Hear Ye! Hear Ye! SF Restaurant offers great Madeira BTG

[Roy Hersh]

A winemaking friend of mine (Jamie Kutch - fine Pinot!) brought this place to my attention. It is a restaurant in SF that has some fabulous Madeira by the glass. It is called SPRUCE and their website is: http://www.sprucesf.com so have a look.

It may seem expensive, but the listing is impressive. Hopefully they offer good size pours:

SERCIAL

LEACOCKS 5 YE A R $6

BROADBENT 1940 $68

BARBEITO 1935 $38

BARBEITO 1910 $42


VERDELHO

D’OLIVEIRAS 1966 $24

BARBEITO 1981 $16

BLANDY’ S 1968 $26

BARBEITO 1926 $38

D’OLIVEIRAS 1912 $44

D’OLIVEIRAS 1905 $50


BUAL/BOAL

D’OLIVEIRAS 1968 $24

B ROADBENT 1964 $48

BARBEITO 1960 $32

BARBEITO 1957 $36

D’OLIVEIRAS 1922 $40

BARBEITO 1912 $42

D’OLIVEIRAS 1908 $60


MALMSEY/MALVASIA

BARBEITO 1962 $32

BARBEITO 1954 $36

BARBEITO 1948 $28

D’OLIVEIRAS 1907 $44

D’OLIVERAS 1900 $56

[Moses Botbol]

Love to see establishments hucking Madeira!

Wow, for such a list by the glass, why don't they have the RWC Historic Series or 10 year's like Broadbents?

It's hard to get people into Madeira when the only options are expensive ones by the glass. A local place in Boston has RWC Bual for $12 a glass.

[Eric Ifune]

I'll be back in Northern California mid-August. I'll be sure to check them out.

[Roy Hersh]

I can only thank the lord that SF requires a plane ride or I'd live there in Spruce. It would be like my personal Las Vegas (a.k.a. Lost Wages).

Eric, we need a report when you go there!

Moses, there are actually quite a lot of places in SF that carry average Port and Madeira lists by the glass. They are nothing special and not hard to find there. But a gem like this with the really good stuff, show me 5 more like this in the USA. Yeah, I know of Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa, so now you only have to tell me about 4 others.

[Eric Ifune]

Well, I'm back home. I stopped through Northern California and stopped by this restaurant to try it out.
It's a modern, stylish place on Sacramento St. near the Presidio. Menu is the standard modern California styled cuisine. I had fresh corn and sorrel soup and roast chicken. Both were done well. There is a very extensive wine list. The well known labels are very expensive, but there are many bargins as well. Even some older bottles. It might be worth it to try a few of the bargins/older wines.
But, I was here for Madeira. The bottles are kept on the top shelf of the bar. There are over 30 Madiera available for tasting. By the way, there are also 50-60 single malt Scotches as well. Madeira pours are about 3 oz, maybe a bit more. Not too bad considering the prices. Most of the wines seem sourced from the Rare Wine Company, not too suprising since they are in nearby Sonoma. The oldest is Barbieto's 1863 Bual for $100, but I wanted to try some wines I've never had.
I started with the Rare Wine Company's New Orleans blend for $12. Not particularly dark. Excellent nose of toffee, dried fruits, fudge. Not much VA. Entry is like a Verdelho. It finishes like Terrantez. Nice length. Now I'm really sad I didn't get any of this when it was released.
Next was D'Oliveria's 1977 Terrantez for $20. Darker than the New Orleans. Nose is similar, but not as intense as the above blend. Classic Terrantez on the finish. Finish a bit clipped. Not a lot of acidity. I like this, but prefer the New Orleans blend for drinking.
Last was Barbieto's 1912 Bual for $40. Also dark. Much more VA on the nose which is very intense. Very rich on the palate. Here's the acid. Ton's of laser-like acidity which carry over on the very long and intense finish. This is some great stuff and several steps up from the above wines. Perhaps not as great as D'Oliveria's 1912 Verdelho, but still very, very fine. 1912 must have been some vintage on the island.
All in all, a fine experience. I'd be more than happy to return.

[Andy Velebil]

Eric,

Glad you made it home safely and thanks for the report on this place. NExt time I head up there I will have to try and stop by.

[Roy Hersh]

Eric,

Thanks for the great report. Sounds like it is well worth checking out. It must be fun to see the 30 bottles of Madeira lined up that way.

I am in full agreement with your notes on the RWC New Orleans Terrantez. Given the price on release, this was a stellar offering and I would buy a case if given half a chance. Sadly, very little made it to the market, but it was originally produced to be used to raise money for the post-Katrina disaster area. I bought a couple on release and a friend in NY offered me another four later on. SHould you ever make it up here ... I'd be happy to open a bottle of this for you, anytime!

Great to know you are back and I really hope you might be free in October to join us for my next "Madeira Road Show" in NYC. It promises to be a really great one!

[Eric Ifune]

Unfortunately, I'm working that particular weekend so I can't make it. Otherwise, I'd be there in a heart beat. Been a few years since I made it back to NYC.