30th Birthday Dinner with Dad

Amy and I met my Dad and Sharon for dinner at The Anvil Club to celebrate my 30th birthday. Dad and Sharon are just starting to get into wine. They're in the $4-$7 range, and can't believe how much I spend on bottles, thinking I am insane for spending mopre than $10. This was a chance to show them (hopefully) what good wines can be. We started with drinks in the lounge before being seated for dinner. Service was spot on, as usual, and the meal was fantastic.

We started with a few appetizers, and poured the BdM. Crab cakes (Sharon), shrimp cocktail (Dad), baked shrimp and Brie (Amy) all paired nicely. I had blue points with a split of Heidsieck Monopole (yellow bottle). While still enjoying the BdM, we had soups and salads. Amy had cream of broccoli soup, Sharon had a house salad, Dad had a sampling of soups: cream of broccoli, lobster bisque and French onion and I had lobster bisque. The bisque was an outstanding pairing.

• 1999 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  This was opened and poured into a decanter while coming up to proper serving temperature. We had this with our appetizers and salads/soup. Went very well with the lobster bisque.
  
  Beautiful golden hue, opening with notes of mineral, stone and honeysuckle. Lush palate, with apples and baked pears. Lengthy finish. My first white Grand Cru, and it did not disappoint.

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The half lobster tail (Sharon), beef tenderloin with two sauces (Amy), herb-crusted whitefish (Dad) and the Anvil Prime (a huge strip steak) for me were all outstanding. Everyone enjoyed the wine, even with the lobster and whitefish, which goes to show that you don't have to follow the "red with meat, white with fish" as long as you're drinking what you like.

• 1975 Château Léoville Las Cases 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Decanted for about two hours before serving. The cork, while very soft, came out in one piece. Served in Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux glasses. The color on this was fantastic, bright ruby, just barely turning clear at the rim. There is no way just looking at this wine one would think it was a '75. Aromas of violets and fresh-cut flowers fill the glass. There's an earthiness to it as well. Silky palate, loaded with red fruit. There are no harsh tannins, the wine is well balanced and has a very nice finish.

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Sharon and I, each having a sweet tooth, ordered tiramisu and a flourless chocolate tart. Amy and Dad had coffee. Sharon and I agreed that the port, while very nice on its own, really paired well with the chocolate cake.

• 1995 Graham Porto Vintage Malvedos 90 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  From the Anvil Club's wine list at $8.50/glass after dinner. Inky black color with notes of cassis, blackberry liqueur and some heat. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry and chocolate.

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The wines tonight really opened their eyes. The Las Cases was a "wow" wine for Dad, and while they won't be going out and stocking up on Bordeaux, they certainly won't give me that "you have to be insane" when I show up with more wine priced over $10.

Being able to open a great bottle from my birth year and share it with my father and family made for a truly special evening, and afterall, that's what wine should be about.