The Crü got together at Brasserie Beck last night for a fantastic meal and great wine. We had a great time. The food was wonderful, the company sparkling, and the service spectacular and highly efficient without being at all obtrusive. (Over 80 glasses placed, removed and reset, all at the exact right time, the champagnes kept on ice until ready, several bottles decanted, the first taste presented to the person who brought the bottle without having to ask, and perfect descriptions of the food) But the stars were definitely the wines. The sommelier Thor, and our waiter Ihsen, were ordered to try all the wines (it's a tough job but someone had to do it ) and they definitely enjoyed it. I can't say enough about how they treated us.

And I want to thank everyone for making my sister Sarah feel so welcome. It was her birthday and I had told her that is she could make it to DC, I'd take her to the dinner as a present. She flew in from Florida just for dinner (I took her back to the airport this morning) and said that she had a wonderful time. She used to be in the restaurant business and was very impressed with the design and decor of Brassierie Beck and said that the kitchen (which was open and right next to our table since we were given the Chef's Table) was very well run, extremely professional. All the staff came by to wish her a Happy Birthday (and the candle in the sorbet was cute on the nicely decorated birthday plate) and seemed very sincere in wanting us to have a great time.

First the meal. We started by sharing a bunch of appetizers. We ordered the carcuterie plate (wonderful country pate included), the roulade of duck confit and pomme puree, steak tartar, pork belly and rice beans, (and maybe one more?)�

Entrees around the table (which everyone was sharing bites of back and forth) included the Beef Carbonnade, several orders of the Grilled Beefsteak with Green Peppercorns, Cognac Sauce and Frites (oh my what wonderful frites) an absolutely to die for Black Cod, and the Lamb Shank (huge) with white beans.

Desserts included the bread pudding (huge, rich and just too much to finish) the Belgian waffle with apple and cream, an absolutely stunning citrus and cilantro sorbet, and the beer sundae (boy is that good).

But the wines were, as I said, the star. (Please forgive me, but my notes are difficult to read, and very criptic as we were having too much fun.) Sarah made everyone choose their first and second favorite wines, wouldn't let anyone wishy-washy around either.

For starters we had the NV Francois Billion Brut Grand Crü Champagne as we were waiting .

The line up then included, in order of drinking:

2005 altanuta Pinot Grigio (fruity, crisp, but without a lot of muscle. Sarah described it as a 14 yo young lady just starting to come into her beauty)

2003 Neal Chardonney (Easily one of the favorites of the night) not at all oaky, with notes of grapefruit and walnuts(?) that was spectacular. I really wish Mark Neal was still making this wine, I'd buy it by the case.

1999 Barone Ricasoli Toscana Casalferro (well balanced, with plums and vanilla flavors, and very well integrated tannins)

1997 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis(plums, berrys, leather and sooo good)

2001 Mocali Brunello di Montalcino (another of the wines that was choses as a first or second favorite by several people) blackberrys, licorice, a very muscular yet approachable and wonderful wine.

1999 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio all'Oro Riserva(wonderful wine, but still young. I wouldn't open another one for at least 5 years if I were Norm) that will be spectacular given time.

1997 Flaccianello Della Pieve (I can't read my notes, but it sure was good)

1990 Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne Rare (One of the consensus wines of the night) light but fresh and crisp with a toasty, nutty, minerality that was wonderful.

And finally, a NV Wilson Creek Almond Champagne (a very interesting wine, but since I do not like almonds at all, not to my personal taste, but well received by everyone, especially the Pastry chef who brought his rendition of a Huckleberry claufutie that was beyond expectation. We did not order the claufutie but he personally brought it over and served it and discussed our wines and the evening as he saw us from his vantage point in the kitchen.

We ended with French press coffee.

We didn't decamp the restaurant until after midnight, thankfully none of us having to drive (or at least not far.)

nice notes, dinwiddie. sounds like it was a wonderful night. miss the DC Cru already. hoping to start attending some SoCal offlines soon....

No beer?