Maggie Harrison/Brad Grimes Dinner

Eleven Madison Park
Tasted Sunday, April 12, 2015 by MC2 Wines with 665 views

Introduction

Wonderful dinner arranged by Maggie in the private room at Eleven Madison. Probably about 20 different attendees who had either visited Antica Terra or Abreu in the last few years. Not exactly sure how the menu was created, but it certainly looks like the chef took the list of wines and designed pairings accordingly. Everything matched wonderfully. Wines were sourced from Maggie and Brad's cellar with the exception of the Mouton which was an addition to the menu when another bottle was not standing up quite right.

Flight 1 - The Dinner (7 Notes)

Here's the menu

Some passed apps - unfortunately I didn't take notes, but there was a diced carrot on a cracker, scallops with some different textures....

STURGEON
Sabayon with Chive Oil
Jean Francois Ganevat, Les Vignes de Mon Pere, Ouille, Jura, France 2002
(this was my favorite dish of the night in terms of imagination and interesting flavors although of course the fillet we ended with was quite good)

PRAWNS
Poached with Daikon Radish, Citrus, and Scallion
Sine Qua Non, The Petition, California 2005

STRIPED BASS
Seared with Spinach and Mushrooms
Antica Terra, Erratica, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2011

ASPARAGUS
Roasted with Potato and Black Truffle
Prieure Roch, CLos des Corvees, Premier Cru, Nuits Saint- George, Burgundy, France 1999
(also one of my favorites - the truffle sauce was superb)

GUINEA HEN
Slow Cooked with Pear and Sunchoke
Mouton Rothschild, Bordeaux, France 1996

BEEF
Tenderloin with Brussels Sprouts and Onion
Abreu Vineyards, Thorevilos, Napa Valley, California, 2007

SAR VECCHIO
Goldenrod Honey and Candied Walnuts
(no pairing)

  • 1999 Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut Millésimé

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Just spectacular, but aren't all of his Champagnes? This is so light and easy on its feet - easily pairing well with a scallop bite and a pastrami passed hors d'oeuvres. Nice and toasty and elegant. Very much enjoyed.

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  • 2002 Jean-François Ganevat Côtes du Jura Les Vignes de Mon Père

    France, Jura, Côtes du Jura

    This was perhaps one of the more forgettable of what could only be called a stellar line-up ('96 Mouton, '07 Abreu, '05 SQN white,...). It was clearly a well made wine, but perhaps not really my style. Didn't really do anything for me and as compared to the SQN just not quite as interesting.

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  • 2005 Sine Qua Non The Petition

    USA, California

    Our first SQN white - this was in competition for WOTN with the '96 Mouton. It was just spectacular. So many different flavors and constantly evolving and changing in the mouth. There's a fullness of flavor (perhaps some Viognier) but the Roussanne pokes through with it's honeysuckle like characteristics. Paired with prawns and I felt like the wine completely overshadowed the dish.

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  • 2011 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Rosé Erratica

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Our first time with this year although we are fans of the 2012. This feels softer and a bit less crisp than the younger roses. It was almost more of a less deep red than it really drank as a rose. The mushroom with the Striped Bass that it was paired with really brought out similar notes in the wine.

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  • 1999 Domaine Prieuré Roch Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Le Clos des Corvées

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

    We have continued to try quite hard to not become 'Burgheads' as the wallet doesn't quite support that level of habit. This was good, but to my taste a good cab will generally win over a good pinot. This had some nice earthy characteristics. I missed the really clean bright cherry flavor that I like in some old Pinots. Instead this was more musty and almost a touch dusty. Overshadowed by the '96 Mouton which followed.

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  • 1996 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Poured from a magnum. This was probably my wine of the night which is saying something given the line-up it was in. Wine was just spectacular. Constantly evolving though the 20 or so minutes we were drinking it. I didn't take detailed notes, but I remember by end it was like a fresh spice cabinet and really just wonderful.

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  • 2007 Abreu Thorevilos

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This was a wonderful bold Napa cab with a nice balancing factor to it which reined it in. Great blackberry flavor and a nice spice component. Paired just perfectly with a salted fillet. Could have benefited from a filtering as there was quite a lot of sediment even in the early pours. Wonderful wine. MUCH too young - I suspect this could actually compete with a Mouton, but with 11 extra years, the Mouton shown brighter.

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Closing

Overall a wonderful night - great to meet some other wine fans (we learned our offsite storage location is indeed up to par as our neighbor had actually taken a tour of the site). Maggie and Brad told interesting stories about each of the wines which were unique and special. For me the '96 Mouton and the '05 SQN Petition were the standouts. I think though with some time the Abreu could end up being the winner. It was just too young at this point. Lovely evening

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