I attended this event June 10th. Zely and Ritz uses many local meats and vegetables from Coon Rock Farm. Michelle Duckett, a distributor for Elyse, presented the wines. We were greeted with a nice 2008 ELYSE ROSE' wine, Napa Valley, with Valdiguie, Grenache and Carignan grapes. This is bottled in screwcap. $15.00 at the winery. It was pale pink with a light coral rim. Refreshing summer sipper.
The first course had scallops with peach, pineapple, apple and apricot salsa with a minty sorbet accompanied by 2007 ELYSE L'INGENUE, a white Rhone blend with Marsanne, Roussane, Viognier and Grenache Blanc. This sees no oak. Slightly creamy texture but not too much so. Viscous. Has some weight on the palate but also a delicacy. Very good match to the scallops with fruity salsa. Mint and floral aromas from the sorbet. $35 at the winery. I ordered two bottles at the dinner (for slightly less I believe.) I'm thinking this would be a white wine with broad appeal at a church fundraiser I am planning for October.
The second course was grilled turkey skewers with sweet sugar snap peas, roasted baby new potatoes, squash and mulberry sauce paired with 2005 ELYSE C'EST SI BON red Rhone blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise, Valdeguie and Carignan, Sierra Foothills, CA.
I found some red currants on the nose. It was a little puckery on the finish but not enough to distract from the flavor or overall impression. Viscous texture. Food friendly with a bit of pepper kick if held on the palate for a time. This is $28 at the winery.
Third course was roasted ribeye of beef with creamy bacon risotto and strawberry sauce with 2006 ELYSE MORISOLI VINEYARD ZINFANDEL, Napa Valley floor, CA. I liked the Morisoli Zin better this vintage than one I had tried previously and I ordered one bottle at the dinner. At the winery this lists for $37. The nose and palate share red and black fruit elements with some elegance. The old vines have roots that go down 25 feet into the ground. The Zin stood up to the bacon in the risotto.
Dessert was a very rich chocolate truffle cake (which I managed to finish despite its richness) paired with a non-vintage ELYSE CABERNET SAUVIGNON PORT, Napa Valley. I didn't quite finish the port (still needed to drive home) and I prefer Tawny Ports anyway.
Fun evening and I look forward to having the Morisoli Zin with grilled meat this summer.
