Saturday Night – Just a Quickie

December is always a busy time for me at work and with the holidays so on the Saturday before Christmas I really wasn’t in the mood to do a lot of work dinner-wise. To make things simple we just ordered in some takeout Sushi from Spring Sushi for our usual Mick and Amy Saturday night dinner. This worked out well as I had a new Champagne in the fridge that I wanted to try out and Champagne and Sushi pair very well together. The Champagne was a JM Gobillard & Fils (non-vintage).

 

The nose on the Champagne was powerful and easy to find with aromas of yeast, sage and cedar. Tasting the wine tart grapefruit was the dominant flavour. The taste changed though with the Sushi and it was more of a very nice Mandarin orange/orange liqueur flavour. The structure was good but acidity was a touch harsh at times and finish didn’t linger for long. I really didn’t like this Champagne on its own but it was exceptionally good with the Sushi. It was also a simple and straight forward Champagne without much complexity.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 87, Mark – 87, Kathy – 86, Amy – 85, Overall – 86.25.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Gobillard & Fils Tradition Brut Champagne

VINTAGES#: 385807  
Price : $42.95
Release Date : September 13, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol 12.5%
Made in: Champagne, France
By: Champagne Jm Gobillard & Fils
Sugar Content:11 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor : XD - Extra Dry
Style: Rich & Complex
Varietal : Champagne

Description - Tightly meshed and vibrant, with juicy acidity backing hints of pineapple and papaya, showing flavors of chalk, biscuit, plum and fresh ginger. A note of zesty spice graces the fresh, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2016. Score - 90. (Alison Napjus, winespectator.com, Nov. 30, 2013)

At $43 dollars this Champagne is at the lower end of the price point. I’m a bit torn on recommending this one as it wasn’t great on its own but if you wanted it to go with Sushi I would certainly recommend that you pick up a bottle.

I’d like to wish my loyal two or three readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Mark.

Saturday Night – Pulled Pork and other goodies

Mick and Amy were hosting this past Saturday night’s dinner.  For the first course Mick had a new recipe on tap for us to try – grilled pear and blue cheese bruschetta.  Mick paired this course with a 2012 Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc.

 

The nose on the wine was mild as you needed to swirl the glass to get much off of it but you were rewarded with pleasant aromas of pear, Irish Spring soap, mushroom and vanilla.  Tasting the wine it starts pear and finishes with a pink grapefruit flavour with hints of vanilla throughout.  Structure wise the wine was a bit of an odd duck, as it starts very soft but then just after the midway point there is a a real bite to it.  The balance was decent as the acidity was good but I’m not a fan of the oak being added to this wine.  I liked it as a pairing but found that at times it was getting lost against the powerful flavours of the dish.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 87, Mark – 86, Kathy – 86, Amy – 87, Overall – 86.5.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2012
VINTAGES#: 707224  
Price: $41.95
Release Date: June 21, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol14.0%
Made in: California, USA
By: Kobrand Corporation
Sugar Content:2 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Aromatic & Flavourful
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc Blend

Description - The 2012 Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc brings wonderful aromas of fresh cut grass, citrus, herbal notes and melon. I love the vibrancy and freshness along with the racy finish. Fermented in a combination of stainless steel and French oak, then aged in mature French oak barrels for 5 months. (Best 2013-2015) Score - 90. (internationalwinereport.com, June 2013)

Mick picked this wine up in the US and didn’t have to pay duty on it which is good because at a $42 CDN bottle price point this wine certainly isn’t a good deal.  The grilled pear and blue cheese bruschetta was very tasting especially as it was topped with crispy prosciutto. 

For the main course Mick did pulled pork, smoked macaroni and cheese and homemade coleslaw and gave us a choice of so many BBQ sauces it wasn’t funny.  He paired this with a 2011 Ben Marco Malbec.  We have reviewed this wine before so I won’t go into much detail other than to say it was a great pairing with the main course.

For dessert, Amy picked up a selection of cupcakes which was a nice way to end the evening.

Thanks to Mick and Amy for hosting and to Mick for all of his hard work in making some very yummy food dishes.

Cheers!

