Domaine Grand Veneur "Les Origines" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Domaine Grand Veneur "Les Origines" Châteauneuf-du-Pape With BBQ Ribs 

Following our BBQ rib dinner the other night, we had leftover ribs with baked potato and sweet corn. Then, we enjoyed the BBQ with a favorite wine pairing, a bold Aussie Shiraz which we featured in this blogpost - Branson Coach House Greenock Block Shiraz with BBQ Ribs.

Tonight, I pulled from the cellar a vintage aged CDP - Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in accordance with appellation rules, a Rhone varietal red blend. This release is what is known as a ‘GSM’, a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the three grapes required to comprise at least 70% to be designated a CDP. This is another one of our favorite food and wine pairings - that same Syrah/Shiraz as the Aussie varietal, but as part of a blend. 

We visited the appellation in 1999 and again in 2018 - chronicled in these posts - A visit to Château La Nerthe, and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Domaine Grand Veneur "Les Origines" Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 

Domaine Grand Veneur "Les Origines" Châteauneuf-du-Pape is produced by Alain Jaume & Fils a highly acclaimed family owned and operated estate, founded in 1826 by Mathieu Jaume, and then succeeded by Marius, Fernand and Roger Jaume.

In 1979, the current generation ancestors Odile and Alain Jaume and his two sons continued the family tradition with the creation of "Domaine Grand Veneur". 

At the outset, the vineyard covered 22 and a quarter acres, and was expanded over the years such that today, Domaine Grand Veneur is a 170-acre estate based in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the Southern Rhone Valley. The estate is at the northern edge of the appellation on the southernmost outskirts of the city of Orange. 

In addition to the family’s vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, they also have parcels in Cotes du Rhône and Lirac, the appellation on the other side of the Rhône River. Grand Veneur produces red and white wines, and the family also has a negociant business called Alain Jaume & Fils. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Grand Veneur “one of the best run estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The cellars were built just outside of the town of Orange at the top of the appellation, on the road to Châteauneuf du Pape to the south. 

A Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation designated wine from the Southern Rhône Valley, CDP wines are a blend with up to thirteen specified grape varieties allowed, but typically ~50–55% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, and 15–20% Syrah, with 70% required from these three grapes. 

The 2005 release is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah that saw 16 months in 55% concrete tank and 45% in smaller barrels. 

While the Vieilles Vignes bottling wasn’t made until 2006, the 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Origines goes all the way back to 1998. The Les Origins bottling is comprised of fruits from the oldest blocks in the estate vineyards, sourced from old vines over 65 years old, grown in the red clay and deep gravel soils typical of the Rhone Valley. 

We hold a half dozen releases of this label dating back to the turn of the century, this being the current oldest of our collection, selected accordingly as part of cellar inventory management.

This release was rated 95 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 93 points by Wine Spectator, and 92 points by Vinous. 

In their 95 point review in 2015, Wine Advocate wrote “It freshens up in the glass, and while drinking nicely now, will have no problems evolving gracefully for another decade.” 

So here we are … at age 21 the label, foil and most importantly the fill level and cork were still in pristine condition. 

For those folks that think Châteauneuf du Pape does not age, this is a top wine from a top vintage and at age 21, it is doing just fine and still has a few years left. Every once in a while you open a bottle and it’s at peak. This was one of those times - the benefits of having a cellar and aging wines.

Deep ruby in color, medium to full bodied, full round expressive complex but nicely integrated black berry and black cherry fruits, notes of tobacco, spices and leather, with hints of licorice and garrique, lacking the typical black pepper sprites, with subtle smooth dusty tannins on the long, sweet, pleasant lingering finish. 

RM 92 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/325154

https://www.vignobles-alain-jaume.com/en/

Branson Coach House Greenock Block Shiraz with BBQ Ribs

Branson Coach House Greenock Block Shiraz with BBQ Ribs 

Sunday night BBQ at home, watching the incredible Lioness series, Linda prepared barbecue ribs with baked potato, sweet potato. Sweet corn and green beans. 

