I was invited to friends, Walt and Laura for dinner last night. The last time I had dinner with them was last March Some well-aged wines with dinner.
A nice assortment of appetizers, consisting of parmesan crisps, dry-cooked salami, prisciutto and a warmed olive mix was accompanied by NV Zonin Brut Prosecco, a simple, but lovely bubbly. This, I believe, may have been my first prosecco, and while not at like Champagne, it’s fresh crispiness went very well. Next up were crab cakes, served over lettuce with 2005 Red Newt Finger Lakes Riesling. Very good job on the crab cakes. The Riesling was just off-dry, a bit weak in the nose, but well-balanced with good acidity – a good pairing. The main course was filet mignon topped with garlic butter, green beans, roasted tomatoes and pan-fried potatoes. This wonderful dinner was paired with 1985 Chateau Clerc Milon – Paullac. The wine was not decanted and pulled from a wine rack prior to dinner. There was a bit of anticipation as we pulled the cork. Ullage was almost 2 inches below the cork and the cork was very soft and spongey, and came out in two pieces. However, all was well. While not inky-dark, the wine was deep ruby colored and showed no bricking. Cedar cigar-box and leather on the generous nose. Good balance of tannins and acidity and a very long finish. A very nice Bordeaux that went very well with this delicious dinner. Dessert was pears, poached in a reduced Cabernet Sauvignon syrup, topped with a mixture of gorganzola, goat cheese and walnuts. Delicious! This was accompanied by 2005 Hunt Country Finger Lakes Late Harvest Vignoles. As I’ve said in other posts, I like Vignoles and this was a good one. This is a sweet wine, but not as intense as ice wines – a bit lighter in body and good acidity, nor could I detect any botrytis. The label lists 10% ABV and 11% RS, and the wine was a good accompaniment to this dessert. Afterwards, we sat at the table and drank coffee and sipped cognac and munched on pizzelles and torrones. My compliments to Laura for the excellent dinner she put together. Truly memorable.