Mark

Saturday Night – Steak, steak and more steak – Part 2

Click here for Part 1

 

The main course was beef tenderloin topped with lobster, sugar snap peas and Béarnaise sauce with a side of baby potatoes.  I paired this course with a 2005 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

The nose was a pleasing mix of cassis, blackberry, pine tree, cinnamon, eucalyptus, pencil shavings, vanilla and lavender.  The nose was actually very cool as strength of each of those aromas changed as the wine opened up.  Tasting the wine the cassis and blackberry carried through to the flavour with a sprinkling of dark chocolate in the background.  This was one of the most perfectly balanced and smoothest wines I have ever tried; the tannin was silky and smooth, the acidity was high enough to be refreshing but not in your face and the alcohol didn’t overpower the wine.   As a paring for the main course it was amazing and it was just as good on its own.  My only regret I have with this wine is that I only had one bottle of it the on the rack.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 92, Mark – 92, Kathy – 91, Amy – 91, Overall – 91.5

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
VINTAGES#: 718452
Price : $59.95
Release Date: September 13, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol14.5%
Made in: California, USA
By:Chateau Montelena
Sugar Content:6 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry
Style: Full-bodied & Smooth
Varietal: Cabernet/Merlot

Description- A child of the cool 2011 vintage, this Cab will be lively and fresh with excellent acidity, dominant red fruit flavours and great structure. A nice mix of New World presence and refined, Old World sensibility from one of the legendary producers who made history at the 1976 Paris tasting.
*Please note that this is for the 2011 vintage and not the 2005 reviewed here.

The 91.5 overall rating puts this wine into the Zippy Sauce Top Ten Reds and it very much deserves to be there.  I’m a little shocked at the $60 price point as I would have guessed by the quality of this wine that the price should easily be double that. 

For dessert I made up a batch of Reese’s Fudge and the Chateau Montelena worked nicely with that as well. 

Fun night, though maybe a touch too much food but oh well that is what Saturday nights are about.

Cheers!

Mark

Saturday Night – Steak, steak and more steak – Part 1

This past Saturday night I had a craving for steak so my starter and my main course were both steak based courses.  The first course was a blackened steak salad and I paired this with a 2005 Elderton Barossa Shiraz.

 

The nose on the wine had a lot going on with Black Forest cake, white pepper, mint, thyme, green pepper and coffee aromas to be found.  Tasting the wine, raspberry, fig, pepper and coffee were the main flavours with black licorice on the finish.  It was nicely balancing though the acidity was more dominant than the tannin.  The wine had a very Italian feel to it as the fruit and acidity drove this wine and it reminded me more of a Chianti than a Shiraz.  There were a lot of big flavours coming from the blacked steak salad and this wine was more than big enough to stand up to them and it made a great pairing for the dish.  The wine was also quite good on its own as I very much enjoyed drinking it after the first course was done.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 91, Mark – 90, Kathy – 90, Amy – 89, Overall – 90.

There was no LCBO information on the wine but a quick web search puts the price at $30-35 Canadian which for a wine of this caliber is a heck of deal.  I’m usually not a big Shiraz fan but a few more like this one and I will be changing my tune on this.

Click here for Part 2

Saturday Night – It’s now Merlot Night

Mick and Amy were hosting this past Saturday night dinner.  Mick had one new dish and two old favourites on tap and a new wine for us to try.  He originally had a 2011 Eidosela Albarino on tap for us but the bottle was spoiled.  As he didn’t have another suitable white chilled and ready to go, we went with a 2012 Irony Napa Valley Merlot.

 

The first course was grilled stuff peppers and the second course was grilled prosciutto wrapped shrimp with a pear and cranberry chutney. With both courses we had the Irony Merlot.

The nose on the Merlot was big and easy to find with rich aromas of pumpkin pie, cocoa, plum, eucalyptus and green pepper notes.  Tasting the wine, dark raspberry and chocolate were the dominate flavours with a touch of white pepper lurking in the background.  The structure on the wine was a nice balance between acidity and tannin but I would have liked a bit more fruit.  The finish was short and didn’t linger.  The mouth-feel was interesting as it was big but in a slightly syrupy way; kind of an “Amarone light” type of way.  It was a very good pairing with the stuffed peppers and decent pairing with the shrimp which was impressive as I thought the sweetness of the chutney would throw it but it handled that with no problems.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 88, Mark – 89, Kathy – 88, Amy – 89, Overall – 88.5.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Irony Merlot
VINTAGES#: 183186
Price: $19.95
Release Date: April 18, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol14.5%
Made in:California, USA
By: Delicato Vineyards
Sugar Content:7 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry
Style: Full-bodied & Smooth
Varietal: Merlot

For $20 this wine was a good value and there still is some stock around, so if you are looking for a nicely crafted Merlot that is very food friendly, I would suggest you pick up a bottle or two.

