Sausage Friday

Mick was on his own Friday as Amy was in Chicago for a business meeting, so he invited Kathy and I for dinner. The menu for the evening was Caesar salad to start, and BBQ’d sausage, roasted potatoes, and a tomato and feta salad for the main course. I was to provide the wine to go with the Caesar to start.

"Cold wine + Hot day = Good times"

I was going to go with a bottle of Louis Jadot “Bourgogne” as I have found that to be a good pairing with Caesar salad, but decided I wanted to try something new. I chose a La Chablisienne Chablis Vielles Vignes instead.

Here is the LCBO information -

La Chablisienne Chablis Vielles Vignes
Vintages# 942243
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 24.95
Wine, White Wine,
12.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD
Made in: Burgundy, France
By: La Chablisienne C/O Bcb Export
Release Date: May 10, 2008

Description - Vieilles Vignes, or Old Vines, yield less fruit but the quality is much higher than that of younger vines. This intense Chardonnay is consistently excellent with aromas of sweet apple, chalk and citrus. This classic Chablis is dry and steely with a long, crisp finish. It would pair equally well with oysters on the half shell or double cream brie.

The Chablis on its own was quite nice, crisp and refreshing. The LCBO description above on the aroma (sweet apple, chalk and citrus) was right on the money. The sweet apple was extremely noticeable with the chalk and citrus being there in the background.

The wine with the Caesar salad was ok but was occasionally giving off a sharp taste (the Louis Jadot is a better pairing). After the salad was done, I did find myself sipping the rest of the wine and enjoying the experience. This wine is a funny one for me, I liked it quite a bit but it didn’t blow me away. So I’m not sure if I going to rush out and replace the bottle immediately.

"No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!" Miles Raymond from movie Sideways.

For dinner Mick picked out a 2003 Franciscan Napa Valley Merlot which he purchased in the US on special for about $15 a bottle. I was surprised to see that the LCBO had a listing for it –

Franciscan Merlot
Vintages# 67793
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 29.95
Wine, Red Wine,
13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Icon Estates
Release Date: N/A

But the LCBO is showing no stock and usually there is a description write-up that describes the wine. I’m guessing that this may have been a special order for someone and that they never had any publically available.

I found the Franciscan Merlot had a strong berry aroma and was very approachable. It was a decent match for all the different types (Italian, Honey/garlic, English bangers) sausages Mick had cooked up. This wine reminded me of the Chablis earlier, easy drinking, enjoyable but also forgettable.

The Wine Spectator had this to say about it -

Franciscan Oakville Estate Merlot Napa Valley 2003

Rating - 83, Price - $22

Tight and compact, with a narrow range of earthy currant, lead pencil and cedary tannins. Decant. Drink now. 65,000 cases made. –JL

For dessert Mick had picked up a Chocolate Truffle cake. My wife quickly informed us that the Merlot and the cake didn’t go together well at all. With that advice, I finished my wine before starting in on the cake.

Cheers!

Mark