2000 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA

[wondersofwine]

To tell the truth, I liked the atmosphere, the service and the wine list better than the food. (Bonterra is in a converted church with choir loft, high windows, etc.)But I don't think you can judge the food from one person's choice on one evening. There was nothing wrong with the duck breast, but I though it was better at Nora's in DC. The gnocchi seemed a little heavy and I maybe chose the wrong dessert. Had I made other choices I might have loved the whole dinner. I do like that you can choose a cheese tasting from a number of different cheeses ($4.00 per cheese so with two couples you could share four different cheeses or such). The waiter I had, Paul, was very good and knowledgeable about wine. I ordered the Merry Edwards Pinot Noir and mentioned that I had met her at an event in Raleigh. He mentioned her visit to Bonterra and I recalled that Merry's husband mentioned visiting Bonterra and Zebra Restaurants on their trip to North Carolina. Both restaurants carried their wines. I might very well revisit Bonterra sometime and go a different direction with my menu choices. It was busy (I was there on a Friday night).