 

The main course was grilled chicken quesadillas with sour cream and corn salsa.  Mick paired this with a 2010 Seghesio Zinfandel which we have reviewed before so I won’t go into much detail other than to say it was a great pairing with the food. 

 

For dessert, Amy picked up a Baker’s Street milk chocolate brown sugar cake which was quite good and a nice change of pace from our usual selections of dessert.

 

It was good night with great food and wine and even better company.  Thanks to Mick and Amy for hosting and to Mick for all his hard work making those wonderful courses.

 

Cheers!

 

Mark

Saturday Night – Dinner goes South – Part 2

Click here for Part 1

 

The other wine we had with the main course was a 2011 Duckhorn Merlot.

 

 

The nose on this wine was mild and you had to do a bit of glass swirling to find the soapy, cherry, almond and pine needle aromas.  Tasting the wine, cherry, black licorice and menthol were the main flavours.  The structure on this wine was stunning as it was a perfect balance between acidity, tannin and alcohol with none of them overpowering the other.  The finish lingered though not as long as the Franciscan did.  The wine was so smooth that I would be very tempted to serve this to a non-red wine drinker as this might be the wine that converts them.  It was super easy to drink on its own and a great pairing the main course as it had no problem handling all the different flavours of the dish.  This wine is very food friendly; Mick joked that you could pair this with breakfast cereal and it would still be a good pairing and I can’t argue that point.

 

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 89, Mark – 91, Kathy – 90, Amy – 88, Overall – 89.5.

 

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Duckhorn Merlot 2011 Merlot Blend
VINTAGES#: 992529
Price: $59.95
Release Date: September 13, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol14.5%
Made in: California, USA
By: Duckhorn Vineyards
Sugar Content:5 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry
Style: Full-bodied & Smooth
Varietal: Merlot Blend

Description - Very deep and very well-focused with a wealth of healthy, fully ripe, cherryish fruit with nicely integrated elements of toasted herbs and creamy oak providing added interest, this very solid Merlot impresses for both its definition and depth and claims a certain sense of sophistication that is reaffirmed by its polished feel and careful balance. Its seamless construction and outgoing fruit make it hard [to] resist even now, but we would much rather wait for the complexity and extra range that a few years in the cellar are certain to bring. Score - 90. (Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines, April 2014).

For dessert I picked up a Pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing.  The dessert was a nice change of pace and very seasonal but not sure if I’d go out and buy another one.

It was nice to have Glenn join us for this Saturday night dinner and I’m already looking forward to next Saturday.

Cheers!

Mark

Saturday Night – Dinner goes South – Part 1

It was my turn to host this past Saturday night’s dinner and we had an extra guest attending, my father-in-law Glenn.  My mother-in-law was away for the weekend so we added Glenn to our guest list.  I wanted to do something different for dinner and decided to do a mixed grill with a Southern theme.

 

For the first course I went with a blue cheese and bacon dip with crackers and paired this with a bottle of Roederer Champagne.  We have reviewed the Roederer before so I won’t be reviewing it again.

For the main course I did grilled Chorizo sausages, grilled shrimp with cilantro with a chipotle dipping sauce, grilled Chimichurri steak and a side salad with grilled corn, black beans, onions, tomatoes with a tangerine and lime dressing.  I paired this with a 2011 Duckhorn Merlot and a 2008 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Merlot.

I will review the Franciscan Estate Merlot first.

The nose was big and easy to find with aromas of raspberry, cedar and mushroom as the main ones with plum, green pepper and nutmeg in the background.  Tasting the wine, dark chocolate and plum were the dominate flavours with clove and coffee as the secondary ones.  The structure was nice with good acidity and soft smooth tannin and a finish that lingered.  The wine had a thin mouth-feel which was ok but I prefer a more meaty/full one on a Merlot.  As the chocolate flavour was the most powerful and not the fruit, the wine reminded me more of a French Merlot than a California one.  It was a good pairing with the food and was also good on its own (though maybe a touch dry at times).

