I Saw A Werewolf Drinking A Sauvignon Blanc At Trader Vic’s…

…actually it was a white blend, and it wasn’t a werewolf at all.

It was yours truly.   And unfortunately the Trader Vic’s that used to be in Beverly Hills is closed, but it’s been reincarnated as Trader Vic’s Mai Tai Lounge, poolside at the Beverly Hilton hotel.  That’s where I found myself a few Friday’s ago, for a friend’s birthday party.  Considering they’re best known for really fancy tropical drinks served in collector’s glasses (one of their coconut mugs holds the pens on my desk), I didn’t know what to expect from the wine list.

I was happy to see a familiar favorite, the 2006 St. Supery Virtu, a blend of 52% Sauvignon Blanc and 48% Sémillon, from Napa.  It seemed appropriate for the appetizer I had ordered, the grilled scallops with mimosa butter (though I still don’t know what mimosa butter is).

I’m not shy about the fact that I’m a fan of St. Supery wines.  Their Sauvignon Blancs are always impressive, and this wine, which is made in the style of a Bordeaux white, is no joke.

As the glass went up I could smell that this would be a good one, flavors of honeydew and oak filled my mouth, with hints of citrus and grass underneath.  It’s rich and full and yummy.  I had another glass (or 2?), finished my scallops and used a piece of bread to wipe up the last of the mimosa butter.

I like the poolside Trader Vic’s lounge, but I yearn for the original, with it’s tiki decor, dimly-lit booths and over-the-top mugs and glasses.  The Trader Vic’s LA website says a new Trader Vic’s will be opening up at the LA live complex in downtown Los Angeles; I hope it still has the old school vibe and the coconut mugs.  I might need a new pen holder.