For a wine accompaniment we pulled from the cellar this aged vintage Aussie Shiraz, the last bottle of a case we acquired on release nearly two decades ago.

 

Branson Coach House Barossa Single Vineyard Greenock Block Shiraz 2004

I recall I discovered and tasted this wine with Wine Manager Bill and the Aussie wine buyer at the wine desk at Binny's, the Chicagoland beverage super store,  in Glen Ellyn back upon release. I liked it so much I bought their entire allocation which was only a couple six packs.

This property was taken over by Two Hands after the passing of proprietor Malcolm Asden, the result being these wines are now made alongside Two Hands by their winemaker Matt Wenk. The acquisition was made possible by capital from outside foreign investors.

Along with the winery and brand came eighteen acres of Greenock vineyards planted in mature high quality Shiraz which will continue to be produced under the BCH label. Subsequently, Two Hands wine production is also done at the BCH Greenock facility. 

Seven hundred and fifty cases were produced. Interestingly, this was aged in American Oak. 

They continue to produce BCH premium single vineyard designated labels Coach House Block Rare Single Vineyard and Greenock Block Single Vineyard Shiraz's sourced from the vineyards that surround the winery.

Tonight, this bottle is the last of that lot of bottles acquired nearly two decades ago. 

This release was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator and International Wine Cellar and 90 points by Wine Advocate.

Similar to tasting notes six years ago, now, at twenty-one years of age, this has aged gracefully, showing only slight signs of diminution of the fruits. Back then I wrote, “Upon opening it was slightly obtuse with a bit of an edge, but over the course of an hour it opened, softened and became more approachable.” Tonight it was approachable from the start and provided pleasant drinking throughout. 

Dark inky purple color, full bodied, thick, chewy layers of aromatic flavors of tangy black fruits, raspberry, black cherry and black currants, accented by tones of clove spice, graphite & hints of creme de cassis on a smooth polished moderate tannin finish.

Back then I gave it RM 90 points, two points less than the last tastings back nearly four years ago on Aug 6, 2016 and then Oct 11, 2017. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=246545

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/246545

Spring Valley Katherine Cabernet Franc with Orso and Meatballs

Spring Valley Katherine Cabernet Franc with Orso and Meatballs. 

Linda prepared meatballs with orso pasta, tomatoes, pineapple, broccoli and red peppers - a delicious Asian themed dish. Orzo, also known in Italy as risoni, and popular in Greek cuisine as kritharaki, is a form of short-cut pasta shaped like a large grain of rice

I pulled from the cellar this aged Cabernet Franc for an ideal, delicious food and wine pairing. As I’ve written often in these pages, an optimal pairing is a force multiplier, amplifying the enjoyment of both. 

This follows another ideal wine pairing of another label from this same producer that we featured in a blogpost this last weekend - Uriah Spring Valley Red Blend 2015.

Spring Valley Vineyards Katherine Cabernet Franc 2015

We discovered and acquired this wine during our visit to the Spring Valley Vineyards tasting room in Walla Walla back in 2018 as covered in this blogpost - October 27, 2018 - Spring Valley Vineyards Tasting and Vineyard Visit.

We joined their wine club and as members receive regular quarterly shipments of their wines. We amassed a collection of the complete portfolio of wines including this label. Our Cellartracker records show we have 95 bottles of 35 different Spring Valley wines in our collection.

One of the great historic Walla Walla wineries, Spring Valley Vineyard lies 12 miles northeast of the town of Walla Walla, amid the picturesque wheat fields of southeastern Washington and the Blue Mountains in the distance. The land that was originally used for farming dating back to the the 1880s. 

Founded by Uriah, Katherine, and continued by the next generation, Frederick, and Nina Lee Corkrum, Shari Corkrum Derby and her husband Dean Derby continued to operate the wheat fields, vineyard and winery. Shari and Dean Derby planted vines on the land from 1993 and made their first vintage in 1999. 

