Bohemian Duck Dinner (Pinot and Riesling)

New Buffalo, Michigan
Tasted Monday, February 14, 2011 by Vino Me with 584 views

Introduction

We visited some friends in New Buffalo, Michigan this weekend and my wife made her Bohemian styled duck dinner. The duck is roasted with bacon and caraway seeds and stuffed with a half lemon and onions. Sauerkraut is added to the duck fat dripping in the bottom of the pan halfway thru the cooking process. At the end the bacon and onions are chopped and added to the sauerkraut (the sauerkraut is addictive this way). She also made a side of stir fried bok choy cooked in soy sauce and sesame oil. We paired the duck with some Riesling and Pinot Noir and started the afternoon off with a couple champagnes. Here are my notes:

Flight 1 - Pre Dinner Champagnes (2 Notes)

Flight 2 - Riesling (3 Notes)

  • 2007 Hickory Creek Riesling 78 Points

    USA, Michigan, Lake Michigan Shore

    Paired with my wife's duck. The most disappointing wine in the lineup. This did not hold up very well over the last 2+ years since I bought it at the winery. It lost most of it's fruit and came off as very lean and petrolly. Petrol is not bad as long as their is some fruit behind it. One dimensional. 78 points.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Left Foot Charley Riesling Seventh Hill Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, Michigan, Old Mission Peninsula

    This single vineyard wine is made in a spatlese style with comparable sweetness. 11% alcohol. 311 cases made. The winemaker considers this his best Riesling site. The vineyard was planted in 1997 and this is the 3rd vintage LFC has made. A white clear color. I was told this was an ageworthy wine but this did not improve at all in the 1.5 years that I bought it. It held it's own though. Still had good acidity balanced with moderate sweetness. Note of white pepper, peach and lychee. 88 points.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1999 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Hochrain 93 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    Bought this on sale for $27 years ago (normally $50) and opened it this weekend with my wife's duck. This was better than either the 1998 or 2004 vintages of this wine. At 12 years old this wine was still going strong. It showed the depth, elegance and subtlety that age can bring out in a fine Riesling. Golden yellow color. Slight hint of petrol on the nose but not as much as you might expect. Notes of quince, grapefruit and fresh herbs. Strong mineral backbone. Long finish with a touch of sweetness. 93 points.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 3 - Pinot Noir (3 Notes)

  • 2004 Bernhard Huber Malterdinger Bienenberg Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs 91 Points

    Germany, Baden

    Opened by our friends. This estate was started in 1987. Today, Huber makes some of the best Pinot in Germany and Bernhard Huber was voted the winemaker of the year in 2008 by Gault Millau. His vineyards are planted on Devonian chalk and are aged on their skins.13.5% alcohol. The "R" stands for his reserve level wines. This was my 2nd favorite Pinot of the evening and it matched very well with my wife's duck. Good core of fruit and drinking well. A round and supple Pinot. Notes of earthy red fruit and tar. 91 points.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1997 Louis Jadot Pommard 87 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard

    Opened with my wife's duck in Michigan. You can taste the age in this wine. A little brett with notes of roasted fruit and tart red berries. I did not like it as much as the others at the dinner. I thought it was a little off and lacking somewhat in balance. 87 points.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Kistler Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Opened with my wife's duck. Much more fruity than the 2003. Round and excellent depth. No heat and well balanced. Notes of ripe berries, light oak and toasted almonds. 93 points.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Closing

VM

×
×