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Dinner w/Brad & Maggie
Eleven Madison Park
Tasted April 21, 2018 by MC2 Wines with 283 views
Introduction
This is becoming a bit of a tradition for Brad and Maggie to do a joint dinner in NYC. We went the first year at EMP and have missed the last few because of conflicts. Able to make it again this year when it returns to the original site.
Flight 1 - Passed hors d'oeuvres & bubbles (1 note)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Ulysse Collin Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Roises
Nice way to start the dinner. I always feel like these champagnes are a bit on the tart and high acidity side. I sometimes wonder if they are champagnes that really need a bit more time in bottle to settle in, but they are quite delicious and never seem to get that extra time with us. Paired very well with a number of small bites includes little foie gras and some gougeres (the cheese puffs).
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Flight 2 - SPRING GREENS (1 note)
With Garbanzo Beans and Tarragon
White
2010 Didier Dagueneau Sancerre Le Mont Damné
From a magnum. A really lovely wine from this producer. It's the almost honey-like characteristic of this grape which I tend to prefer over the overly grassy form. And a touch of green, but not overdone. Amazingly enough went really well with some slightly bitter greens in salad form. I expected that to be a tough pairing and instead felt like the wine almost stepped up and the sweetness came out a bit more.
Flight 3 - LOBSTER (1 note)
Butter-Poached with Citrus, Dandelion Greens, and Ginger
White
2011 Antica Terra Chardonnay Aurata
From a very small pour. I guess perhaps synchroncity that they almost ran out of the wine by the time they got to me, but on the upside I am not the biggest chardonnay drinker and so it was ok. This was the right amount to just get a hint of the flavor. Lovely acidity. There's some great complexity to this wine. It's not exactly my cup of tea, but I was really impressed with it. Maggie makes some pretty special wines and it was fun to hear Brad's tribute.
Flight 4 - CHICKEN (2 notes)
Roasted with Rhubarb, Daikon, and Onion
Red
1985 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Reserve
A bonus bottle mostly because one bottle of the Pignan of the same year was not quite right. This is a great wine and perhaps if not sitting right next to the Pignan would have stood out. As it was, could tell that this was a very tasty, but missing that next step of layers and complexity. There's still the lightness I like though from these and bit of a more herbal nature.
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Red
1985 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan Reserve
This could easily have been my WOTN so it was sad to get such a small pour (1 bottle split among 24 ppl). The wine just kept going on and on and it was different every time I came back for a little sip. Very herbal with tea leaves and a lightness of fruit and it was just delicious.
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Flight 5 - SPRING LAMB (1 note)
Roasted with Fava Bean Relish and Mint
Red
1984 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow
Really in an awesome spot right now. This is why Napa needs to remember how to make wine that ages. Because this was just so good tonight. It's licorice and lavendar and maybe a hint of soy and just a touch of fruit in the background. It's a wine that is maybe just now hitting the right drinking window, but so fresh and lovely that it has many more years to go. Very good.
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Comments (2)
Flight 6 - BEEF (1 note)
Roasted with Asparagus, Smoked Potatoes, and Black Truffle
Red
2006 Abreu Thorevilos
This is a wine that is really going to be something, and is not really ready yet (esp as we had it on the heels of some wine with some lovely age). The food softens some of the edges (a very nice truffle filet), but still there's just a hint more alcohol that I'd love to see blow off a bit. It's got great structure and all of the stuffing and perhaps even with a bit of a decant could be in a lovely spot. Very tasty.
Flight 7 - MILK AND HONEY (1 note)
Honey Shortbread with Brittle and Milk Ice Cream
Red - Sweet/Dessert
1983 Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Gran Riserva
A very lovely wine although a bit hard to see the 98 score. It's a lovely end of evening sipper and I enjoyed the bit more body that the raisin and red gives to it. A touch hot. Not quite into the layered complexity and perhaps coming off of the '06 Abreu which was a real mouthful it suffered a bit. But still a nice wine.
Closing
WOTN prob the Pignan although didn't get a ton with it. Also really enjoyed the Gravelly Meadow. Brad and Maggie's wines both very well done although I think Brad's was a bit too young and Maggie's a chardonnay which doesn't always speak to me. Still, nice wine and nice food and great company.