Various spots (homes, Mis en Place, Capital Grille)
Tasted Friday, February 17, 2017 - Sunday, February 19, 2017 by MC2 Wines with 882 views
The Tradition continues! For the second year in a row Mark, Larry, and Jeff pulled together a top notch weekend of wine fun. We were lucky enough to make most of the events this year (alas work interfered with the Friday tasting of Tamber Bey - but I hear good stories were told and wine was drunk). We did get to everything else though and even capped the weekend with a trip to Berns!
Yet again these guys hit it out of the park. The organizing team had provided a list of wines and the chefs went about creating a perfect pairing menu. Lots of great food, lots of great wine, and for me an excellent way to get the weekend kicked off.
- Amuse Bouche -
(it was some form of cured meat with a hint of spiciness that just went very well with the champagne)
Jacques Selosse Initial
- First Course -
February Vegetable Salad
whipped feta, hazelnut vinaigrette
2006 Beaucastel Vieilles Vignes
2006 Verget Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru
- Second Course -
Red Snapper
quick lobster virginia ham black eyed cassoulet, meyer lemon fresno chili rosemary emulsion, turnip chowchow, sunchoke pure
2013 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon
- Third Course -
Duck Breast
celeriac leek puree, pulled duck brick, lamb bacon, fiji apple brussels, braised cipollini, morello cherry fennel thyme minus 8 gastrique
2007 Clos des Papes
2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils
- Fourth Course -
Filet of Beef Tenderloin
oxtail fat marble potato black truffles chive salad, haricot verts, pine nuts, smoked kale salsa verde, red onion marmalade jus
1990 Chateau Cos D'Estournel
2001 Chateau Montrose
- Dessert -
Beehive Barely Buzzed
blackberry port tarragon jam, focaccia toast, candied pecans
2007 Le Macchiole Scrio
1985 Paul Jaboulet Aine La Chapelle
Russ was generous enough to come with 12 magnums plus a bonus bottle. I found myself particularly drawn to some of the cooler vintage wines (although I did like the 2014 White Hawk vineyard as well). The Late Bloomer label is a riot and the wine was one of my favorites. QPR is crazy good on these and wines are fun.
- First Course -
Heart of Romaine
candied orange, celery hearts, brioche croutons, meyer lemon & anchovy vinaigrette
2014 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
- Second Course -
Hudson Valley Duck Breast
toasted pumpernickel, cherry mostardo, foie gras butter
2001 Hundred Acre
2001 Philip Togni
- Third Course -
Filet Au Poivre
white truffle potato gratin, grana padano crisp, courvoisier sauce
2003 Schrader Old Sparky
- Fourth Course -
Dry Aged Kona Strip
roasted root vegetable puree, caramelized shallot butter
2005 Two Hands Aphrodite
2006 Caymus Special Selection
- Dessert -
Assortment of Fine Cheese
blue, gouda, brie, parmesan
Chocolate Mousse
2007 Dominus
2009 Next of Kyn
2009 Vine Hill Ranch
For me the Hundred Acre, Next of Kyn, Old Sparky, and VHR won the day - all for different reasons. Overall though one of my favorite events of the weekend. Very much enjoy the big reds.
There were two flights of wines (white and red) and then another award for the blind taster.
Brunch was excellent with pairings lined up for each flight.
- White Wine Flight -
Charcuterie Platter
Carolina Shrimp and Grits
south carolina style grits with a french twist cheddar cheese, grits with a white wine cream sauce with sauteed shrimp
Creme Fraiche Scrambled Egg Wrap
scrambled eggs with melted gruyere cheese, finished with crispy, crumbled prosciutto and chives, wrapped in a fresh warm tortilla
- Red Wine Flight -
Roasted Beef Tenderloins
roasted beef tenderloins finished in a decadent saint agur blue cheese sauce
Lemon Herb-Marinated Port Tenderloins
roasted pork tenderloins served with lemon beurre blanc sauce
Inside-Out Potatoes
twice baked creamer potatoes, baked and filled with cheddar cheese and chive
White winner: 1996 Chateau D'Yquem
Red winner: 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard
And amazingly enough a two way tie for first place on the blind tasting! Nuts!
One of my clear learnings from this time is you need to prepare for Berns. We got the wine list in advance and went to work figuring out what we wanted to try. Given how busy the place has become I'd say the wine list is only partially correct (I believe they actually had only about half of the bottles that we inquired about). Still - good place to start and to discuss. And the '16 Conseillante was a real treat.
Overall, a very successful wine weekend with great company, great wine, and great food. Many thanks to the organizers who herded the cats and made it all happen. Also big thanks to the winemakers who made the trip and kindly parted with some of their wine. Looking forward to next year.
NV Jacques Selosse Initial
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
(2/17/2017)
We have a bottle of this sleeping in offsite storage, but my takeaway was we should definitely have more. Rivaling Krug in that ability to create a MV champagne that is excellent and interesting. Lovely toasty characteristics, but what I really liked was an almost spiciness to bubbles in the mid-palate. Still very classy and elegant. Very much enjoyed.
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2006 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(2/17/2017)
I love this wine and must say it was showing incredibly well this night (esp for those who let it sit and open up in the glass - very much appreciate a white that acts more like a red at times). A touch of petrol and gasoline in the beginning, but then it's caramel and freshness and a bit young tasting even. It's been one of my favorite wines since schwank and mrs. schwank introduced us a few years ago. Delicious.
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2006 Verget Corton-Charlemagne
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
(2/17/2017)
As most people know, white burgundy is completely lost on me (and generally even a bit wasted). I can tell that it is light on its feet and would be considered pretty for a wine. Get some basil and licorice in there. But the chardonnay characteristics overly predominated.
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2013 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
(2/17/2017)
Truly excellent wine. I continue to be impressed what the Rhone does with their whites. This was sweet buttered creamed honey in the beginning but with the right acidity to make it interesting and a bit tantalizing rather than cloying or overdone. With time, I started to almost get some turnip or other root vegetable in there. Fun wine.
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2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(2/17/2017)
One of my favorites of the night, this was just singing. Still a baby and I'm sure it's got a long life ahead. Get cinnamon and christmas spice and great fruit and that meaty syrah characteristic. An intense wine, but well paired with the duck breast.
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2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
(2/17/2017)
Complete and total baby of a Burgundy. This still has some of the baby fat (bigger mouthful). Lots of black fruits. A bit tight. The nose let's you know there's some good things ahead. And certainly a treat to get to try.
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2001 Château Montrose
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
(2/17/2017)
This was the point in the night where my handwriting becomes a bit less legible and the conversation picks up. Generally though found this wine to be very young still (I guess esp next to a '90 Cos served alongside). It was a bit gamey in flavor. A bit tight. But interesting wine.
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1990 Château Cos d'Estournel
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
(2/17/2017)
One of my favorites of the night, this was just in a great spot. Bright black fruit, spicy, leather. The more I swirled it in the glass the more it opened up and gave. Great wine and just singing.
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2007 Le Macchiole Scrio Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
(2/17/2017)
We've had this producer in the past, but first time with this specific wine. Lots of black fruits just falling over themselves, great tannin, hints of blueberry, a touch of alcohol but that blew off quickly. Enjoyable wine, but prob even better with a bit more time.
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1985 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
(2/17/2017)
I was looking forward to this wine all dinner and it didn't disappoint. It's well aged and more in the leather and woodsy version although a touch of fruit poked through. Enjoyable wine.
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