Last month my lovely wife treated me a fabulous meal for my 50th birthday. We went to Perspectives Restaurant in Ottawa's Brookstreet hotel for a six course tasting menu with matching wine flights.
Since this was a weekday evening, the staff wasn't very busy and I got to chat quite a bit with the sommerlier. The food, the wine and the service was quite memorable.
So, here we go.
Before the meal.
We arrived a bit early, so headed to the bar for a couple of wines by the glass.
Pinot 3 2006
See Ya Later Ranch
Okanagan Valley
This is an intruiging blend of Pinot Gris (34 per cent), Pinot Blanc (33) and Pinot Noir (33).
Honeyed, orange and some veginess on the nose.
Viscous and creamy, lemon, citrus fruit tang and some asparagus.
A long, mouthwatering-citrus finish.
Mike Weir Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2006
Niagara Peninsula
Not a big nose, but a bit of earthiness and some floral notes.
Medium weight, raspberry, cherry, heavy roasted notes (almost burned), drying toward the end.
A drying finish.
Not very nice.
Now, on to the meal.
Amuse bouche
Smoked Arctic Char, creme frais on a tiny piece of bread.
Dashi broth with shrimp
Cave Spring Brut 2005
Niagara Peninsula
Chardonnay (82 per cent) and Gamay
Nutty and lemon on the nose.
Good mousse, lemon, green apple, tangy, tart, clean and refreshing.
A tangy finish.
Crepe/beef tataki, with mayo-Dijon dipping sauce
Domaine de Ronce Chinon Rose 2007
Nose of peanuts in the shell and light berry fruit.
Light weight, strawberry, raspberry, a hint of bitterness, peppery, good acidity, quite clean.
I will state, for the record, that I am not a rose fan.
Black cod with roe
Murphy-Goode Fume Blanc 2003
Alexander Valley
Smoky nose.
The wine, we were told, underwent malolatic fermentation.
Creamy and viscous, peppery, lemon, light grapefruit rind, very smoky, wonderful round mouth feel.
Striploin with mustard sauce and polenta.
Aviongresi Vino de Montepulciano
Didn't catch the vintage
Big nose: black licorice, smoke, barnyard, cherry and floral notes.
Medium weight, black cherry, good acidity, chocolate, very spicy, floral, tobacco, still quite youthful.
Cheese plate
Taylor Fladgate Port 2001 LBV
Dark red in the glass.
Christmas cake fruit and spice, raisined on the nose.
Thick, big alcohol, raisin pie, red currants, rich and saturated.
Dessert - Pistachio on creme brule base with butterscotch gelatto
Vineland Estate Select Late Harvest Vidal 2004
Niagara Peninsula
Sweet, peachy, spicy, over-ripe fruit on the nose.
Thick, peach, apricot, caramel, intense flavours, with a mild bitter streak to keep things from being too cloying.
A long finish.