Red Room, Langdon Hall, Cambridge, Ontario
Tasted Saturday, September 15, 2012 by alittle with 818 views
Exactly 5 months ago, our group agreed to change the format of our tastings to a system in which each person in the group would take turns providing all the wine, food and also setting up the venue. I volunteered to kick things off first, picking a date that coincided with my birthday. For my theme, I chose a retrospective of 1989 Bordeaux, which later evolved to add a flight which compared 1989 Graves vs. 1990 Graves as well. After months of lamenting the venue, I ended up going with Langdon Hall, in particular, their "Red Room", to allow us to focus on the wines and have adequate discussion that these wines surely warranted. I supplied the list of wines to the talented chef and sommelier, who worked their magic to come up with the food pairings.
This was essentially a filler bottle for kicks.
This flight was served with a chanterelle tart, an oyster with seaweed butter, sea rocket and buckthorn, and closed out with a finger of fried brioche topped with sturgeon caviar.
This single bottle flight was served with a duck and pistachio galantine, with red onion confit and chervil.
A tasting trio of Wild Boar accompanied this flight, as well as flight 5.
A tasting trio of Wild Boar accompanied this flight, as well as flight 4.
These wines were served alongside the main, which was slow roasted roe deer, with smoked beets, salsify, and black pepper jus.
Overall, the wines showed even better than expected. There was a disappointment or two, but I think the successes far outweighed any poor showings. The wine service was generally well done, and the food pairings were well thought out and immaculately executed.
NV Gaston Chiquet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d'Aÿ 88 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Consumed in the limo on the way to our destination, followed approximately 45 minutes. Notes are informal; from memory. After having the 2004 Special Club 1er Cru just a few days in prior, I would have to say this was quite a letdown, and to be frank, a poor value. A rather simplistic nose of creamy citrus, mineral, caramel, apple and yeast. On the palate, like notes, with a good acidity, but a short, borderline astringent finish. Based on this bottle tasted, I would not recommend this. Spend the extra ten bucks and buy the 2004 Special Club 1er Cru.
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