Today, Spring Valley have 110 acres of vines planted, all in the relatively cool micro-climate of Walla Walla Valley in the southeast corner of Washington State.

We had the pleasure of meeting Dean Derby on the property during our visit to the estate.during our appellation visit to the Walla Walla (Washington) wine region in the fall of 2018. We visited the Spring Valley Vineyard tasting room in downtown Walla Walla, then ventured out to the vineyards and winery northeast of town. There, we met Dean Derby, patriarch, and husband to Shari Corkrum Derby, grand-daughter of Uriah Corkrum, founder and namesake for their Bordeaux Blend label, husband to Katherine, namesake for this label. 

Meeting Mr. Derby was one of the highlights of our Walla Walla Wine Experience, especially since he has since passed on. We posted a Tribute to Dean Derby and memorium of that visit - Spring Valley Vineyard toward the end of 2021.

We thought of him last week as his alma mater, University of Washington played in the NCAA national football championship, and next year join the Big Ten conference. I wrote about Dean playing on and being captain of that football team in my tribute blogpost.

The Derby's son Devin Corkrum Derby served as winemaker until his passing in 2004. Devin’s assistant and friend Serge Laville took over as winemaker and has been crafting wines since. Originally they focused on varietals from the Northern Rhone region in France, they expanded production to Bordeaux varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and this Cabernet Franc, and a Right Bank and a Left Bank style Bordeaux Blend. 

I've written often in these pages about Spring Valley Vineyards portfolio of wines named for members paying homage to the family and ancestors dating back to the first generation founders at the turn of the last century. We have several vintage releases of their annual case that features six of these labels - each one commemorating a different family member. This Cabernet Franc is named in honor of founder Uriah Corkrum’s wife Katherine, a native of Wales who immigrated to Walla Walla Territory in 1897. She and Uriah had four sons, including Frederick Corkrum.

Spring Valley Vineyards Katherine Cabernet Franc 2015

I wrote about Spring Valley and this label in several posts in these pages, including  Spring Valley “Katherine” Cabernet Franc, excerpted here.

This is another family oriented producer with family oriented branding which we enjoy serving for family (and friends) occasions such as this.  

We have a vertical collection of seven vintages of this wine. Normally, as part of cellar management, I would open the oldest, earliest vintage to drink, but, I pulled a bottle from the rack, not thinking that we have a couple older vintages in the decorative OWC - Original Wood Cases, each with a vertical collection that include this label. I'll need to 'break' those collections at some point and consume the older releases. 

Spring Valley Vineyards ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Walla Walla Cabernet Franc 2015   

This wine commemorates Katherine Williams Corkrum, born and raised in Wales, then came to America and settled in Walla Walla Washington to eventually marry Uriah Corkrum. Together they raised a family with three sons that would follow for three generations developing the property. 

This is 100% estate grown Cabernet Franc. The vines follow the north-south slope of the hills in vertical rows, an orientation that when combined with the declination of the slope, allows the vines to take optimal advantage of air drainage, sunshine, and the reflective nature of the surrounding wheat fields.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes - “This Cabernet Franc has plenty of herbal notes with abundant flavors of raspberry and cassis and a touch of spice.” - ~ Winemaker Serge Laville 

100% Cabernet Franc, this was aged 18 months in 100% French Oak, 30% new

This was rated 91 points by Wine Advocate and Stephen Tanzer

Dark ruby colored, medium full bodied, full round with a silky smooth texture, ripe dark blackberry fruits with notes of spice, cassis, mocha chocolate, herbs and tobacco with toasty oak on a lingering moderate tannin finish. 

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2767108

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?2767108

https://www.springvalleyvineyard.com/

Saturday lunch at Entourage

Saturday lunch at Entourage Downers Grove

We lunched at Entourage, DG and continue to marvel at how good their food creations are - every entree carefully and artfully prepared for delicious creations. 

Today, we both ordered the Daily Special, Parmesan crusted Baked Cod with Piccata, tomatoes and arugula, with crisp fried potatoes. It was delicious. 

