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Fausse Piste v. The World (@ Sauvage-Fausse Piste with StoryTeller Wine Company)

Portland, Oregon

Tasted September 9, 2012 by VinLancaster with 613 views

Introduction

Fausse Piste v. The World Wine Dinner at Sauvage.
5 course dinner with 10-wine pairings: 1 wine each from Fausse Piste and 1 wine selected by Michael Alberty of StoryTeller from around the world.
Hosts:
*Chef du Cuisine (and Winemaker @ Fausse Piste): Jesse Skiles and amazing duo of co-chefs. Each course & wine was one masterful innovation after another.
*Michael's 'wines of the world' were chosen intelligently with perfect balance in mind; as well as keeping everyone at the table intrigued.

Flight 1 - Starter: Salad with Fresh Local Scallops. (2 notes)

Salad with local farm greens, white beans, crema and perfectly seared bay scallops.
Paired with:

White
2011 Fausse Piste Roussanne l'ortolan USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
Bright, crisp, honey and stone fruit aromatics and flavors. Nicely crisp with good mouth coating and feel. Well balanced fruit with food pairing pleasing drying aspects. Plenty of crushed rock, bright acidity, pear and grass fill the palate. Paired very well with the scallops
If scoring: 90+
White
2010 Punta Crena Mataossu Vigneto Reiné Colline Savonesi IGT Italy, Liguria, Colline Savonesi IGT
Cut grass, hay & hazelnut aromatics with dollops of honey and peaches. Honey coated nectaries, lemon verbena and culinary herbs (dill?). Very intriguing, satisfying and well rounded. Medium long finish with plenty of silkiness. Paired well with the scallops, but wouldn't mind sipping on this alone-it's that good.
If scoring: 90-91

Flight 2 - Course 2: Fresh Trout, Two-ways (2 notes)

Trout slowly poached in Viognier, light and perfectly cooked
Trout cured with a hint of smoke and fresh dill, clean and savory
Both served along side pickled peaches and local greens with a wonderful bright vinaigrette
Paired with:

White
2008 Fausse Piste C'est la Viognier Outlook Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
Floral jasmine, pineapple, verbena, tropical fruits and wet stone aromatics co-mingle with slate and field greens. Stony minerality, apricots, bright apple, rich floral characters abound. Impeccably balanced, a petal soft mouth feel with a lingering finish. This paired extremely well bringing out the best of both trout dishes.
If scoring: 92+
White
2007 Martin Arndorfer Grüner Veltliner die Leidenschaft Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal
Lovely vegetal aromatics, saline, a web of fruit and minerals on the nose. Fruity, pears, vanilla and honey fill the mid-palate which is somewhat drying. Faded all too quickly for my preference, I wanted it to sojourn for a while longer. Paired well with both trout dishes, but didn't enhance either the same way the Fausse Piste Viognier did so effortlessly.
If scoring: 88

Flight 3 - Course 3: Wild Boar (2 notes)

Smoked Wild boar ribs served over pan seared greens served with roasted hazelnuts , fresh local figs and caramelized onions with a pan seared dressing.
Paired with:

Red
2010 Fausse Piste Grenache Outlook Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Full of caramelized and candied red fruit, ripe blueberries and river rock on the nose. Flavors of ripe red fruit, bright acids, asphalt and allspice. A fleshy wine with a lot of new world varietal characteristics showing it's youthfulness with a nimble mid-palate. With time (1-2+ years?), this should fill in quite nicely with great potential. Enough acid to cut through the wild boar and candied flavors complimented the perfectly ripe figs.
(Wine was just released)
If scoring, 88 with 90+ potential
Red
2009 Dupéré Barrera Côtes de Provence Clos de la Procure France, Provence, Côtes de Provence
Perfect dose of barnyard, slate, smoked leather and spiced aromatics paid homage to flavors of earth, chewy cherry and spices. Powerful depth, smoked wood and rustic qualities only enhanced the wild boar course. Another interesting & insightfully chosen wine by Michael.
If scoring: 91+

Flight 4 - Course 4: Kobe Beuf Bourguignon (2 notes)

Kobe Beef braised for hours in it's own juices with wine. Served with "gnocchi"- the term doesn't do this dumpling justice (pillows of heaven since I can't recall Jesse's name for this dish) in a rich braising liquid jus with aromatic chanterelles.
Paired with:

Red
2009 Fausse Piste Syrah Riverrock Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Austere and smoky aromatics fill the glass with light plum and true crushed rocks. The palate was ultra creamy, brambleberry, hints of rose petals, caramel and pure balance of acidity, minerality and a weighty mouth feel on the sleek-marathon finish. As young as this was, it was still difficult to put the glass down to try with the beef, chanterelles & creamy dumpling course; but a great union it was. This was my favorite FP wine of the night, so happy I have some laying down. Try next 2015++
If scoring: 93 with potential for more.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 Psi Ribera del Duero Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Scents of smoke, thistle, brambly, black fruit and forest green in the nose. Rustic and charming flavors with red cherry, anise, loam and substantial weight on the palate. This was decanted for several hours prior to tasting and paired equally well with the beef dish (as the Fausse Piste Riverrock Syrah). Excellent counter choice for this course. This was my favorite of Michael's "wine of the world" of the evening.
If scoring: 92+

Flight 5 - Dessert: Chocolate Tart with Boysenberry Ice Cream (2 notes)

Chewy dark-Chocolate Tart with house made local boysenberry ice cream with a boysenberry preserve reduction. Tart was so dense, rich with a pudding like center surrounded by a brownie crunch exterior.
Paired with:

Red - Sweet/Dessert
2010 Fausse Piste Grenache Post Feast USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
With an initial nose of saline, vegetal and red caramelized fruits it teases the palate with a drop of lively acidity, big chewy black cherry and a great balance with the dense chewy chocolate dessert.
If scoring: 88. NYR-Barrel sample (projected release 2014-2015)
Red - Sparkling
2007 Braida (Giacomo Bologna) Brachetto d'Acqui Italy, Piedmont, Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG
Fortified on the nose with ripe fruit and briny qualities. Palate of tangy stewed fruits and dose of acidity to maintain balance. Not overly sweet with the dense dark chocolate tart. The initial effervescence was pure enjoyment. Pleasure and intrigue this was the perfect finish to an epic wine dinner.
If scoring: 88
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