made Italian Salami, Tomato and Asiago Cheese. Great little crisp pizza to share with true Italian simplicity showcasing the fresh ingredients. Crisp Skin Salmon with Braised Oxtail Ravioli on a bed of Braised Cabbage and Poached Red Beets was my main course and a what an enjoyable one. The perfectly cooked, moist salmon paired great with the flavor intense ravioli and tender beets.
Chicken in Creamy Butter Red Curry Sauce with Indian Naan Bread and Basmati Rise smelled wonderful on my husbands plate and sneeking myself a bite my taste buds confirmed what my nose had predicted. A wounderful spicy curry perfect for future cold winter days.
Chocolate was the choise for dessert and contained of a Warm Center Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Icecream. A perfect ending to the meal.
Two other places worth mentioning are Todd English's Olives at Bellagio, where we had lunch one of the days (they have a great Seared Tuna Salad).

The best Margarita (for this trip at least) in Las Vegas can be found at Bobby Flay's MESA at Caesars, made from El Tesoro Platinum Teqiula, fresh lime juice and a splash of Grand Marnier.
Can't wait for the next trip and new food adventures...