Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Cuisine of Nepal, Mama Coco Cocina Mexicana Restaurant, The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards

Check, Please! Bay Area Season 13 episode 13 airs Thursday, October 4 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

In this episode, fragrant dishes hailing from the Himalayas entice and welcome you to Cuisine of Nepal Restaurant in San Francisco. Then, Mexican family recipes are served up in a kid and dog-friendly space at Mama Coco Cocina Mexicana in Menlo Park. Finally, winery vistas, elegant Californian cuisine and warm hospitality settle us into The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore.

Get Restaurant Information:

• Cuisine of Nepal Restaurant (San Francisco)
• Mama Coco Cocina Mexicana (Menlo Park)
• The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards (Livermore)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I'm the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine, beer, and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. I will also share some wine, beer and spirits tips with each episode. This week I discuss: Grenache.

Domaine Bousquet, sparkling Rosé Brut, Mendoza, Argentina $18
No better way to ring in fall than with the pop of a bottle of bubbly. When the Southern French winemaking family, the Bousquets, moved to Argentina in 1990 they planted vineyards dedicated to organic farming. This deliciously-crisp, lightly-pink sparkling wine is made with organically-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from high in the Andes mountains. It’s a refreshing sparkler sporting a price tag to allow for everyday drinking.

2017 Eighty Four Albariño, Carneros District, Napa Valley, California $28
Albariño is a grape known in Spain for its fresh minerality. Few wineries have attempted to plant and craft the variety outside the Iberian Peninsula, but, in my opinion, the Eighty Four bottling is California’s finest. Made by the talented hands of Elias Fernandez in the joint project with famed vintner, Doug Shafer, this white is aromatic, succulent, and perfect to sip anytime of the day or night.

2014 Rombauer Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, California $38
At its best, Merlot is the cashmere of the wine world capturing ripe fruit and bright acidity wrapped in a plush texture. Rombauer has been making Merlot since 1983 and their history with the grape shows in this beautifully balanced red. Dark berry aromas with an alluring hint of spicy notes give way to a wine that’s lush but vibrant. It’s a Merlot with pedigree and ranks among the top versions in California.

2014 Jordan Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California $56
If I were to pick a California winery that epitomizes elegance, Jordan is it. Since 1972, their focus has been on expressing what their New World vineyards offer, while keeping an eye on the Jordan family’s original Old World inspiration. Whatever side of the ocean, their Cabernet Sauvignons are world class. I have sampled many older vintages, and they only get better with age. The 2014 sports Bordeaux-esque aromas of red fruit and earthy complexity with a medium-bodied structure and polished tannins. It offers delicious drinking now, but can be cellared for years. One of my favorite wines I have tasted all year.