Portfolio

Tastings & events.

A look at the dinners and pairing events I've hosted — menu, wines, and a few photos from the table.

Judgement of Paris

March 7

A blind-tasting-inspired pairing dinner pitting Napa against Bordeaux & Burgundy — frisée, arugula, and endive salad alongside a roasted hanger steak with garlic-fried jasmine rice.

Frisée, Arugula & Endive Salad

Chablis Premier Cru, Fourchaume 2023

Chablis, Burgundy, France

Bright, mineral-driven white to open against the salad course.

Frisée, Arugula & Endive Salad

Far Niente Chardonnay 2023

Napa Valley, California

Richer, riper Napa chardonnay — the white-side counterpoint to the Chablis.

Roasted Hanger Steak, Garlic Fried Jasmine Rice

Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Napa Valley, California

The Napa side of the Judgement — structured, fruit-forward, built to stand up to the hanger steak.

Roasted Hanger Steak, Garlic Fried Jasmine Rice

Château Cantenac Brown 2015

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

The Bordeaux side — a classic Margaux, poured head-to-head against the Napa cab.

Judgement of Paris tasting dinner photo 1

Judgement of Paris tasting dinner photo 2

Judgement of Paris tasting dinner photo 3

Judgement of Paris tasting dinner photo 4

Moss Cooks at Apollo's

June 18

A six-course wine pairing dinner at Apollo's — same chef as Judgement of Paris, this time built around small-producer, family-run estates from Portugal to the Basque Country to Burgundy.

Fluke Crudo

Casa do Capitão-mor Alvarinho 2023

Monção e Melgaço, Vinho Verde, Portugal

From Quinta de Paços, a 13th-century, 16-generation estate. Grown on granite — more structure than typical light Vinho Verde. White peach, lemon zest, saline minerality, high acidity.

Chilled Pea Soup

Pouilly Fumé, Millet

Loire, France

Sancerre's lesser-known twin, made by husband-wife team Betty and Franck Millet on clay, limestone, and flint. Smoke, green grass, tart white fruit, nectarine.

Roasted Summer Onions

Antxiola Getariako Txakolina

Basque Country, Spain

A rosé Txakoli that nearly went extinct, now made by the Errasti family (Bodegas Zudugarai) in seaside Getaria. Slight effervescence, saline, raspberry, lemon zest.

Stuffed & Braised Squid

Etna Rosso, Benanti

Sicily, Italy

Founded in 1988 by Giuseppe "Pippo" Benanti, bringing Burgundian influence to Etna. Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Dried red cherries, smoky, savory, good acidity.

Seared Duck Breast

Joseph Pascal Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Burgundy, France

A four-generation Puligny-Montrachet estate (renamed Joseph Pascal in 2021) with ties to Domaine Leflaive. Minimal oak (20% new) lets the fruit lead. Sweet cherries, raspberry, spices, subtle earthiness.

Orange Almond Cake

Vouvray Brut, Pinon

Loire, France

Champagne-method sparkling Chenin Blanc from father-son estate François et Julien Pinon, grown on clay and flint. White flowers, green apple, citrus, brioche, almond.