Spanish Bistro Shakewell

JC brought home a nice wine: AA Badenhorst.
Chenin Blanc-base white blend wine from South Africa, with vibrant fruit and flower, and richness and freshness at the same time.

The wine was good by itself but would be even better with food, so we went out for dinner with this wine.

Shakewell is a Spanish Bistro in Oakland.
Both restaurant and neighbourhood have casual, cozy feel.
It is a Tapas restaurant so I expected each plate would be small, but the size was actually generous.

Patatas Bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and Aioli.
Crispy outside, soft and steamy inside.
Sauce wasn't too spicy and gave good accent.

Tempura Morels
Mushroom was meaty and had good texture and flavor.
Both fried dishes were not greasy at all. They must be using good oil to fry.

Other appetizers looked delicious too, but we needed to save room for the main dish.

Wood Oven Paella
Classic paella with Manila clams and Chorizo, finished in the wood-fired oven.
Rice was perfectly cooked. Not too hard, not too mushy.
Combination of flavors which was rich but not heavy.
The wood oven finish made the top of rice crispy, and it kept the dish hot for long time.

All dishes had subtle spiciness which was not overwhelming and supported the flavor of dishes.
The white wine went really good with the spice.

Somebody told JC that if a Spanish restaurant made good Patatas Bravas, other dishes would be good too. The theory seems to be true.

Tre Bicchieri 2019

Tre Bicchieri is once a year event of Italian wine tasting.

Tre Bicchieri literally means three glasses. This is a highest ranking in wine ratings given by  Gambero Rosso, a renown Italian food and wine magazine.

This event offers tasting of the wines which won Tre Bicchieri, meaning that this is a great opportunity to taste Italian wines among the best.


It is hard to choose favorite, but there are some bottles which are especially memorable to me.

Ottella Molceo Lugana Riserva 2016

Trebbiano di Lugana wine from Lugana.

Wine with clean minerality, citrus, apple and long, refreshing aftertaste. 

Podere Sapaio Bolgheri Rosso Superiore Sapaio 2016

Bordeaux blend from Tuscany.

Beautiful aromas of red and black cherry, plum and currant. 

Decent wine with fine-grained tannin. Full body and radiant.

Colle Massari Montecucco Sangiovese Poggio Lombrone Riserva 2014

Colle Massari Brunello di Montalcino Poggio di Sotto 2013
Ripe red fruit, herbs and coffee, balanced with firm tannin.

Colle Massari Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco 2015
Super Tuscan made with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. 
Although it might not be as famous as Sassicaia or Ornellaia, this Super Tustan is great!
Chocolate covered cherry. Subtle sweetness of ripe fruit.
Tannin is firm but ripe and texture is round. Very approachable. 

Carlo Giacosa Barbaresco Montefico 2015
Well made, well balanced wine with acid of red fruit.
No room for excess decorations. Simple beauty.

Brandini Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2014
Elegant aromas of flower and incense.
Gentle wine with powdery tannin.


And, probably the most memorable wine of the day:

Angoris Albertina Pinot Nero Friuli Isonzo 2016
Gorgeous Pinot Noir from Friuli Isonzo, northern Italy!
Friuli Isonzo is a small DOC in south-eastern part of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The moderating effect from the Adriatic Sea and cool wind from mountains provide the large diurnal range for this region, which is essential for fine wine production.
Elegant aromas of floral, red cherry, red berries with spice and savoriness.
Decent wine with fine tannin and round body. 

Unfortunately this wine is under Not Imported category. Hope someone would import!