Blimey, title like that I feel like Florida Jim or Jay from Labrador!! All in good fun forumites.
Anyway this is the menu and wines consumed at a staff party for Devines wine store here in town, and as I co-host tastings, I am considered staff. Pretty good deal eh.
22 eager fun people met at the Hardware Grill, without a doubt the best restaurant in town. All wines were BYOB and there were two of each, except for the port.
For reception, there was a choice of two Champagnes. The Ruinart NV Brut did not show its usual self and was over-shadowed by a de Sousa NV Brut which had elegant mousse,and attractive fruit right through to the long finish. Not a name I am familiar with but very nice.
The first course was a choice of salad,either pepper crusted Ahi Tuna with wood smoked tomato vinaigrette or Grilled Polenta with forest mushrooms and a sage, port, gorgonzola cream sauce. As one can imagine, all plates were passed around so we all got to try everything throughout the evening!
The `06 Albarinho Paso de Senorans had a nice citrus, minerally nose with green apple. Bracing acidity, apple, grapefruit, pear and lemon on the palate. Shaped up nicely these past 5 months since last bottle. The Rully from Girardin, I have posted notes elsewhere here but amazing white Burgundy wine for under $40.
We also had a `03 White Hermitage from Cave de Tain. Went better with the food, honey tones, nectar, minerally. Lovely white but needs food to bring out the best, too sweet by itself.
**** The main courses and red wines we opened demand a tad more detail so will close for now and complete my story later this evening. Stay tuned for news of the Lafon Rochet, a Vigne de l`Enfant Jesus, Numanthia and a Fonseca Guimareans!!