Best Wine Dinner of my Life?

I was lucky enough in my early wine ‘career’ to become involved in several local clubs, but the association with one Vancouver oenophile, Albert Givton, offered me opportunities beyond the dreams of most wine fans. I came across the menus from a two day event created by him – a dinner each day, featuring different wines on each day, I thought some might be interested in the sort of event I was lucky enough to be invited to. The events were February of 2001 (Albert passed on in 2017). These dinners afforded me experiences far beyond what I received even from the Commanderie de Bordeaux.

Feb. 2, 2001

Terrine of Quebec foie gras with sauternes gelee

1921 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

1955 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

Oven roasted Fraser Valley duck breast, duck leg confit, Rosemary Pollenta, Fig jus

1966 Ch. De Pez

1966 Ch. Batailley

1966 Ch. Pontet Canet

Rack of lamb with black olive crust, Gratin Dauphinoise, Tian of Nicoise vegetables,Minted garlic jus

1966 Ch. La Lagune

1966 Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste

1966 Ch. Gruaud Larose

Stilton Cheese with biscuits

1937 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

1943 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

1945 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

(one wonders how the last two were harvested in the middle of a war!)



Feb. 3, 2001

Salad of chilled Lobster, mango and tomato dressing

1917 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

1959 Ch.Rayne Vigneau

Pan seared Chilean sea bass, fennel pomme puree, Pinot Noir jus

Vosne Romanee ‘Suchots’ Loius Latour 1978

Vosne Romanee ‘Suchots’ Robert Arnoux 1978

Nuits St. Georges Clos de la Marechale Monopole Faiveley 1978

Angus beef stroganoff, spaetzle, mushrooms

Clos des Lambrays 1978

Charme Chambertin Dupont-Tisserandeau 1978

Charme Chambertin Dupont-Tisserandeau 1978

Cheese, Mille-feille of apples, apple sorbet

1926 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

1928 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

1947 Ch. Rayne Vigneau

I came across these menus while searching through boxes for something completely different, but thought that I’d share the memories! I have my notes from the events if anyone wants a particular wine description for comparative purposes.

Sounds good but that's a lot of sugar! Someone really like Rayne-Vigneau
I don't know that I could declare a best wine dinner, dozens of candidates. Here's one memorable lineup (all furnished by the host):
trout canapes
1985 Krug

Alsace tarte, along with endive and a little blue cheese
2003 Chapoutier "Le Meal" Ermitage blanc
2004 Chapoutier "Le Meal" Ermitage blanc

Duck confit and potatoes
1962 Rousseau Chambertin
1962 Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze

1961 Jaboulet "Les Jumelles" Cote Rotie
1961 Jaboulet-Isnard Hermitage

Duck breast
1959 Lafite Rothschild
1959 Mouton Rothschild

With the cheese course
1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
1982 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)
1986 Ch. d'Yquem

The 03 Chapoutier sucked, but the rest were sublime..

Another candidate might have been a friend's 60th last fall, a vertical of DDC rouge back to '28, plus several DDC blancs, other great whites, and 52 LMHB. But I had to leave at midnight and so missed 1929 and 1928 Cos, and 1921 Montrose.

[David M. Bueker]

The food was OK, but the wines at the wedding for Joe and Amy Perry (sadly no longer together) were a monument to generosity and excess. Leroy, Bollinger VVF, Prüm Goldcapules in magnum, and that was just the beginning. Sadly I was driving, so had to limit my pours to the absolute highlights, but regardless it was the most completely off the chain event I have ever attended.

Sounds good but that's a lot of sugar! Someone really like Rayne-Vigneau
I don't know that I could declare a best wine dinner, dozens of candidates. Here's one memorable lineup (all furnished by the host):

1959 Lafite Rothschild
1959 Mouton Rothschild

1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
1982 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)
1986 Ch. d'Yquem

.

I'd walk a mile (plus) for any of those!

The best event Albert ever put on, and the one he said was the hardest to arrange, was an all Yquem dinner! I posted a link to it here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=69959&p=526042&hilit=yquem+dinner#p526042

Joe Perry, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
Bill, I've attended a Sauternes dinner, and did an evening where we did the entire range of 1989 Huet- 1 sec, 1 demi sec, 11 moulleux. Hard food match, and more intellectually interesting than hedonistically- just too much sugar for me. But glad I did both.