FROM MY FIRST VISIT TO "SAN FRANCISCO'S ULTIMATE WINE BAR"

What a great idea! VinoVenue (686 Mission Street, San Franciso) has set up one of the most accommodating wine-tasting bars I've ever visited. You can get 1-oz. tastings of over a hundred wines from various tasting stations grouped around themes, whether it's the varietals themselves or "adventure" as more difficult-to-find-wines. If you like a wine, you can buy a fuller glass than the 1-oz. sip and/or a bottle right then and there. Which also means you can pick up a wine you know you like for dinner elsewhere (rather than navigating through that restaurant's wine list) or to bring to a party!

The location, while (I think) not generating as much traffic as, say, a bar on Fillmore could, is near SF Moma and Yerba Buena Center, which actually means that this is a nice way, too, to meet someone for wine drinks prior to cathcing shows at such venues.

Anyway, Tom and I have been meaning to visit here for a while and finally did. From our first visit, here are some brief thoughts -- these are all decent food wines (though wouldn't suggest bothering with the Le Bastide), notwithstanding some critical pickiness below:

2003 O'Brien "Seduction" Meritage, Napa Valley
$27. Good, with rich Napa fruit and good tannin. But a harsh finish.

2003 Francis Tannahill Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
$34. "Aromas of blackberry, violet, smoke and spice give way to a long rich finish," according to its placard's description. Agree -- except that it's lighter-bodied than what I would have desired.

2001 Fort Ross Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma
$__ (sorry; forgot to note price but probably not aboe $30s range). Good nose -- strawberry, nutmeg and clove. Similar flavors. Possesses the richness one hopes for from a Pinot noir. But it's a little forward and narrow and tart. Ultimately, good but without that desired "peacock's tail".

2003 Le Bastide de St. Vincent Cotes-du-Rhone
$___ (sorry again). Nice nose but not balanced. Light fruit (I wouldn't bother following up on this....)

2002 Larkmead Merlot Napa Valley
$40 ('twould be a better buy at $30, given price comparisons with others in that price range, e.g. Behrens & Hitchcock wines are fabulous below $40/bottle). Nose gets cherry, licorice, leather and fruit. Dark ruby color. Nicely intense -- recommend really swirling in glass or to decant first. (78% merlot, 12% cabernet, 6% cabernet frank and 4% petite verdot.)

2002 De Toren Fusion V Meritage, Stallenbach, South Africa
$35. A nicely unusual Meritage. Soft fruit. It might be a bit too earthy but not really in a bothersome way. (60% cab, 14% merlot, 14% malbec, 6% cab frank, 4% petite verdot.)