Last week I had the unlikely pleasure of dining at an amazing restaurant in Gothenburg, Sweden called FiskeKrogen (http://www.fiskekrogen.se/start_engelsk.html) on the recommendation of my husband's uncle, a local.
While the food was all incredible (small plates of very artistically arranged delicacies), one of the biggest surprises was the recommendation of the sommelier of a Russian River Pinot Noir to go with our halibut (I can never refrain from the "just for the halibut" joke...).
The wine, a 2002 Marimar Estate Pinot Noir, was a real find on a European wine list. I expressed my surprise that the sommelier would recommend an American wine. "Being American," I said, "I sort of expected to be drinking European wines in Europe." He shrugged and said (flinching only a little) "You make very good wines there." OK, oenophiles, how long did we wait to hear a world-class European sommelier make that comment without a six shooter pointed at his/her favorite Bordeaux?
As an aside, I checked, and that Pinot is available for purchase online at http://www.marimarestate.com/. Only 4492 cases produced. It was delicious, dark and full-bodied, but not too heavy to go with a light fish such as halibut with a fairly delicate lobster sauce.
I would highly recommend the restaurant. The food genre reminded me quite a bit of the French Laundry in Yountville, CA. The atmosphere was eclectic. The white table cloths and elegant service would be appropriate for a special occasion, but I also felt comfortable wearing jeans.
