Mastro's Steakhouse - Beverly Hills

Last night my husband and I decided to get a jump-start on Father’s Day with a little pre-FD dinner. The restaurant of choice was Mastro’s in Beverly Hills. We’d been trying to get there for at least a year but always ended up going to other places. Prior to leaving the house I decided I wanted to take a bottle of wine that had been recommended to me by one of my favorite wine shops, The Green Jug. I called the restaurant to inquire about the corkage fee (see Corkage Fee post – 28-May-2009), which was $25.00 for a regular size bottle and $50 for a magnum. Armed with this knowledge I packed up the wine to enjoy with our meal.

Arriving at the restaurant we were greeted immediately and seated at a nice corner table. The ambience was dark and romantic with nice music playing in the background. Our server was a lovely woman who made sure that all of our needs were met. Even as the restaurant started to get busier she made sure that we were attended to often. The menu at Mastro’s offered not only steak but also interesting appetizers, soups, salads and seafood. The wine list was also quite extensive with great red and white selections.

Orin Swift's Saldo Zinfandel

After we ordered our appetizers the server opened our bottle of Saldo Zinfandel so that it would have some time to breathe.  The appetizers arrived a short time later. We started with the ahi tuna tartare and the vanilla battered shrimp. Both dishes were extremely tasty. Midway through the appetizers we poured the wine. The nose was fruity but yet earthy with a hint of smoky berries and chocolate. The taste…aw the taste, was rich and powerful. With this wine you get bold plum, berry and black currant flavors that overtake your palate in a pleasant way. The finish, although slightly peppery, is still very smooth.

I couldn’t wait for my entree to arrive because I knew this wine was going to be extraordinary with the flavors of the food we’d ordered.  For our main course we both had the bone-in ribeye, which was very succulent, tender and well-seasoned. With the steak we had delicious lobster garlic mashed potatoes which were incredibly sinful but oh so good and the sautéed sugar snap peas which were crisp and a nice touch to the meal. As I had expected this wine did more than just compliment the meal it truly made the meal extravagant.

Orin Swift Cellars produces Saldo Zinfandel which is a blend of zinfandel (85%), syrah (10%) and petite sirah (5%). Grapes for this exquisite wine come from all over Northern California, including Monte Rosso, Duarte, Eagle Point Ranch and Rockpile vineyards, just to name a few. This wine is so fabulous it received a 91 point rating from Wine Spectator and  is a steal at $28.00 a bottle. If you are a red wine drinker and you want a special bottle of wine to go with a nice meal this is definitely one you should try.

After our meal my husband and I did the customary reviewing of the dessert menu. Usually we don’t order dessert because we are often too stuff from the appetizer and main course. However, this was a special occasion and we were having a nice evening out so we decided to order not only dessert but after dinner drinks as well. For dessert we decided on the crème brulee, which came with fresh mixed berries and whipped cream. My husband decided to try Graham’s Six Grapes Port and I opted for the Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato d’Asti. They were both fabulous and added so much more depth to the dessert experience.  The Six Grapes is a full-bodied port with a rich dark fruit flavor and a lingering finish. The Moscato d’Asti was a chilled glass of euphoria with its fruity peach flavor. It was refreshing yet subtle. The name “Nivole” means clouds and that is quite fitting for this soft and delicate delight. We considered both of these wines to be jackpots.

Graham's Six Grape

Nivole Moscato d'Asti

For a truly special night out please consider Mastro’s Steakhouse. The food is great and service is outstanding. As I was writing this post my phone rang and I couldn’t believe my eyes. The number looked familiar to me because I’d called it yesterday. It was Mastro’s restaurant calling to thank me for having dinner there last night. Now you just don’t get any classier than that.

Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz

Late last year while at dinner with some friends we decided to order a couple of bottles of wine for the table. Being predictable I opted for the red wine which was an Australian Shiraz.  It was a truly intense wine with heavy fruit content. The smell was quite aromatic and the taste of sweet fruit stood out in the complex wine. As you all know I am not a fan of sweet wines, but this was different. There was definitely a boldness with a peculiar hint of sweetness. I found the wine to be delicious and made sure I wrote down the name before I left the restaurant. As I was jotting down the name I couldn’t help but giggle because the name was quite fitting. Mollydooker’s “The Boxer” Shiraz packs quite a powerful punch. However, the wine finishes on a very smooth note.

The Boxer Label

The next day I took a trip to one of my favorite wine shops, The Green Jug, in search of The Boxer and sure enough they had it in stock. The holidays were fast approaching so I purchased a few bottles for myself and some extras to give as gifts. On New Year’s Eve my husband and I decided to open a bottle to drink instead of going with the traditional Champagne.  Although it was good, I was a little disappointed because it wasn’t as good as I’d remembered it being at the restaurant.  It was still intense but the fruit was extremely sweet and tight. I thought that part of the problem was me not letting it breathe long enough and at that time I didn’t have my wonderful Vinturi aerator.

Not willing to give up on The Boxer, I visited the website of the producer to try and understand this wine a bit better. Again, Mollydooker wines are produced in Australia by an award winning husband and wife team. Sarah & Sparky Marquis have been producing wines for years and now have a winery in McLaren Vale outside of Adelaide in South Australia. Their Watering Programme and Fruit Weight system has proven to be key in making great wines.

While visiting their website I noticed that they had a link to what they called the Mollydooker Shake.  Curious to find out more, I clicked on the link and sure enough there is a video teaching you how prepare Mollydooker wines for optimal consumption.  To watch the video please click here. Below I have also included written instructions on the Mollydooker Shake. If you can, check out the video because it is not only educational, but fun also.  According to Sarah and Sparky they put the minimal amount of sulfites in their wine because of sensitivity in some people. To reduce the sulfites they add inert nitrogen gas prior to bottling.  The purpose of the Mollydooker Shake is to eliminate some of the nitrogen. By doing the shake some of the nitrogen escapes and the full, round flavor of the wine comes out. Since learning this new wine dance, I have found The Boxer every bit as tasty as our first match-up.

Go out and pick-up The Boxer tonight. This jackpot retails for about $20.00 to $25.00. Before drinking it though don’t forget to do the Mollydooker Shake. Have fun!!!

Mollydooker Shake Instructions