DINNER CHEZ BOB
after our Tasting of Condrieu Wines
June 2002
We began with some nibbles and Pommery
Champagne Brut, followed by Pommery 1995 Grand Cru Brut Ros. These were nice,
but unremarkable.
Bob had a "Welcoming Committee" at the
dinner table for Alexia.
Diane and Henry examine the white wine...A non-varietal wine from Marcel Deiss
in Alsace.
We
actually opened two bottles, one being a blend from the "Engelgarten"
vineyard. This was quite sweet, so we saved it for dessert. The
other wine, "Grasberg" was a delightful dry Riesling. I also
opened an Australian Riesling called Jasper Hill. This was a nice match
with the Deiss wine!
Clams!!!
Bob roasted a couple of ducks to go with the two Cornas wines I brought.
Henry provided a wild mushroom for Bob's inclusion in this plate. The duck
featured a green peppercorn sauce, perfect for the spicy Syrah wines we tasted.
Alain Voge 1999 Cornas displayed "old school" winemaking, being deep,
big, mildly earthy and a bit tannic. The modern Cornas "Les Ruchets"
was rather sweetly oaked, showing what's called "international
style." It is an exceptional wine, unless you're allergic to wood.
Diane was delighted and toasted Bob.
Bob, having had several glasses of Champagne and wine, was, indeed,
"toasted."
This was a terrific combination of vittles and vino.
A POST-TASTING DINNER CHEZ MOORE
July 3, 2002
We opened a bottle of the 1996 Grand Cru Champagne of
the small house of "Ruelle-Pertois." This is an excellent
Champagne, showing a mildly yeasty character and some stony, appley fruit.
It is quite dry and elegant. And quite bubbly as you can see in
those flute glasses.
Alexia had a few nibbles to go with the bubbly.
Then Wonder Woman busily assembled a first course of citrus-cured Sea Scallops
(sort of like Ceviche) served on a blanket of a yellow pepper pure with
slivers of snow peas and cherry tomatoes. Very artistic!
VOILA!!!
We had a Preston Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma's Dry Creek. This wine was
reminiscent of some New Zealand Sauvignons, but seemed a shade or two less
intense.
It was paired alongside an amazing wine from France, a "Perigord
Blanc" from Chteau Tirecul La Graviere. This wine
was aromatic and somewhat floral with amazing depth and richness on the palate!
The wine and food were well-liked by all!
Here's the famous, patent-pending wine aficionado Diane P.
Marjorie lifted a glass to toast the host and hostess.
While I was busy opening bottles of Domaine Chandon red wines, Alexia was
preparing the main course: Grilled Salmon Nestled on a bed of Risotto con
Piselli.
Napa Valley's Domaine Chandon, more famous for its sparkling wines, has some
table wines. We tried a 1999 Pinot Meunier and a 2000 Pinot Noir.
The consensus was in favor of the 2000 Pinot Noir. The two wines cost the
same, around $28. The Pinot Meunier is but a minor wine, having a
berry/cherry note that's perfectly pleasant, but uninspiring. On the other
hand, the Pinot Noir shows far more charm and complexity, having, according to
Diane, "dried cherry fruit" and a nice bit of sweet, vanillin oak.
Poor Henry became teary-eyed when I commented on the "award winning"
Trentadue Port he opened to go with Alexia's Tiramisu.
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