The Food
pan-roasted pizza, crumbled lemon goat cheese, crumbled potatoes, sunny-side up egg
Fresh Raw Oysters
roasted pork belly, fried pickles, pickled watermelon rind, spiced peanuts, and sweet and sour sauce (front below)
roast cauliflower, with stracchiatella, poached duck egg, sherry crema, fried bread crumbs, fresh horseradish, and crispy capers (back left)
spiced chickpea patty, crispy shrimp, mezcal glaze, harissa yogurt, pickled red onions, and cilantro (back right)
spinach and tuscan kale salad, shaved mushrooms, parsnip, porcini and roast garlic dressing, aged goat cheese, toasted walnuts (no photo)
seafood chowder pot pie: root vegetable “new england” style chowder base, with clams, oysters, and shrimp, with a puff pastry crust
duck leg confit, with goat cheese and duck pierogies, frisee greens with crispy duck skin, grapes, pickled beets, and a duck vinaigrette
Happy Valley Meat’s 18 oz. ribeye steak, prime PA pasture raised beef, paired with sauteed brussels sprouts, ATH frites with parmesan, and watercress butter
toffee apple and pear cake, with Phillips Farm’s fruit, with a scoop of sweet cream ice cream
warm baked chocolate chip cookie
all on its own
homemade triple chocolate ice cream
The Wines
1998 Huet Vouvray Sec Clos du Bourg. One of my favorite producers of Chenin Blanc, Huet wines rarely disappoint. Tonight was no exception. The wine began with a gorgeous golden yellow hue and an enticing citrus bouquet. The viscous palate had terrific depth and finesse and the wine finishes with considerable length. Unfortunately this vintage does not appear to be available in the U.S. market. But fear not as many current vintages are available at around $35 a bottle. Wine-Searcher.
2008 Stephane Cossais Montlouis-sur-Loire Le Volagré. We had this wine last August at one of our group dinners and it was once again and outstanding an example of Chenin Blanc. I mentioned in a previous post that Stephane trained under the legendary Foucault brothers and did not begin making his own wine until 2001, but was not proud of any until 2004. Unfortunately he passed away suddenly, and this vintage was his final and unquestionably his greatest accomplishment. $50. Wine-Searcher.
2011 Catherine & Pierre Breton Nuits d’Ivresse Bourgueil. Wines like this bring a huge smile to my face. They are simply delicious and offer fantastic value. Breton is another of the many under the radar estates in the Borurguiel, an AOC appellation in the Loire Valley region, which produces primarily red wine from Cabernet Franc grapes. Nuits d’Ivresse “Drunken Nights” is the name of a special cuvée of selected old vines from top clay and limestone sites in Bourgueil.
This bottling is crafted from a selection of old vines, vinified and aged without sulphur to preserve its fruity flavors. Tonight’s wine displayed a terrific balance of fruit and tannins and a fruity and focused palate. At $37, it is hard to find better QPR anywhere. Wine-Searcher.
2007 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses. It is hard for me to fathom why this incredible producer flies under the radar as her wines are simply remarkable. I won’t complain though as the low price is even more remarkable. Les Picasses is the most classic and age worthy wine from the domaine. It comes from a limestone terroir, where the vines have reached a respectable fifty years of age. The fruit is hand-harvested and fermentation is carried out in stainless steel controlled to less than 30°C, followed by a maceration of 25-30 days. The resulting wine goes into large foudres where it will rest for between 12 and 14 months before bottling.
The 2007 is at the beginning of it’s drinking window and offers a great expression of traditionally made Cabernet Franc. The wine began with a very earthy, and funky nose, while the palate displayed the outstanding pedigree of complexity, balance, focus and finesse of Raffault wines. While the wine will last for another two decades at least, at the moment it will definitely benefit from a couple of hours of slo-o or decanting. $27. Wine-Searcher.
1985 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses. Decanted at the restaurant. The waiter who opened the wine thought it was a bad bottle. Nothing could have been further from the truth. He mistook that deep earthy and funky bouquet for a corked wine. An hour in the decanter and the wine had blossomed and displayed vibrant and balanced fruit on a pure and complex palate before finishing with considerable length. WOTN. $73. Wine-Searcher.
Yes it was another wonderful evening with a great group of guys, great food and great wine. Thanks Jim for the excellent selections.
Saluté
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