The Entourage wine list offer a selection of WBTG - wines by the glass so we each ordered a glass of our choice for a food wine pairing. 

Linda ordered her usual favorite selection which we have featured often in these pages, Kokomo Chardonnay - featured in these blogposts - Lunch/Dinner Redux at Entourage DG and Kokomo Chardonnay at Entourage DG, and WBTG dining at Entourage DG.

I tried a selection new to the wine list … an interesting wine from an obscure varietal grape for an ideal summer sipper! 

Flores Picpoul de Pinet Languedoc Roussilion 2024

For my wine pairing I selected this Picpoul de Pinet, a crisp, zesty white wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. This is made exclusively from the ancient Picpoul Blanc grape, it’s nicknamed "lip-stinger" for its mouth-watering acidity.

Amazingly, the Languedoc-Roussillon is in fact the largest wine producing region of France with roughly 584,400 acres producing about 25% of France’s total wine production coming from the Languedoc (“long-dock”) and Roussillon. Historically, wine grape cultivation and winemaking in the region dates all the way back to the second century, as grapes were first planted in 125 BC near the Roman colony Narbo, or modern day Narbonne, in the production zone of Corbières.

The Languedoc-Roussillon region stretched from the Rhone to the Pyrenees. The population centers of Languedoc-Roussillon is the urban areas on the coastal plain, notably around Montpellier, Nimes and Perpignan. These old cities were points on the land route along the Mediterranean coast between France and Spain and Italy and Spain. Montpellier, the regional capital, is the 8th largest city in France, and has history dating back over 1000 years.

The Languedoc wine region has 23 Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée or Protégée (AOCs/AOPs), covering about 16% of production. Wines that don’t fit into this quality tier may be classified as Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) selections.

The broad regional appellation Languedoc AOC forms the base of the classification system and covers red, white and rosé wines. Producers that use this designation may blend wine made with grapes from both Languedoc and Roussillon.

Within the Languedoc AOC are 10 subappellations that include Minervois, which produces red, white and rosé wines; Corbières (red, white, rosé); Terrasses du Larzac (red); Pic Saint Loup (red, rosé); and Saint-Chinian (red, white, rosé) and this wine’s source Picpoul de Pinet (white) .

There are also 5 commune or village appellations: Minervois-La-Livinière, Corbieres Boutenac and La Clape, Faugères and Fitou, 4 sweet wine appellations. The best-known is Muscat de Frontignan, and 3 sparkling wine appellations, all in Limoux: Blanquette de Limoux, Crémant de Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux Méthode Ancestrale.

The Languedoc and Roussillon warm, dry Mediterranean climate is defined by hot summers and mild temperatures throughout the rest of the year. Heat and sun might otherwise overripen grapes, but top vineyard sites stay cool thanks to their elevation and coastal breezes from the Atlantic and/or Mediterranean.

Ancient geological soils are varied, complex layers ranging from clay and limestone to schist, granite, marls and sandstone. Many of the regions’ top wines come from the rocky soils of mountain foothills.

This label is from Florensac, one of the oldest vineyard sites on the French Mediterranean Coast. Today, les Vignerons de Florensac (winegrowers of Florensac) consists of a collaborative of 260 growers.

This Picpoul de Pinet is 100% varietal Piquepoul, literally translated, Picpoul means “stings the lip,” referring to the grape’s naturally high acidity which produces wines with great brightness. 

Picpoul de Pinet displays flavors of lemon and saline, white blossoms and wet stones.These wines are light to medium bodied, bone dry, have mouth watering acidity, and typically a moderate alcohol level. They’re an excellent, affordable alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

Picpoul, also known as Picquepol Blanc, is a thin-skinned white wine varietal found mainly in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France, where it’s name is used in the name of the region Picpoul de Pinet.

