Robust is one of our favorite lunch locations. We usually have a very late lunch or early dinner that leaves us feeling like we just took a vacation to Europe. There are a variety of cheese and meat plates that come with dried fruit and these garlicky bread sticks that are very special. But of course, it is a wine bar and the tastings are always excellent. Here are some of the great tastings we have enjoyed:
Cellar Arts tasting
D'Aragon Garnacha-deep cherry with hints of violet, followed by intense blackberry and tangerine.
Volante Merlot-supple layers of blackcherry and berry fruits, spicy vanilla oak.
Four Vines Zin-layers of berries and anise with hints of spice, blackberry, plum fruit, leading to a toasted oak.
Worldly Chardonnay tasting
2008 Domaine Talmard-Burgandy France-lemon oil, green nuts, hint of chalky salinity.
2007 Northfield Frog Rock Vineyard-Waipara Valley New Zealand-apple, nectarine with a hint of pineapple, toasted hazelnuts and spice with a creamy finish.
2007 Errazuriz Wild Ferment-Casablanca Valley Chile-citrus, pear and a nutty layer on the nose.
Appetizers
Clarissa from Sardinia Italy-goat cheese with natural rind, semi-firm moist with flavors of citrus and fruity notes.
Nieske's smoked duck-succulent rich duck, slow smoked over applewood ambers, producing a melt in your mouth tender sweet smoky flavor.
Amablue Minnesota cheese-rose cows milk blue cheese aged in natural cases, rich and full.
