WINE GROUP NIGHT!
Our original 4 couples, plus tonight's guest couple of honor from NorCal, affectionately known as "the tall people" brought a wonderful collection of eclectic, unusual wines...and several surprises.5 brown bags, each containing a Rhone blend or varietal......Ah, but before the fun begins....
Each person is greeted with an homage to Thursday Evening's Washington Winemaker Dinner that I was privileged to attend....a glass of Treveri Cellars Syrah Brut sparkling wine, complementing the Rhone theme of the night. Perfect for a warm spring evening, with a light breeze and the wind chimes singing.
An interesting note is that this sparkling wine was served during the 2011 White House State Department Holiday Reception, the first non-California bubbly ever to be served at the White House. Deep dark red, yet light and elegant, this liquid delight sets the tone for the evening. Little tiny bubbles tickling the senses, teasing and tantalizing....with blackberry, raspberry and just a hint of earthiness. The mood is now set......the evening ready to proceed.....with good food, conversation, friends and of course....Great Wines! Each wine to be sniffed, sipped, savored, swallowed, analyzed, rated....with an ultimate winner---and certainly no losers!
LET THE WINE AND FOOD BEGIN! Treveri,
a perfect prequel to the evening.
TONIGHT'S LINE UP!
Our wine group: Dana, Paul, Ellen, Lynn, Mike, Pamela, Guests Meribeth & Brad, and Matt
*photographer, moi, not shown!
The discussion of wines and the judging begins. Some huge, fruity, stand alone wines, others more delicate, food friendly, layered and complex. All of them amazing and having something for everyone!
The winner was a unanimous choice....(which will be revealed below)---
All of us rated this the Wine of the Night!
tonight's ultimate #1 was smooth and seamless, layers of light red fruits, minerality and earthiness, well balanced, not too much acidity, a subtle sour cherry tartness...and a finish that just went on and on
and on..........................just....sooo......good....and yummy---sooo good with food, and on its own.
After several hours of tasting, eating, revisiting the wines, eating more and being totally satiated, it was time
to score and unwrap----revealing each bottle:
AND WHAT A SURPRISE WE FOUND!
Normally, a RHONE THEMED NIGHT would unveil a heavy preference of Paso Robles wines!
But...that was NOT the case this night!
Tonight revealed eclectic choices----and some enjoyable coincidences.
There was Only ONE Paso Rhone
Herman Story's 2009 White Hawk Syrah---yummy yummy yummy!
A huge jammy, wonderful, fruit forward Syrah
TWO WASHINGTON STATE WINES!
NOT ONLY THAT....SAME VINTAGE, SAME WINERY, JUST DIFFERENT
VINEYARD! This WAS a co-incidence!
From the esteemed Cayuse Winery was a
2008 Encerise Vineyard Syrah
Subtle red fruits, smooth, long finish, some earthiness and minerality
and a 2008 Armada Vineyard Syrah
Intense red fruits, nice nose with a finish that was incredibly long and tantalizing
So interesting, these two wines from the same vintage and winery, display similar yet differing characteristics...and so different from the jammy, fruit forward big mouthy Paso Rhones (Syrahs) we are used to! These two wines were separated by our rating panel (all 10 of us)....by just half a point!
But...what's this?...Another co-incidence! TWO French Wines? YES!
Both 2007's, both Chateauneuf-du-Papes!
a 2007 Domaine Durieu Avril Chateauneuf-du-Pape
nice nose of raspberry and red fruits, some minerality, but a shorter finish. This wine will develop
sooo nicely over the next few years
and....the WINNER....the #1 wine of the night, already described above
A unanimous choice by all...
a 2007 Christia Chateauneuf-du-Pape!
Complementing the #1 wine of the Night....All the wines were winners
TONIGHT'S WINNING LINEUP REVEALED!
Even though there was an official winner (congratulations Paul and Ellen)
they were ALL winners....nothing to whine about these wines!
Keeping in tune with the evening's wine event, Paul, provider of the winning wine,
also set the tone for tonight, reaching into his wardrobe to proclaim:
"Wine a little, you'll feel better"
And of course wine night is also about: The Food! Tasty and creative were the appetizers, main course and the devilish desserts! (With a special Thank You to the main provider of food this evening...MY wonderful much better half---in addition of course, to all the yummies contributed by each couple).
The best part of the evening as always: Good friends getting together for fun, great wine, food and laughter, with the anticipation of our next wine night!
Remember: You show me yours, I'll show you WINE!
Cheers to all....
and as always, your comments, emails, passing along my blog, posting it on your website is ALWAYS appreciated!
Until next time, enjoy your wine, and do your Rhone thing.
Don
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