We’re going to be blown away by this one for a long, long time. First up, the particulars: I interviewed Michael Jordan last week. He’s the general manager/head sommelier at The Napa Rose, which is a restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim, California. This has been my favorite restaurant for several years, and I always, always have a great meal there.

Michael and I had set up the interview time via email, but he got held up in a meeting at Team Disney Anaheim, so he had to reschedule later in the day. To make a long story short, and in the interests of full disclosure, I need to state that Michael comped the meal that evening–for me, my wife, and our two friends who dined with us. I suspect he told his waiter for our table, Wendy, to ensure we had a dynamite meal. We didn’t know it was going to be on the house, and were stunned to find out that we didn’t have to look at the bill. So, whenever I’m raving about how good The Napa Rose is, keep in mind I was the recipient of the team’s generosity. I’d rave about The Napa Rose even without that generosity, but I feel an obligation to disclose this gift.

We began the interview and Michael had Wendy bring us glasses of the Laura Aschero Pigato Riviera della Liguria Italy 2004. Pigato, as I learned, is a crisp white wine (made from the Pigato grape) with wonderful aromatics and flavors. Laura Aschero is apparently an elderly Italian lady. She sells 50 cases each year to The Napa Rose, another 50 cases each year to a restaurant in San Francisco, California, and apparently delivers the rest to the Vatican. I hope Benedict XVI didn’t mind that we were enjoying his wine. Perhaps he’ll pray that I can somehow find a source for this wine. Michael told us a great story about this wine. As he put it, “I’m Italian, and I know Italians love two things. They love the Pope, and they love Mickey Mouse. Laura Aschero learned we were serving her wines and told me, ‘I can die happy now. I sell my wines to the Pope and to Mickey Mouse.’”

As we began wrapping up the interview, Wendy brought us glasses of Dr. Berklin-Wolf Riesling Trocken Forster Kirchensteck G.C. Pfalz 2001. This dry Riesling was delicious and accompanied our conversation and the rolls and flatbread that arrived at our table.

Wendy asked if we’d be interested in appetizers, and at her suggestion we opted for two samplers: the Seven Sparkling Sins, which had small samples of caviar (my first time, it’s okay), pheasant something-or-another, and a variety of other temptations like deviled quail eggs. The other sampler was the Sizzling Rock, which featured a hot, sizzling river rock in the center surrounded by shrimp, short ribs, and chicken that you’d put on the rock to heat up again. Wendy asked if we liked Champagne (of course), so she fetched a bottle of the Laurent-Perrier Le Grand Siecle.

I should point out at this time that Wendy was wise enough to pour smaller portions of the wines. Not mere tasting samples, but not the full pour the restaurant might provide ordinarily. But she was happy to refill our glasses if they were running low.

Next up, the soup course. The Napa Rose staff prepared two different soups that evening–a portobello mushroom “capuccino” (from the infused whip cream on top) and a charred tomato soup that was stunning. Williams & Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2004 accompanied these delights. Apparently, this wine is the favorite of Johnny Depp, who likes to dine at The Napa Rose. I hope he is willing to share. I also understand that Johnny Depp will have the wrap parties from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies there. Nice place for a party!

The main course arrived, and Wendy brought us guys the Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2002 to accompany our venison and rib dishes, and the ladies enjoyed the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003 with their dishes. The Silver Oak was very, very nice, but I have to say I thought the Caymus showed the fruit a bit better. Either way, they were great wines.

Next, dessert–and I mean dessert. Plates of a flourless chocolate cake, a warm berry crisp, and other assorted things I can’t recall right now landed at our table so we could all sample and enjoy them. To accompany dessert we had Bonny Doon Framboise NV and Graham’s Twenty Year Tawny Port. Normally, I don’t care much for that Framboise, but with the desserts it was a perfect match.

Finally, a cheese course arrived with eight different cheeses. Wendy poured the Clark Cloudon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 1998 and the Williams & Selyem Estate “Port” Mistral Vineyard Central Coast 2001. Everything was incredibly wonderful. We were comfortably full but not overstuffed, and pleasantly unaffected by all the wine. We told Wendy we needed to have our “moment of truth” with the bill, and she informed us that Michael said there was to be no moment–it was all on him. Not only is he gracious but he’s generous as well. We’re still thinking of ways to return the favor. Michael, we’ll never be able to match your gift, but we’d like to try.

The cool thing about The Napa Rose is that all of the wines we had are available by the glass. No cheap “house burgundy” here! The restaurant features roughly 70 wines by the glass, and they are all top notch selections. What a wonderful way to make these wines available to folks who might not want to buy a full bottle (at retail or in a restaurant) and risk not enjoying it. I hope more and more restaurants will follow The Napa Rose’s lead in this area.

So ends the tale of The Meal. I’ll work on getting some links up to the wines over the course of the next day or so. Right now, it’s time to go pick up Molly at the critter hotel.

Technorati Tags: Wine, Napa Rose, Pigato, Riesling, Laurent-Perrier, Champagne, Williams Selyem, Pinot Noir, Silver Oak, Caymus, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonny Doon, Framboise, Graham’s, Port, Clark Cloudon

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