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 87, Mark – 88, Kathy – 89, Amy – 86, Overall – 87.5.

This was purchased at the LCBO but it was about a year ago or so and they are no longer listing it or any other Franciscan Merlots.  The price point on it was $28 which is a fair to decent price for this wine.

Click here for Part 2

Saturday Night – Mick gets Sweet and Spicy – Part 2

Click here for Part 1

 

For the main course, Mick did Pizza Margherita and he paired this with a 2011 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale.

 

The nose on the wine was dominated by cherry with menthol being a close second and black pepper, tobacco, sage and vanilla lurking in the background.  Tasting the wine, strawberries with a squeeze of lemon were the main flavours.  The structure was what you’d expect from a good Chianti, fresh acidity driving the wine with some soft fine tannin in the background.  The finish came across with a sour cherry flavour and lingered for quite a bit.  The wine was a lovely pairing with the food but it came across very dry and chalky on its own; this is definitely a food wine.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 88, Mark – 88, Kathy – 87, Amy – 87, Overall – 87.5.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale DOCG Chianti
LCBO#: 45195 
Price : On sale currently for $22.45, regular price $24.95
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol. 13.0%
Made in: Tuscany, Italy
By: Ruffino S.R.L.
Sugar Content:4 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity
Varietal: Chianti

Description - Bright ruby colour; cherry, plum, spice, and leather notes on the nose; dry, medium to full bodied, tart cherry and plum flavours with hints of cedar, firm, tannins and a long spicy finish.

Mick has done the Pizza Margherita but this time he changed up the sauce and it was amazing; the tomatoes had a nice sweetness to them and he added some hot sauce it which gave the dish a subtle burn which balanced with the sweetness to perfection.  This dish was perfect and had me dreaming about it the next day.

For dessert Mick did up and cheese tray and Amy picked up a Milky Way Cake, so there were plenty of tasty options for everyone to try.

Thanks to Mick and Amy for hosting and to Mick for all his hard work making those wonderful dishes.

Cheers!

Mark

Saturday Night – Mick gets Sweet and Spicy – Part 1

Mick and Amy were hosting this past Saturday night’s dinner and Mick had a new dish and a couple of new wines for us to try.

 

The first course was the new recipe – grilled baby artichokes with crab dip. Mick paired this with a 2010 Genesis "Columbia Valley" unoaked Chardonnay.

The nose was pleasant with rose, lime and thyme aromas. Tasting the wine, white grapefruit was the dominate flavour with smoke, mineral and thyme flavours in the background. The acidity was racy but the mid-palate had a bite that came across a touch harsh at times. It was an OK pairing but it got a bit funky at times with the artichokes. The wine was decent on its own. If I had to guess at a good pairing for this wine, I’d lean towards a French onion soup.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 87, Mark – 86, Kathy – 86, Amy – 86, Overall – 86.25.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Genesis Chardonnay 2010 Chardonnay

VINTAGES#: 327916  
Price : $15.75
Release Date: August 3, 2013
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol13.3%
Made in: Washington State, USA
By: The Hogue Cellars
Sugar Content:4 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Light & Crisp
Varietal: Chardonnay

Description - Speaking of genesis, this is the first incarnation of this wine we've carried at VINTAGES. Combines sleek racy brilliance with a bit of oomph, bringing good flavour concentration of fresh yellow apple, citrus, vanilla and roasted nuts while maintaining its pleasant lightness. Grill up some chicken thighs or pork chops, kick back, pour a glass of this Chardonnay and survey the scene, and you'll see that it is good. (VINTAGES panel, July 2012)

The baby artichokes and crab dip were quite yummy and I hope Mick will do them again soon.

Click here for Part 2

Saturday Night – A Hot Hand in the Kitchen

It was my turn to host and my menu had already been decided weeks ago.  After we tried the 2007 Ambullneo Chardonnay and loved it, Mick and I decided we’d have to get more and have it with a Wolfgang Puck’s Alfredo recipe.  As this recipe is extremely filling so I did not to do an appetizer but did decide to do a side of garlic bread with it.  When I bought the Ambullneo a few months ago I also bought a 2011 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Chardonnay and thought we have a little head-to-head competition.

