Sunday Night Wine Dinner 9/23

[James Roscoe]

We had our wine group in for a wine dinner this past Sunday. My friend Jon Webster provided the wines. The rest of us provided the meal. Fortunately on of "us" is a graduate of the CIA (not Langley) and loves to cook and provide cheese. Following are Jon's notes:

Laurent Perrier Brut NV - Aperitif

Vesevo Sannio Falanghina 2005 - Shrimp w/ Goat cheese & Proscuitto drizzled w/ truffle oil

J Pinot Gris Russian River Valley 2006 - Crab Quiche

Scorpo Aubaine Chardonnay Mornington Peninsula 2006 - Segue wine

Nicolas Joly Savennieres Clos de Sacre 2004 - 1st flight Crab & Shrimp mousse ravioli w/ red pepper cream sauce

Ca'Rugate Bianco Bucciato 2002 - 1st flight Crab & Shrimp mousse ravioli w/ red pepper cream sauce

Javillier Bourgogne "les Forgets" 2004- 1st flight Crab & Shrimp mousse ravioli w/ red pepper cream sauce

Genot - Boulanger Mercurey 1er Cru "les Saumonts" 2004 - 2nd flight Chicken two ways ala Teri

Jacques Prieur Beaune Champs Pimont 2002 - 2nd flight Chicken two ways ala Teri

Villa Matilde Falerno del Massico 2003 - 2nd flight Chicken two ways ala Teri

La Spinetta Ca di Pian Barbera 2004 - Intermission

Apaltagua Carmenere 2001 - Intermission

Mascarello Langhe Status 1996 - 3rd flight - The Rack o' Lamb

Nervi Gattinara 1998 - 3rd flight - The Rack o' Lamb

Vinea Marson Nebbiolo Heathcote 2005 - 3rd flight - The Rack o' Lamb

Cervoles Segre Red 2003 - 4th flight "The oh my god there's still more wine? flight"

Artadi Vinas De Gain Rioja 2002 - 4th flight "The oh my god there's still more wine? flight"

Chateau de Ferrand St. Emilion 2000 - 4th flight "The oh my god there's still more wine? flight"

Dr. Heidemans Bergweiler Bernkastler alte Badstube am Doctorberg Riesling Spatlese 2004 - Salade Campagne avec Roquefort et Jambon Campagne

Pommery Cuvee Louise 1990 - Salade Campagne avec Roquefort et Jambon Campagne

Selection of redonculous cheeses ala Ben&Cecile

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 1997 - 5th flight "the Big Dogs"

Chateau Monbusquet St. Emilion 1998 - 5th flight "the Big Dogs"

Chatea Reynella Vintage Port 1996 - Dessert w/ chocolate goodness

My two WOTNs were the Nicolas Joly Savennieres Clos de Sacre 2004 and the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 1997. I now know what the fuss is about Loire chenin blanc. I loved the brunello. The two Burgundies were excellent and the Chateau Monbusquet was a close second to the brunello for my red WOTN.

It was a ridiculous evening. We finished by going on a tour of the Scotish highlands. I was up until 2:00 AM. I consider this a David Lole dry run.

James--
Quite a lineup--and the wines don't look bad, either How did you like the Gattinara? I've got a bottle in the cellar, and I'm curious what you think about drinking window.

James, was this the tasting that your wife was practicing the shrimp ravioli for? How'd it turn out? I remember it sounded soooo good when she talked about it at dinner that night!

[James Roscoe]

James--
Quite a lineup--and the wines don't look bad, either How did you like the Gattinara? I've got a bottle in the cellar, and I'm curious what you think about drinking window.

The Gatterina did not show well. I have a couple of theories. It may have been poor storage. It may have been bottle variation. It may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. I thought that if I was drinking it alone with the lamb I might have liked it better.

[James Roscoe]

James, was this the tasting that your wife was practicing the shrimp ravioli for? How'd it turn out? I remember it sounded soooo good when she talked about it at dinner that night!

We had the shrimp ravioli with the chenin blanc. It was heaven! It was one of those OMG moments when great wine and great food come together and do something spectacular. the Joly really was a life altering wine. The shrimp ravioli were awfully nice too.

My two WOTNs were the Nicolas Joly Savennieres Clos de Sacre 2004...I now know what the fuss is about Loire chenin blanc..

Glad to hear it. Plenty more where that came from. Including in the Joly stable.

[James Roscoe]

My two WOTNs were the Nicolas Joly Savennieres Clos de Sacre 2004...I now know what the fuss is about Loire chenin blanc..

Glad to hear it. Plenty more where that came from. Including in the Joly stable.

So Joly is a reliable producer? That is good to know. I reaaaallllly loved that wine with a bit of age on it. Man was it good with the seafood ravioli in a red pepper cream sauce. I could see a cheese ravioli with the same sauce working just as well.

What an orgy!!!!

Did you practice safe drinking???????

[James Roscoe]

What an orgy!!!!

Did you practice safe drinking???????

Did I? Probably not what you would call safe drinking, but I only had to walk up the steps. We had plenty of people sleeping in extra beds and couches though.

Paulo, the Italian whites were really good. We had the leftover Falanghina two days later with leftover ravioli and it made a great match. The wine was still singing. The acidity was still there after two days in the fridge with the cork on. It was about a quarter of the bottle. I was glad to have it alone. as the pinot gris was really overpowering. The Falanghina was very elegant.

So Joly is a reliable producer? That is good to know. I reaaaallllly loved that wine with a bit of age on it..

Well, Joly is somewhat contraversial these days and to many people's tastes is the furthest from reliable. Many of the wines show oxidized notes way too early.

But, he does own the best vineyard in the Loire - if not all of France - (La Coulee de Serrant) - so that is definitely something any self-respecting lover of chenin should explore (finances permitting)..

As far as age, yes, in theory the wines will age. Some would argue that Coulee de Serrant needs several decades to come around. And I'm sure the Clos Sacre will also age, although it is more likely to be enjoyed for the young fruit, the way you had it.

Plenty of notes on Loire chenin in the search engine if you get the itch..

Monbousquet is a very good Bdx, and usually it is reasonably priced, compared to what one pays for other wines.. particulary in good vintages... I think I paid around $30 something for the 2003... what a treat to try an older vintage!!