Wine Bar Wednesday, 2.2009, Miss Pearl's Jam House, Oakland

Okay, so at least I am in the East Bay. I had to write up this fun, new incarnation of Miss Pearl's Jam House in Jack London Square in Oakland. Formerly located in the Phoenix Hotel in the heart of San Francisco's Tenderloin, they are now in the space Jack's Bistro used to occupy in Jack London Square. The ambiance is upscale kitschy with a strong seaside motif and lots of interesting things everywhere you look. Divided into a large bar area as well as a nice dining room, Miss Pearl's Jam House brings luscious takes on Caribbean inspired snacks, exceptional rum cocktails and a very tasty wine list with a lot of interesting things by the glass. Xandria and I went with my party specialist Janesta to do Wine Bar Wednesday research. We perched on the comfy bar stools and ordered sweet potato fries and "Miniskirts with Nice Buns" delicious little flank steak sliders on brioche mini buns. Heaven! While I did succumb to the lure of the cocktail, I was also seduced by a lovely '05 Cline Mourvedre. Beautiful color, blackberry fruit, balanced acidity. Niiice! Ever since I wrote that good Mourvedre-Monastrell-Mataro is hard to find, nice selections have been popping up everywhere I turn! You can thank me for manifesting Mourvedre into the Bay Area! As an added bonus, they also carry by the glass, Cline Late Harvest Mourvedre, which I have to try when I return. Our server was exceptional, attentive, fun and cool.

So if we apply Xandria's Wine Bar criteria:

Affordability - Lovely water view, elegant location, tasty selections and validated parking. Would we expect less of the East Bay? Also, there is a whole schedule of live music. Great QPR.

Wine list - Interesting. Many different selections arranged by characteristics of the wines, so you can easily identify something you are in the mood for.

Wait staff- The menu is so detailed, we did not get to test the server, however every time I have visited, I have found the service to be attentive, pleasant and extremely efficient.

Food: Very good. Those sliders are so very tasty! I can't wait to try more. I hear there's a brunch. Which of course plays into my new obsession: Wine with Breakfast

Miss Pearl's Jam House

1 BroadwayOakland, CA 94607

P: 510-444-7171

"Yes We Cab!" - Wine fit for President Barack Obama-- Periscope Cellars "Yes We Cab" 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

In honor of the dawning of a new era of American politics, we attended a fun little inauguration gala at Periscope Cellars in Emeryville, CA. which was also a release party for the Yes We Cab! Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa Valley, Periscope's newest creation inspired by Barack Obama.

According to Brendan Eliason, owner and winemaker of Periscope, this special wine was created after he met Barack in 2007 who came to thank Brendan for his fundraising support. This wine was a truly collaborative effort by Obama supporters in the Oakland/Emeryville area and the label was designed by local artist J.B. Lowe.

But just how does this wine taste? Is it a special wine for this momentous occasion?

First impressions: warm, rich, dark and earthy. A nose of stewed cassis, cherries and notes of leather. Tangy, spicy, cherry finish that lingers. Smooth and supple tannins. Nicely balanced to drink now or later.

Brendan likes to say his wine is "Elegant and stately like Barack Obama himself."

Xandria likes to say this wine is a winner like Barack Obama. I give it 90 points! But you better move fast if you want some as only 58 cases were made at the decent price of only $18.00 per bottle.

We drank it as we watched the new President and First Lady dance to Beyonce's "At Last", and scarfed down the kick-ass tamales made by Tina's Tamales of Oakland. Yes, it was a great beginning for a new year filled with hopes for a better future.

$4.99? Are you out of your mind? Review of Greenstone Point '07 Pinot Noir

'07 Greenstone Point, Pinot Noir, New Zealand. I tried this at one of the Wine Mine Saturday tastings. And after trying a sip, I scrounged till I found it. For only $4.99, it was a fun easy drinking pinot. Starting out, it had pretty aromas, plum and red fruit. The flavors were also very tasty with lots of cherry, berries and a slight tang. This wine had an interesting mouthfeel that seemed almost, right on the edge, but not quite spritzy when I first opened it. With the convenience of a screw top, I was able to recap, leave on the counter overnight, and when I revisited the wine the next day, it had smoothed out with lots more bright cherry flavors and a smoother mouthfeel. Plus, hello? QPR off the chart! For a nice, easy drinking pinot noir, this was a fabulous value. It's hard to find a glass of tasty pinot noir for that price. $4.99 is less than the tax on other pinots I have. Grab this and enjoy it right away if you find it!