 

We are just reviewing the 2011 Smith-Madrone as we reviewed the Ambullneo very recently we will not being reviewing that one again; I will add though, that the Ambullneo was an exceptional pairing with the Alfredo.

The nose on the wine was a lovely mix of butterscotch, vanilla, wet stone, tropical fruit and floral notes.  Tasting the wine, butterscotch is a main flavour with a strong hit of lime on the finish with some pineapple and orange zest in the background.  The wine came across as very fresh as the acidity was crisp and vibrant and the finish lingered forever.  The wine was very good on its own but was a miss as a pairing for the Alfredo as it developed an odd bite with it.  I think pairing this with shrimp cocktail or scallops with lime would be a real winner.  I liked that the wine had a very unique character but it was certainly overshadowed by the Ambullneo in our head to head competition.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 89, Mark – 89, Kathy – 87, Amy – 88, Overall – 88.25.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Smith-Madrone Chardonnay 2011
VINTAGES#: 363556
Price : $39.95
Release Date: June 7, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol14.2%
Made in: California, USA
By: Smith Madrone
Sugar Content:5 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Full-bodied & Rich
Varietal: Chardonnay

Description - Moderate golden yellow color and clear in the glass. This wine is about the soil and uniquely reflects the terroir. The nose is replete with aromas of iron, paraffin, peach and citrus. Crisp and bright on the palate, with layered flavors of lemon, green apple, spice, and iron. Beautifully balanced with a remarkably long finish for a Chardonnay. This wine can be cellared for several years, but drinks beautifully now. Score - 93. (Rusty Gaffney, princeofpinot.com, Feb. 22, 2014)

The “Hot Hand in the Kitchen” title for this Blog was a little tongue-in-cheek humour as it wasn’t due to my skill in the kitchen but due to me trying to do things too fast and pouring about half a ladle of very hot Alfredo sauce over my hand as I was serving up.
For dessert I made Reese Chocolate Fudge which was yummy but certainly not a light way to end the evening. 

Fun night (well, minus my burnt hand) and I’m already looking forward to our next Saturday night dinner.

Cheers!

Mark

Saturday Night – The Peppers Strike Back – Part 2

Click here for Part 1

 

The second course was grilled topped peppers which Mick had done at the last dinner he hosted but explained that he was up to his neck in peppers from the garden and needed to use them.  I wasn’t too broken hearted about this as they are quite good.

 

He paired these with a 2012 Robert Mondavi “Napa Valley” Fumé Blanc.

The nose was mild which is normal for this wine with aromas of mint, wet stone, and tropical fruit.  Tasting the wine, grapefruit, lime and vanilla were the dominate flavours to the wine.  The structure was decent but the acidity was softer than previous years of the vintage; this was a minus for me as even though it makes the wine easier drinking, I missed that razor sharp acidity we normally get.  I was decent on its own and as a pairing for the food.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 89, Mark – 85, Kathy – 85, Amy – 86, Overall – 86.25.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc 2012
VINTAGES#: 221887
Price: $20.95
Release Date: August 2, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol 13.9%
Made in: California, USA
By: Constellation Brands Inc.
Sugar Content:2 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Aromatic & Flavourful
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon

Description - This wine has always been a treat to drink and as fine as the 2011 is the 2012 may be even better. The nose is [a] fabulous mix of tropical fruit and stony minerality notes with flecks of nettle, dried herbs and lemon curd. The blend is 87/13 sauvignon blanc/sémillon the latter bringing mouthfeel and figgy/orange rind notes. The balance and texture is near perfect in a wine that is faintly sweet on entry but beautifully dry in the finish. Complex and food friendly it is a marvel for the price. The majority of grapes come from Stags Leap and Oakville districts, and approximately two thirds of the wine is barrel fermented and it's all aged in 60-gallon French oak barrels, sûr lie for some nine months. Score - 90. (Anthony Gismondi, winealign.com, May 12, 2014)

 

The main course of the night was smoked honey Bourbon chicken wings and Mick paired this with a 2009 Seghesio Zinfandel.  We have had this before so I won’t go into much detail other than to say it was very good on its own and with the wings; there is a very good reason why there is a Seghesio Zinfandel in the Top Ten Zippy Sauce Reds.

