Our wine group got together and instead of picking a wine theme we decided to select some flavorful foods and compare different wines and how they work together with the food. It was lots of fun and very educational Here is the menu and some very brief wine TNs.
Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Bruschetto
· ARIA Segura Viudas Brut – bright crisp acidity, little fruit, would stand up to spicy foods but lacks complexity - $9
· Brut de Savoie, Boneface – very fruity, melon, some citrus, soft and easy to drink by itself. First time for this wine and would try again just not typical sparkler crispness - $16
· Gruet Blanc de Blanc – Hard to beat, never disappoints, for me a no brain sub for entry level Champagne. Has some fruit, bright acidity and nice finish - $16
Shrimp – Scallop pate with cilantro, dill and pine nuts
· ’05 Vincente Deleporte Sancerre – bright crisp sauvignon blanc that complimented the herbal flavors of the pate. Wish I had a case sitting in the cellar. My personal favorite but the group split 50/50 with the Pinot Gris
· ’07 Elk Grove Vineyard, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley – Big, round edges, earth, some melon. Not what I am used to with Pinot Gris but very well received.
Soup and Salad; Chilled peach soup and Smoked trout arugula salad with roasted beets, caramelized cashews and ginger-chili dressing.
· ’01 Selbach-Oster Spatlese Riesling – This wine was difficult and may be closed down. Today it seemed like a dumb sweet wine but hidden under there may be a great drink in 5 years. Fun to compare with dry Riesling.
· ’06 Albert Mann, Cuvee Albert, Riesling – Beautiful, touch of petrol, with crisp white fruit. Group split 50/50 on these two wines but I preferred the Albert Mann even thought the Selbach-Oster was my wine.
Poached Sockeye Salmon with mustard/honey sauce
Roasted potato and carrot salad with basil-citrus dressing
· ’05 Macon Vergisson, La Roche – Barraud – Beautiful white Burgundy and one that would be nice to have a case of. Should age well, slight touch of oak, chardonnay the way it is supposed to be made letting the grape dominate, not oak or malo.
· ’05 Albert Morot – Beaune, 1er Cent-Vignes – Splash decanted this wine due to concern about youth and size. Somewhat surprising as it was very approachable and wonderful medium bodied pinot noir fruit. Up to this point probably my WOTN. Fun to try a red and a white with the salmon, both went very well.
Shelburne Farms Clothbound aged Vermont Cheddar
French Brie
· ’82 Pichon LaLande – Now we are in my wheelhouse. Have had many bottles of this wine over the last 10 years. The most consistent ’82 and as good as any wine made in that great year, IMHO. This is a feminine wine with beautiful fruit, fabulous Bordeaux nose and no sign of coming off of what has been a long plateau of drink ability.
· ’82 Gruaud Larose – A totally different wine. Muscular, tannic, some barnyard and if Pichon is feminine this wine is masculine. This wine was very good but just not as fully integrated as the Pichon.
Homemade Blueberry ice cream with Lake Champlain Chocolates
Walt