Picpoul de Pinet boasts s bright, bone dry palate with a light body, sharp acidity, and subtle minerality. The refreshing wine is ideal for the Mediterranean climate, or hot summers here, a perfect wine for pairing with delicate seafood dishes or simply sipping. Described as “clean,” is a true expression of the grape stands out. Picpoul is rarely oaked, so the taste is a pure, unadulterated flavor of the wine. Its aromas and flavors are simple, honest, and untouched by outside factors like oak, additives, or other grapes.

With lip-stinging acidity, this wine is highly desirable for pairing with acidic and or fatty dishes such as seafood, fresh oysters, even fried chicken.

Decanter Tasting Panel rated this label 94 points.

Producer’s tasting notes - “Pale yellow color with bright green highlights. Fresh, fruity nose marked by notes of lemon and grapefruit. Lively and fresh on the palate, revealing a beautiful richness supported by lemony flavors. Good length.” 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5406221

https://entouragerestaurant.com/downers-grove/ 

Uriah Spring Valley Red Blend 2015

Uriah Spring Valley Red Blend 2015

Midweek dinner, we grilled filets of beef with baked potatoes. I pulled from the cellar one of our favorite labels, a Washington State Right Bank Bordeaux Blend for an ideal food wine pairing. 

We also had a delicious caprese salad … fresh mozzarella, tomato, lettuce and fresh basil from the garden,  and this “Twisted Olive” Raspberry Chocolate Balsamic dressing which is a heavenly pairing with the big red wine. From Modena, Italy, we get this from a local producer/importer at the local farmer’s market.

For this favored meal combination, for a nice relaxed evening dinner together, I pulled from the cellar one of my favorite drinking Right Bank Bordeaux varietal blends from one of our favorite producers, Spring Valley Vineyards. 

We visited Spring Valley during our appellation visit to the Walla Walla (Washington) wine region in the fall of 2018. We visited the Spring Valley Vineyard tasting room in downtown Walla Walla, then ventured out to the vineyards and winery northeast of town. There, we met Dean Derby patriarch, and husband to Shari Corkrum Derby, grand-daughter of Uriah Corkrum, namesake for this label. Meeting Mr. Derby was one of the highlights of our Walla Walla Wine Experience, especially since he has since passed on. We posted a Tribute to Dean Derby and memorium of that visit - Spring Valley Vineyard toward the end of 2021.  

All of the Spring Valley wines are named for one of the ancestral or current family members. Spring Valley Vineyard wines are all produced from 100% estate-grown fruit, a relative rarity in Washington.

Washington State and regional powerhouse Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates purchased the winery and the brand from the Derby family recently, but they continue to own and operate the vineyards.

The complete lineup of Spring Valley wines featuring the family member labels is featured in a boxed set. Shown is our set commemorating the 2013 vintage releases.

Spring Valley Vineyards Uriah Red Blend 2015

The Spring Valley Vineyards adjacent to the 
farmstead site

This label, Uriah, is named for the Spring Valley Vineyards founder Uriah Corkrum, grandfather of matriarch Shari Corkrum Derby. Born in Walla Walla on June 1, 1866, he began successfully farming on his own during the 1880s. Unusual summer rain kept him from getting his harvested wheat to the warehouse so he lost everything in the depression of 1893. He persevered and, in 1897, acquired land in the area known as Spring Valley that is the site of the vineyards today. Uriah is featured on the flagship label Uriah Spring Valley Red Blend. This is our favorite label from the Spring Valley portfolio. 

This is 100% sourced from Spring Valley Vineyards in the wind-shaped Palouse Hills 12 miles northeast of Walla Walla, amid the picturesque wheat fields of southeastern Washington and the Blue Mountains in the distance. The initial block of Merlot was planted in 1993 on a southern hillside facing southwest. The vines follow the north-south slope of the hills in vertical rows, an orientation that when combined with the declination of the slope, allows the vines to take optimal advantage of air drainage, sunshine, and the reflective nature of the surrounding wheat fields.

The 2015 vintage was one of the warmest growing seasons on record in Washington. Warm temperatures continued through the spring and summer, moderating slightly into fall and extending an early harvest. Overall, 2015 saw very favorable growing conditions, producing optimal ripening across varieties and yielding outstanding wines throughout the region.

