Lakeside Dining with Great Wines at Long Eagle Grille, Hyatt Recency Incline Village

To my mind, there is no lakeside dining quite as beautiful as the Lone Eagle Grille at Hyatt Regency-Incline Village.  It has one of the best wine by the glass lists in the Tahoe region, and I like particularly that they list their wines “from light to full bodied”;  the wine tasting notes below are in that order.  The list changes all the time of course, but here are some that I enjoyed, paired with their exquisite food.  

The Dr. Loosen Riesling 2009 is a bit frizzante and oh so yummy.   At a mere 8.5 percent alcohol,  this popular Riesling comes from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer area of Germany.  It is vibrant, fruit-driven,  with luscious pear, peach and apple aromas.   Its crisp sweet-tart quality paired nicely with broccolini tempura.  $10/glass, $39/bottle.  

The Lenotti Pinot Grigio 2010, from the Veneto region of Italy  is light and fresh.  You might taste citrus mid-palate, but certainly the minerality is perfect with the pairing of butternut or sweet corn soup.      12.5 percent alcohol.  $10/glass, $39/bottle.

The Talbott “Kali Hart” Chardonnay 2009 , Monterey County, is nice and juicy, fruity and sweet at the finish.  Aroma of mandarin and honeydew, with tastes that hint of pineapple and mango, vanilla and a bit of butter.It is named after the youngest of the Talbott children and that may contribute to its playful personality!  It’s very flavorful, medium-bodied, and perfect with salmon.   14.9 percent alcohol.  $14/glass, $55/bottle.

Davis Bynum Pinot Noir 2009, Russian River Valley, elicited some thoughtful commentary from Lone Eagle wine steward John Marti.   “This represents what I believe is a true California pinot.  It is full bodied, concentrated, featuring balanced and well-focussed fruit.  It is rich and soft, not as spicy as an Oregon pinot.”   Paired beautifully with a panko-coated portobello mushroom.  14.5% alcohol.   $14/glass, $55/bottle.

The Rosso Passo 2009, a Sangiovese and Merlot 50/50 blend from Veneto, Italy, was perfect with the vegetarian dish of wild mushrooms.  It’s an earthy, woodsy, food friendly wine.  12.5% alcohol.   $11/glass, $43/bottle.

The Opolo Summit Creek Zinfandel 2009 just has a big YUM beside it on my tasting notes.  I adore Opolo wines, and Lone Eagle has a great selection of them.  They paired it with a chocolate duo, and what’s not to love?  15.6 percent alcohol, so take it slow.  $13/glass, $51/bottle.

Another big YUM for the Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, a beautifully balanced wine that is incredible every year.  Paired with a buffalo tenderloin.  14.5 percent alcohol.  $16/glass, $61/bottle.

The Lone Eagle Grille is located at 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nevada, USA 89451.  Tel 775.886.6899