Washington Wine and Cheese

Menu

1. Vichyssoise (deconstructed)  - Wine: Grotta Del Sole Asprinio d’Aversa Spumante Brut - Italy - $14
2. Tuna Tartare - Tuna And Mache Salad On Flatbread - Wine: 2006 - Cantine Botromagno Gravina - Italy - $12
3. Chicken Florentine Tartlettes - Wine: 2006 - Vina Leyda Pinot Noir  - Chile - $23
4. “Lobster” Newburg - Wine: 2004 - Sebastiani Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel - California - $22
5. Lamb Wellington - Wine: 2005 - Maramonte Syrage - California - $17

Wines From Pearson’s
Bread From Calvert-Woodley

Wine - Cleveland Park

1. Francois de Rozay Champagne, NV Brut Reims, Verzeney - $29.99
2. Domaine Rolet, Cremant de Jura, NV Brut, Cuvee Coeur de Chardonnay (Blanc de blanc) - $21.99
3. Domaine Chevrot, Cremant de Bourgogne, Brut (Balnc de noir) - $21.99
4. Taltarni Brut Tache’ (Rose Victoria and Tasmania) - $25.49
5. Heidsieck Monopole Green Top NV Demi Sec - $26.64

Food - Calvert Woodley

1. Chopped Smoked Salmon - $9.95/lb
2. Mousse Royal - goose liver pate with Sauterne - $13.98/lb
3. Coulommier Cheese - $14.99 for 14 oz.
4. Bread from Breadline - $2.00
5. Danish Butter Cookies - ?? (RiteAid)

FINALLY!!!! The time has come when we can all gather and taste wonderful wines. I hope our little intermission has allowed you to relax, travel,spend time with family and friends, and taste some fabulous Vino. In August I traveled to Sonoma and Napa Valley to taste some amazing wine. I was able to venture to places such as Ferrari-Currano, Duck Horn, Chimney Rock and Caymus, as well as some other big name wineries. What I found was that I liked the smaller wineries just as well. After tasting 210 wines in 5 days, I have narrowed the field to five outstanding wines that are sure to please! We will indulge in wines that epresent the Napa and Sonoma region and its popular appellations. We will start the evening with a Pinot Noir from the Carneros region. The second wine will be an enormous merlot from Oakville, followed by a Zinfandel from the Stag’s Leap district. The next wine will be a limited release Cabernet Franc, and we will finish the evening with a Bordeaux blend from Pritchard Hill. I can’t wait to share these “Little Gems from California”.

1. Artesa Pinot Noir 2005 - $22.99 The essence of strawberry that bobbed and weaved and hit you like a jab of a featherweight. Improved dramatically to the welterweight division on the nose and the second and third rounds. Finish fell short without a TKO with the fighters ready for the next round.
2. Alterra Merlot 2005 - $19.99 Soft and perky on the nose and palate. Give me more give me more.
3. Courntey Benham Zinfandel 2002 - $16.99 Corked.
4. Edgewood Cabernet Franc, 2000 - $16.99 Amazing for a 2000 - why did I leave my British girlfriend that year. Great concentration with leather and tobacco notes - just a little possessive. Kind of like a hookah.
5. Chapellet Cuvee, 2004 - $ 24.99 Best in show but not a bull terrier, nicely integrated with a lushness in th mouth. Overall, a nine out of ten.

The two cheese that we had were:

1. Belletoile - Triple Cream (cow’s milk) Brie - $11.99 -
2. Defen Wa (spelling please)- did not write down price since cheese changed from that on list.

All the wine came from our good friend Mike Fraiser at Total Wine and More. The cheese and bread both came from Calvert Woodley’s.