Saturday Night – Blackout Dinner – Part 1

Every year at this time Mick, Amy, Kathy and I get together to remember the power grid failure of 2003. Rather then go into the details again about how this annual event got started I will just provide a link to last year’s dinner –

http://zippysauce.blogspot.com/2008/08/saturday-night-noahs-ark-edition.html

The important details about this event is we have NY Strips, Zippy Sauce, Corn and 1998 California Cabernet Sauvignon.

"So, what is everyone else eating? :)"

Mick did grilled lobster tails as the starter for the evening and paired it with a Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay.

The nose of the KJ was a pleasing mix of wet stone, pineapple, tropical fruit, honey and nutmeg. Tasting this wine on its own was a real treat; it was well oaked but the crisp acidity balanced out the wine nicely. A rich vanilla flavour tempered with green apple and pineapple were the dominate flavours to this Chardonnay. The issue I have with the KJ Grand Reserve is I have found that it is usually better on its own then with food. This was the case this evening; on its own it was exceptional but with the lobster you got an odd bitter flavour at times. Its cheaper cousin, the KJ Vintner’s Reserve, is the opposite as it tends to be better with food than on its own. So if you are planning on killing a day drinking wine on the back deck go with the Grand Reserve if not stay with the Vintner’s Reserve.

"Actual portion size..."

Here is the group rating for the wine -Mick - 89, Mark - 89, Kathy – 92, Amy - 90, Overall – 90

Mick picked this up in the US and got a real deal on it as it was $10 US (about $17 Cdn after duty, taxes and exchange), usually the KJ Grand Reserve will be in the $15 to $18 range.

"Great on its own!"

Here is the LCBO information on this wine –

KENDALL-JACKSON GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2006

Vintages 59576
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 29.95
Wine, White Wine,
12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Kendall-Jackson
Release Date: Jul 4, 2009

Tasting Note - The 2006 Grand Reserve Chardonnay, which is aged 8 months in a combination of French and American oak, and put through malolactic fermentation is a cross-appellation blend of 55% from Monterey and 45% from Santa Barbara. Gorgeous tropical fruits, pineapple in particular, as well as honeysuckle and some floral notes jump from the glass of this pure, rich wine that exhibits subtle oak but is dominated by its fruit. It's a beauty that should drink nicely for several years... Score - 90. (Robert Parker Jr., www.erobertparker.com, Aug. 2008)

Click here for Part 2