IWFS at Cafe DuPont

Birmingham AL
Tasted Tuesday, May 10, 2005 by 1800kidney with 1,388 views

Introduction

This was the big Spring Event for the local IWFS Chapter, about 50 us up enjoyed a lovely evening at Cafe DuPont. Chris DuPont was our host, and the entire crew worked extra hard to make it a fantastic event. We started upstairs with the Hors d'oeuvres and then moved down to the dining area. Lovely evening with Kent and Enid

Flight 1 - Hors d'Oeuvres Upstairs (2 Notes)

A selection of fried oysters with cayenne butter sauce and horseradish creme fraiche, crab cakes with sauce Bearnaise and baby Arugula, Pork Crostinit with chutneys, hard cheeses and olives. The Sancerre was a terrific choice

Flight 2 - First Course: Seared Bacon Wrapped Scallops with saffron spiced crawfish risotto and organic pea tendrils (1 Note)

Very nice accompaniment for the Bethel Heights

  • 2002 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel Reserve 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Great color, classic pinot nose. Initial impresson of plums and cherries and then definite cinnamon and cardamon. Midpalate fairly acidic and finish was stemmy...perhaps this will evolve with some bottle time

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Flight 3 - Second Course: Braised Portabella Mushroom with duck confit, sun dried tomatoes, basil and ricotta with tomatoe relish (1 Note)

I was concerned that the tomaote and pinot would not fly, but in fact there tomatoe finish was very restrained and there was nutmeg on the portabella serving that really worked with the cinnamon and cardamon in the Bethel Heights. Started the Cote Roti flights with the 97 Guigal Brune et Blonde

  • 1997 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Excellent wine, full fruity mouth feel with coffee, sandlewood, leather and tobacco. Tannins prominent in midpalate...this has a while to go. It has great palate...notes say it "came alive in the glass"

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Flight 4 - Third Course: Prime Beef Tenderloin and Grilled Spicy Shrimp with Apple Fritters and Red Onion Croustade (2 Notes)

Not bad for a surf and turf! The Cote Roti's were wonderful and the span of 1990 thru 1997 was very interesting. The 1990 Guigal was my personal WOTN, but the 1997 Guigal shows great promise, worth waiting 7 years for to make the comparison!

  • 1990 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 96 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Outstanding bottle. Great fruity presence, cassis and plums and cheeries...something exotic in the midpalate (passionfruit and sandlewood), must be that viognier peeking through. Wine at its peak, sadly my last bottle! WOTN for me

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  • 1994 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Powerful wine with wonderful balance; great ripe fruits....plums, cassis, berries. Wonderful mouthfeel and finish..

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Flight 5 - Fourth Course: Medley of Petite Desserts

Menu announcement was not specific, but turned out to be a flourless chocolate torte with chocolate truffles and sauce. None of the wines we brought were appropriate, would have liked to have a Banyuls!

Flight 6 - Shared Tastings (5 Notes)

The IWFS group is very generous and readily share their favorite bottles that they brought; no way to try them all and still get home in one piece! The Dujac was the star (Thanks Wimberly), but very much out of context with the Cote Rotis lined up at our seating

  • 1998 Erath Gewürztraminer 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Almost copper color, ?oxidized. Citrus elements, but finish cloyed

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  • 1996 Domaine Dujac Charmes-Chambertin 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Luscious, soft round with wonderful fruit and long finish. Sampled as a fly by in the middle of Cote Rotis, which did not help with the context, the the Dujac is at its prime

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  • 1985 Château L'Evangile 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Decanted for an hour before I sampled it. Wonderful fruit, lovely merlot with great complexity, long finish. At its prime. The 1985 Lynch Bages is incredibly luscious, and this is surprisingly close to it in style..more of the Pauillac styled as a Pomerol than vice versa

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  • 1995 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Flawed

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Cooked...must have had storage problems

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  • 2001 Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Five 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This will be an excellent wine, great balance and major tannins...will last. Wonderful varietal flavors with prominent Cab Franc...this is a big wine, wait another 5 years. Score likely to improve

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Closing

Lovely evening, great company and wines with very interesting pairings throughtout

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