 

For dessert Amy picked up a chocolate truffle cake which wrapped up the evening nicely.

 

Thanks to Mick and Amy for hosting and to Mick for all his hard work in making three wonderful courses.

 

Cheers!

 

Mark

Saturday Night – The Peppers Strike Back – Part 1

This past Saturday night Mick and Amy were hosting and Mick had one new dish and a couple of favourites on tap for the evening.

 

The first course was grilled prosciutto wrapped curried shrimp and Mick paired this with a 2006 Reichsgraf van Kesselstatt Kabinett Riesling.

The nose was fairly powerful for a Riesling with aromas of buttered popcorn, petrol, peaches and floral notes.  Tasting the wine, canned peaches in syrup and mango were the two main flavours.  The wine was nicely balanced but was slightly cloying and the finish disappeared quickly.  The wine was OK on its own but very good with the shrimp.

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

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Kaseler Nies'chen Riesling Kabinett 2006
VINTAGES#: 940809
Price : $19.95
Release Date: August 16, 2014
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol 9.0%
Made in: Mosel, Germany
By: Reichsgraf Von Kesslerstatt
Sugar Content:46 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Aromatic & Flavourful
Varietal:Riesling

Description - The Kaseler Nies'chen Kabinett has chipped stone and allspice aromas typical of the blue slate soil here. In the mouth, the wine is more like a Spätlese than a Kabinett with a fair degree of sweetness, but good firmness and stoniness and incipient white peach fruit. Drink now or let it age 5+ years. Score - 91. (Claude Kolm, The Fine Wine Review, Issue 120, 2008.

The grilled prosciutto wrapped curried shrimp were nice to have as it has been quite a while since we have had them.

Click here for Part 2

Saturday night - Gooey Goodness – Part 2

Click here for Part 1

 

For the main course I was looking to do something lighter as I thought the Brie French toast would be quite filling and decided on grilled Chicken and Bacon sandwiches with a side of Miss Vickie’s chips for some colour.  I paired this with a 2007 Ambullneo Vineyards ‘Fang Blanc’ Chardonnay.

 

The nose on the this wine was big and easy to fine with aromas of candied pineapple, rose, cedar, tropical fruit and a hint of something medicinal in the background.  Tasting the wine, pineapple, nutmeg, vanilla, mango and pumpkin spice flavours were to be found.  The structure was beautiful, maybe at times a touch hot and oaky but only on odd sips and it had a finish that stayed around forever.  There was a lot going on with this wine as each sip the flavours changed so a different one would rise to the forefront each time.  It was a good pairing with Chicken Sandwiches and even better on its own.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 91, Mark – 91, Kathy – 89, Amy – 90, Overall – 90.25.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

Ambullneo Vineyards Fang Blanc 2007 Chardonnay
VINTAGES#: 357541
Price: $51.25
Release Date: November 23, 2013
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol13.5%
Made in: California, USA
By: Greg Linn Wines
Sugar Content:2 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Full-bodied & Rich
Varietal: Chardonnay

Description - Although the 2007 Ambullneo Vineyards Chardonnay Fang Blanc (100% barrel-fermented) is tightly coiled at present, there is no doubting its terrific potential. Tart acids underlie this light straw-colored wine that offers up notes of honeyed pears, tropical fruits, nectarines, and white peaches. Full-bodied, fresh, and crunchy, it is a total delight to smell and taste. Enjoy it over the next 5-7 years. Score - 94. (Robert Parker Jr., erobertparker.com, Aug. 2010)

The 90.25 Overall rating places this on to the Zippy Sauce Top Ten Whites and I feel it is most deserving of that honour as this is certainly one of the better white wines I have had in a while.  The biggest surprise about this wine was at the end of the meal.  I picked up a La Rocca Caramel salted flan for dessert and had a sip of wine left in my glass and tried it with the dessert and was stunned as it was an amazing pairing with this dessert.  The fact that this wine could be paired with a Chicken/Bacon sandwich with spicy BBQ sauce and a sweet dessert and still be good with both makes it a real winner.

In case anyone is wondering about the Gooey Goodness title, both the Brie French Toast which was oozing cheese and the dessert which was oozing caramel and hence the title for this blog.

