School dinner fundraiser (7/9/2011)

Lettuce from the garden, caramelized almonds, tangerine and grapefruit pieces with herb vinaigrette.

• 2010 Wind Gap Wines Trousseau Gris Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  First experience with trouseau gris and this was excellent. Was expecting a pinot gris-like light and acidic but instead this was fleshy and flavorful. Burnt rubber, pears, slight almond extract, and flinty minerality. Almost like a near-dry spatlese. Interesting, complex wine but also easy to drink for the non-wine nerds at the table.

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Seared scallops on a bed of black truffle infused potato and leak puree. Honey and cinnamon garnish

• 2004 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  This was paired with the '05 Boillot Clos Mouchere and even the novices guessed it was from California. Cork was saturated and at first I though it was cooked. Strong burnt rubber on the nose with a dollop of butter, roasted nuts, and citrus fruits peeking out from behind. Dense and viscous, it coats every corner of the mouth and has enormous depth of flavor and length while remaining balanced.

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• 2005 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  This was on par with the '04 Kistler and seemed to have a new world style with slightly more oak and creaminess than typical from this area, which I did not mind at all. Big and fleshy with flavors of toasted nuts, yellow and orange citrus fruit, and crushed seashells.

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Seared New York strip steak. Pasta with prosciutto and sauteed mushrooms. Steamed french green beans with toasted almonds slivers.

• 1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Previous two bottles of this were showing signs of slight decline, but this one still on the up slope. Cork was in perfect shape and only stained a mm or two. Decanted one hour and got intense aromas of strawberry and raspberry jam. Fleshy and dense across the palette with the signature balance and power. Never be a complex wine, but totally delicious.

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• 1995 Château Léoville Poyferré 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  This was paired with the '97 Insignia and delivered old world contrast. Color shows very little age with nose of mushroom stew, damp earth and black currants. Good weight and solid grip across the midpalette with elegant blackberries and plums (in contrast to the mega-fruit of the Insignia), cigar smoke, and, after thirty minutes in the glass, intense wet-gravel minerality. Not much on the finish.

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Selection of four cheeses served with crackers and french bread slices. The cheeses were not for the squeamish, as one was described as smelling like a a pair of twenty year old gym socks that had been urinated on by a dog and left to decompose in the trunk of a Chevy Nova. They were: 1) morbier, 2) muenster, 3) an aged Gouda, and 4) Stilton all from the excellent local cheese shop.

• 2006 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 93 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  This was exceptional paired with the cheese course. Very strong petrol and slates on the nose, to the point that it seemed combustible. The cheese was extremely stinky and this was right up there. Good sugar level although modest acidity left me wanting a bit more zest. Across the palette was not as complex as the nose, but extraordinarily delicious nonetheless.

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Fruit tart

• 1995 Warre Porto Vintage Quinta da Cavadinha

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Not my area of expertise, but this seemed very nice

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