<p>I was startled to find a good list of California wines on the East Coast at, of all places, the top restaurant (something like Robert E. Lee but different) at Williamsburg. The sommelier had previously worked in California and new his stuff.</p>
<p>A couple of TD’s recommendations:</p>
<p>Cabernet–Far Niente, Stags Leap.</p>
<p>Chardonnay–Far Niente, Grgich Hills, Cakebread Cellars, and for good price/value, Cambria.</p>
<p>In our next episode, Syrahs, Merlots, and dessert wines. </p>
<p>As a special bonus, a list of wineries that friends don’t let friends drink the wine of.</p>
<p>French wines are much more accessible and reasonably priced on the East Coast than out here and I know relatively little about them in comparison, though there have been some cute little Chassagne Montrachets that I’ve enjoyed. But when D was home I broke out a Pomerol, the most expensive bottle I’ve ever acquired, and that only in the cause of charity at a high school orchestra silent auction. (My motives were purely altruistic in support of the arts, you understand. No…TheMom didn’t believe that, either, and I had to launch into my Ricky Ricardo “Listen dear, I can 'splain” routine.) That was exquisite.</p>