So, here we go again. Another wonderful wine dinner at the Buzz! The July Wine Club dinner featured Semillion and Grenache and a full dinner. Not really my favorite varietals, but one must learn to enjoy them. Besides, it’s always good to see what happens when you try these wines with food – as all wines are designed to accompany food.
The photo to the left are two of three additional wines. “Additional” wines are usually served before the party begins. So, tonight we had nine wines and a full dinner all for $15 per person! Here are photos of the dinner selections and the wines that accompanied each plate. My ratings are in parenthesis (17) and rated out of 20 possible points. Percent alcohol and prices are also listed.

We started with a Summer Vegetable Pancake with Basil Chive Cream. (The Basil Chive Cream would be awesome with smoked salmon) This was an incredible dish. To accompany the dish, we had a 2009 Falling Star Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina. 13%. $10. (17) This was a sharp wine – briar, lemon, earthy with lemon grass.

Jerked Chicken Kabobs with Water Chestnut Appetizers and Mango Cucumber Salad. This was so delicious and went very well with a 2008 L’Ecole Semillon. Washington state. 14.2%. $13. (18). This wine accompanied the Jerk Chicken and the spiciness of the chicken very well. It enhanced the Mango Cucumber Salad and did not overpower it. The cucumber went very well with the wine. The wine had hints of cinnamon and citrus with the water chestnut.

Turkey Lettuce Tacos. Wow! Another delightful plate. 2008 Tapena Grenache 13%. $11. (18). This was a surprise. Pepper and chocolate. Well balanced with spices. Great with the different taco.

Andalusian Gazpacho. What a wonderful cold soup. Great on a hot summer day. It went extremely well with a 2007 Las Rocas Garnacha. 13%. $13. (19). My favorite wine of the evening. Cherry overtones. Old World style. Went very well with the soup and balanced the spices that were present in the gazpacho.

Cucumber Tomato Quinoa Salad and Fennel Pork Burgers with Grape Relish. You know, Cristi and Tom, you out did yourselves here!! The Fennel Pork Burger with Grape Relish should be on your Bistro menu.

Frozen Chocolate Cheesecake Squares. Anything with chocolate has to be Yum-O! This was no exception. And the wine? A Bitch Bubbly Grenache. $13. (17) Actually, the red pie cherry of the wine went well with the cheesecake.

So there you have another exciting evening at the Buzz. If you missed this event, you just gotta make the next one. Remember: The Second Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of every month. Just call for reservations. And the same wines and meal are presented each evening, so if you can not make it on one of the evenings, it is repeated on the next. Do enjoy and cheers!