Saturday Night – Back to Normal – Part 1

Sorry the Blog is so late but it has been very busy recently. This past Saturday, Kathy and I were at Mick and Amy’s for our usual Saturday night dinner. For the past 7 months I have been the one doing the cooking to reciprocate for Mick doing 7 months worth of Saturday night dinners while we were under renovations. August was the break even month so now we are back to alternating Saturday nights. This was Mick’s first Saturday night back into the rotation and you can just tell by the menu that he was getting all of his pent up cooking desires out.

"Spicy shrimp and I do mean spicy!"

The first course was a couple of old favourites – Spicy Shrimp with Fresh Mint Sauce paired with a 2003 Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc.

"It'll get you drunk and shit!"

The nose on the 2003 Fumé was extremely faint and took a bit of glass swirling to find the aromas of wet stone, pink grapefruit and citrus. The initial softness of the wine when you first taste it is quickly replaced by a harshness on the mid-palate and the wine ended on a nice crisp note. The flavours dominating the wine are citrus (grapefruit), vanilla and a touch of tropical fruit. This wine was a very good pairing with the shrimp and is exceptionally good at neutralizing the burn of the spicy shrimp. The wine’s 14% alcohol content with just shrimp to soak up all that alcohol hits you like a brick. Both Mick and I were laughing after we’d finished the Fumé Blanc that we felt like we were 3 bottles into the meal.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick - 87, Mark - 88, Kathy - 86, Amy -86, Overall – 86.75

Here is the LCBO information for the wine –

ROBERT MONDAVI FUMÉ BLANC 2007

VINTAGES 221887
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 22.95
Wine, White Wine,
14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Constellation Wines U S
Release Date: Jul 4, 2009

Description - Over 40 years after Robert Mondavi created his lightly oaked Sauvignon Blanc, the Fumé Blanc is as charming as ever - showing aromas of kiwi, dried grasses and hay, plus a nice layer of oak. The wine has a refreshing core of acidity and a plush mouthfeel, and culminates in a long, crisp finish. A great partner for baked snapper or grilled salmon served up with summer salads.

*Note the LCBO notes above are for the 2007 and not the 2003 we reviewed.

It was good to have Spicy Shrimp again. This appetizer was missed so much that they we be on the menu for next Saturday’s dinner.

Click here for Part 2