Saturday Night – The Devil’s in the Details – Part 2

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For the main course Mick did Devil’s Club Mussels which were a steamed mussel recipe with lobster, bacon, tomato and leeks in a light sauce. Mick served them with fresh sliced baguette. He paired this course with a 2007 Chateau St. Jean “Robert Young Vineyard” Chardonnay.

"Devil's Club Mussels"

Nosing the wine, you’ll find aromas of butter, honey, vanilla, caramel and mango. Tasting the wine, I quickly realized why the Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc didn’t have any oak, as this wine had stolen every piece on oak on the planet. The balance to the wine on the other hand was very nice, good acidity and tannins giving it a lovely rounded mouth-feel. I also enjoyed the lingering finish this wine had to it. I liked the wine with the food as the food toned the oak but still found it too much on its own.

"Perfect tool for soaking up mouth-watering sauce"

Here is the group rating for the wine – Mick - 88, Mark - 87, Kathy – 83, Amy – 86, Overall – 86.

"Oaky but great with the food"

Here is the LCBO information on the wine -

CHATEAU ST. JEAN ROBERT YOUNG VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2007

VINTAGES 990499
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 31.95
Wine, White Wine
14.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Foster'S Wine Estates Americas
Release Date: Jun 26, 2010

Tasting Note- The 2007 Chardonnay Robert Young Vineyard is a non-malolactic effort they have been producing for thirty years. With the malolactic blocked, it is tighter-knit than the Belle Terre, offering hints of white citrus and quince, a steely character, and lots of minerality and crispness. The acids are slightly higher than those in the Belle Terre, but the Robert Young offers impressive levels of concentration and rich fruit. As the wine sits in the glass, a note of white peach also emerges. This cuvee will benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age, and should keep for 6-7 years. Drink: 2011-2018. Score - 90. (Robert Parker Jr., www.erobertparker.com, Feb. 2010)

"So many calories, so little time"

I wasn’t aware of the $32 price point when I did my rating. Mick and I do tend to put price in the equation for ratings whereas the ladies do not. I figured this was a $20 or so Chardonnay when I came to my rating and if I knew it was a $32 bottle I probably would have knocked of a couple of points as at that price point I would take the Beringer’s Napa Valley Chardonnay or the Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay over this wine. On the upside, you don’t know until try and it was fun trying this wine out.

For dessert Amy picked up a decadent Truffle Royale cake for dessert.

I’d like to Mick and Amy for hosting and Mick especially for all his hard work with the food.

Cheers!

Mark