Autumn: Theme and Variations
A look ahead at the season's offerings
How do you celebrate the start of your vacation?
Apparently, we celebrate with one of the most expensive bottles of wine we’ve ever tried.
I’ll explain.
We decided to break the tension and anxiety of preparing for a big trip with a last-minute jaunt out to the Mountain View Inn and its sister business, Corazon de Piru. I first treated myself to street tacos being cooked and served outside Corazon. Owner Ken Wiseman said this is a way to expand family-friendly offerings for the community. (The pulled pork taco also proved to be a delicious appetizer for this hungry visitor. Nom-nom-nom.)
Afterward, we grabbed a table in the Inn’s courtyard and got to sample some mouth-watering new offerings, which include appetizers such as esquites (traditional Mexican corn salad) and braised beef, a beet salad, and new entrees like pork shoulder and chicken paillard. (We did not try the paillard, however. Another time, another time.)
Everything is cooked to fall-off-the-bone tenderness with well-balanced flavors and textures. I highly recommend splitting the esquites between two people. With lightly spiced corn sitting atop a bed of cotija cheese, its flavors and textures make for a delightful amuse bouche.
After we’d thoroughly stuffed ourselves like a pair of Thanksgiving turkeys, general manager Rick McDaniel asked if he could decant a bottle of the 2021 Quintessa, a five-varietal heavyweight blend from the Rutherford district of Napa Valley.
Ooh, ooh! Twist our arms!
Blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenére (Chile’s signature grape), Merlot and Petit Verdot, and partially coming of age in new French oak (65 percent), this one opens gradually, almost coyly, before settling in and cozying up to your palate. At first, your nose is hit with sage and bramble and baking spice. After 10 to 15 minutes, the dark berry and cherry notes express themselves. After 30 minutes, everything softens to a velvety Merlot-like texture.
I tell anyone new to wine tasting to forget the official tasting notes at first and just focus on what you see, smell, and sip. Let your mind relax, play, and conjure up whatever images and associations the wine suggests to you. The image I had was that of a staircase descending into a dark and delectable pool, and I was about to go swimming in the deep end.
Getting to savor it while sitting there with Rick and Sam, the winemaker for The Naturalist, telling stories and trading opinions, the Quintessa was worth every damned penny.
Fall Calendar
Fall is shaping up to be a season of fun around these parts.
The Mountain View Inn in Piru is holding their complimentary wine tasting this afternoon starting at 2:30. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, do yourself a favor and go. Eight wines, unlimited revisits, small bites and samplers, and discounted bottles to take home.
Tomorrow is their special Sunday BBQ. And over the next few weeks, Rick McDaniel will hold guided wine tastings for anyone looking to improve their tasting skills and wine knowledge.
Check out their Instagram for event updates and details.
In Santa Paula, The Glen Tavern Inn is already getting in the spooky spirit with a murder mystery dinner and ghost hunts. Dale and I will be participating in one of the Halloween hunts — practically a must for one of our favorite haunts. (Ahem.)
Be sure to also check out their new happy hour and dinner menus as well. If you want to have your pooch with you during happy hour, you can imbibe in the lobby.
Details on their Instagram page.
