Thursday I attended a wine dinner at Vin Rouge in Durham with Martine's Selections (French wine importer.) This was part of the annual Triangle Wine Experieince benefiting Frankie Lemmon School for children with special needs. I had signed up for the dinner with Robert Kacher Imports but it was canceled. I had been to Vin Rouge the last two years (Merry Edwards in 2010 and Kermit Lynch representative in 2011.) I loved the butternut squash soup with julienned Fuji apple, creme fraiche and house-cured bacon--this was paired with a 2009 DOMAINE REMY GRESSER KRITT RIESLING, ALSACE in a dry style. I got a lifted note and a touch of faint white peach. The next course was a crawfish and shrimp mousseline in a thin casing looking like a fat sausage, with braised savoy cabbage and a Dijon mustard sauce paired with a 2009 DOMINIQUE CORNIN POUILLY FUISSE, BURGUNDY. Unoaked, only 800 cases imported to USA. Apple was prominent on the nose and tastebuds. We went to a Marsannay for the duck course--smoked duck with crsipy polenta, pickled turnips and black currants. The duck was very tender and the crispy polenta quite tasty. 2009 DOMAINE CHARLES AUDOIN MARSANNAY CUVEE MARIE RAGONNEAU, BURGUNDY. The wine was semi-transparent with a alightly pale coloring. I thought it showed some dark raspberry notes and soft tannins. Enjoyable and could probably be cellared for medium term. I went easy on the next course to save room for dessert--braised lamb shoulder with potato gnocchi, tomato confit and toasted garlic gremolata, served with a 2009 FERAUD-BRUNEL CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE, RHONE. Grenache and Syrah grapes were included in the blend. A negociant sources the grapes and makes the wine himself. Light touch with oak. I found it just slightly funky or Bretty although others at my table did not comment on that and one gentleman finished his glass and his wife's. Dessert was creme carmal (yum!) with 2005 CHATEAU LES JUSTICES SAUTERNES, BORDEAUX. In addition to the "noble rot" there were white stone fruits--peach or apricot in the Sauternes. I was a contented diner at the end of the dinner.
Consumed at home--2009 CHATEAU DE RAOUSEET CHIROUBLES BEAJOLAIS CRU ($20.99) Nearly opaque. Leggy on the glass. Berry fruit and some floral notes on the nowe. Pleasurable strawberry/raspberry/cherry flavors on the tastebuds. i would consider purchasing it again given the opportunity.
I also had a 2010 NOBILO ICON SAUVIGNON BLANC, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND. Richly textured with good acidic backbone. More grapefruit notes than gooseberry I would say in describing it. I was glad to find this at my grocery store.