Saturday Night – Shrimpageddon – Part 3

Click here for Part 1

The final shrimp course of the evening was a baked shrimp dish with feta and diced tomatoes. Mick paired this with a 2007 D’Arenberg Hermit Crab Viognier.

"Good but missing something..."

The nose on the wine moderate with aromas of honey, grass and pine. There is an oiliness that Mick and I always enjoy but I think it puts the ladies off a bit. The wine had a vanilla flavour that dominated the wine. The acidity on the wine was decent and between that and the oiliness gives the wine a full rounded mouth feel. It was a good pairing with the dish as it contrasted nicely against it.

"Wonderful wine!"

Here is the group rating for the wine -Mick – 89, Mark – 89, Kathy – 85, Amy – 86, Overall – 87.25.

Here is the LCBO information for this wine –

D'Arenberg "The Hermit Crab" Viognier/Marsanne 2008

Vintages 662775
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 17.95
Wine, White Wine
13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: South Australia, Australia
By: D'Arenberg Wines
Release Date: Jan 23, 2010

Tasting Note - (a 72/28 blend) Light, bright gold. Pungent aromas of tangerine, poached pear and floral honey over a subtle underpinning of minerals. Supple, gently sweet orchard fruit and melon flavors are firmed by a citrus zest quality and pick up an exotic floral note on the back end. This juicy, fruit-driven wine will work well with spicy foods. Score - 89. (Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, July/Aug. 2009)

* Note – this LCBO listing is for the 2008 and not the 2007 reviewed here.

The baked shrimp was probably the weakest of the three new recipes but it was pretty good, it just seemed to be missing a certain something to make stand out and ‘wow’ you.

It was great trying three completely new recipes and a couple of new wines. I’d like to thank Mick and Amy for hosting this week.

Cheers!

Mark