Thanks to Mick and Amy for the company as it was another great evening of friends, food and wine.

Cheers!

Mark

Saturday night - Gooey Goodness – Part 1

It was my turn to host this past Saturday night’s dinner and I had three new dishes on tap and two new wines to pair with them. 

 

The first course was Brie stuffed French toast with a garlic, caper, butter and wine dipping sauce. 

The second course was an asparagus and avocado salad.  Both were paired with a 2002 Lanson Gold Label Brut Champagne.

The nose was easy to find with aromas of canned mandarins, Mott’s apple juice, cream, floral notes, nutmeg and lime.  Tasting the wine, a ton of different flavours jump out at you - lime, pumpkin pie, tangerine, caramel and a touch of beer/hops in the background.  The wine was creamy and easy to drink but the acidity was a touch light in my opinion.  The wine though did finish very dry.  It was nice on its own but was a very good pairing with both dishes.  The fact that it worked so well as a pairing for two very different dishes was impressive.

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

 

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

 

Lanson Gold Label Brut Champagne 2002
VINTAGES#: 722520
Price: $65.25
Release Date: December 7, 2013
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol12.5%
Made in: Champagne, France
By: Champagne Lanson Pere & Fils
Sugar Content:13 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry
Style: Rich & Complex
Varietal :Champagne

 

Description - A smoke-tinged powerhouse, with a minerally undertow and firm acidity, offering refined texture and a subtle range of ground spice, ripe plum, whole-grain toast, crystallized honey and candied lemon zest notes. The creamy finish shows a hint of savory fleur de sel. Drink now through 2027. Score - 93. (Alison Napjus, winespectator.com, Dec. 31, 2012)

 

It is not often that all four of us have the same rating, but I think that is a good reflection on this wine; solid, nicely structured, great with food but missing that certain magic to bump into the 90’s. 

The Brie French toast was nice and gooey and a good way to kick of the dinner on a cooler Fall day.  The garlic, caper, butter and wine sauce was the best part as it was rich and decadent.  The asparagus and avocado salad also had mint, lime, olive oil and coarse salt in it and was light and fun and quite frankly was better than I expected it to be.  Of the two courses, the Brie was true winner and I will have to do it again.  The salad was good but I don’t think I will be rushing to make it again, especially as shaving the asparagus was a pain in the butt.

 

Click here for Part 2

Saturday Night – It’s Saturday Night! – Part 3

Click here for Part 1

 

The main course of the evening was a shrimp creole recipe and Mick paired this with a 2012 Charles and Charles Rosé.

 

The nose on the wine was easy to find with big aromas of strawberry, acacia and soap.  Tasting the wine, under ripe strawberry was the main flavour with raspberry and lemon in the background.  The structure was nicely balanced but the wine was a bit odd that it was cloying at one time and then chalky at another.  I’m guessing the different flavour of the food were what caused that cloying/chalky thing to happen.  The wine wasn’t bad on its own but was really good with the food.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 88, Mark – 89, Kathy – 86, Amy – 87, Overall – 87.5.

 

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

 

Charles & Charles Dry Rosé 2012
VINTAGES#: 340521
Price: $13.75
Release Date: July 6, 2013
750 mL bottle
Alcohol/Vol12.9%
Made in:Washington State, USA
By:Sutter Home Winery
Sugar Content:11 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry
Style: Medium-bodied & Dry
Varietal: Rosé – Dry

 

Description - This blend of 81% Syrah, 16% Mourvedre, 2% Cinsault and 1% Grenache offers aromas and flavours of strawberry, cherry and a stony minerality. Charles and Charles would like you to know that (and we quote), 'Yes you can drink rosé and still be a bad#ss'. All joking aside, these unconventional dudes know their stuff: the 2011 scored 90 points and was rated #42 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Values of 2011. This is perfect for grilled salmon.

 

For $14 a bottle this wine is a very good deal – easy to drink and very food friendly.  The shrimp creole dish was a new one and it was exceptionally good; I don’t think anyone add a drop remaining on their dish at the end of the dinner.

 

To wrap up the night, Amy picked up cupcakes which were well received by everyone.

 

Thanks to Mick and Amy for hosting dinner and to Mick for all his hard work; it was nice getting back to a normal Saturday night after this extended break.

 

Cheers!

 

Mark