Dinner at the Kittle House!

Last Saturday night, I went to one of my favorite places, Crabtree's Kittle House, in Chappaqua. I have gone for years, mostly for the great wine list, but recently I find myself going for the awesome food as well. New Chef, Brad McDonald, who has worked at Per Se and Alain Ducasse, amongst other top restaurants, is producing some of the best dishes in New York. In addition, it is innovative and "cheap." Their 5 course tasting menu is $60! One of his best best dishes is the Gnudy, which he uses Mascarpone and Ricotta cheese for. The stuff is unreal.

On this Saturday evening, I had to control myself with the wine list, as I was drinking for 1, as my pregnant wife is only good for a sip or two.

I ordered two half btls...1996 Donnhoff Auslese Niederhauser Hermannshohle...This was an absolutely stunning wine. Not much more I can say on this, other than it is a shame that it was only a half btl. Clearly not something I would age too much longer, as I see no reason to. The acid has basically disappeared from this wine, and what you are left with is a fruity, delicious wine, that proved to be a great pair for a couple of the courses served.

The next half btl was 1991 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon. I was torn as to whether I should order this and then whether I should decant it. Well, I was wrong...not about ordering it, but about decanting it. Still a "baby" the best tastes of this wine were the last ones. Clearly in a funky stage, I thought the fruit was nearly gone from the wine, and I was left with a "dry" wine not for me. Then, at the end of the meal, the wine did a 180, and the wine actually too on weight, sweetness and fruit, and it was actually very good. In the end, a very impressive showing for this nearly 20 year old wine, especially out of half btl!