This label, Uriah, is a Right Bank Bordeaux Blend, meaning it is predominantly Merlot based rather than Cabernet, complemented by Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. This release has a high percentage of Cabernet Franc which provides spiciness and bright flavor sprites. 

This 2015 release is a blend or Bordeaux varietals, 43% Cabernet Franc, 38% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. It was aged 18 months in 100% French oak, 40% new.

Winemaker Tasting Notes: “Our most terroir driven blend, mostly Cabernet Franc and Merlot. A rich wine coming from one of the warmest harvests. The tannins are velvety and the finish is long and soft.”
~ Serge Laville, Winemaker.

This was rated 93 Points by Wine & Spirits, 92 Points by James Suckling, 91 Points by Wine Spectator, and 90 points by Sean Sullivan of Wine Advocate. 

We hold half dozen vintages of this label and pulled the oldest vintage as part of effective cellar management rotation.  

At eleven years this is probably at its peak, the apex of its drinking profile, not likely to improve further with aging, but certainly to age gracefully for another decade if you're patient enough to keep it that long. It seems more vibrant and expressive than it did earlier, hence am adding another point to my review. 

Bright garnet colored, medium bodied, elegant polished, rich but approachable for pleasant but sophisticated drinking, its right-bank style blend shows vibrant black berry and dark plum fruits with notes of cassis, spice, floral and hints of balsamic and herbs with dusty minerality with polished soft tannins on the lingering finish.

RM 93 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2648699

Linked referenced in this blog: 

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/10/spring-valley-vineyards-tasting-and.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/11/spring-valley-vineyards-nina-syrah-2017.html

https://www.springvalleyvineyard.com/

Arvin’s Acres Winery, Carroll County, IN

Arvin’s Acres Winery, Carroll County, IN

Visiting Carol County, Indiana for a family birthday celebration dinner, following the Spectacular Italian Dining in Rural Indiana featured in this blogpost, we visited Arvin’s Acres Winery enroute on our return home.

Todd and Anita Hoshaw founded Arvin’s Acres Winery and Meadery in 2018 when they purchased Anita’s Grandparents’, Bill and Alice Arvin's, 100-year-old farmhouse and property, to pursue their dream of building and operating a winery. Anita had the feeling, "You only live once and sometimes that can pass you by before you get to enjoy it." Three months later, they sold their house in Lebanon, IN and relocated to build and pursue their dreams in their childhood hometown of Delphi, IN.

Shortly after getting married in 2002 they discovered a common interest in wine and visiting the Indiana Wine Trails. They loved the camaraderie inherent in the wine business. They expanded their wine travels to other states, and over the course of the next 16 years, that feeling of fellowship and a love of wine left them dreaming of opening our own winery. 

Todd serves as Wine & Mead Maker and Beekeeper. Arvin's Acres produce a broad portfolio of quality wines, meads, ciders, and seltzers. Their non-grape fruit wine is produced from fruits grown by local farmers and their meads are produced from a combination of our honey and honey purchased locally.

They provide full winery experience in their hospitality center tasting room and a patio pavilion outdoors.

Arvin’s Acres produce a dozen wine labels from dry white and red wines, to semi sweet fruit wines and a sweet dessert wine. Their tasting room offers wine tasting flights of four different wines, wines by the glass, and of course wines are available for purchase by the bottle. They also ship wines. 

We sampled a flight of their dry wines, a couple of their sweet fruit wines, and their unique “Toasted”, a sweet Niagara grape varietal white wine infused with Thai Chili flakes for a bit of added kick. 

Todd suggested their ‘flagship’ might be the Limited Edition ‘Washington Reserve’, a blackberry fruit wine. 

Our view was the most complex and sophisticated wine was the “Trilogy Rouge”, a dry red blend of traditional Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 

They source their grapes from throughout the Midwest including Indiana, Michigan and also the Finger Lakes region of New York. Todd has three blocks of berry plantings on the property as well as his bee hives.

Weekends they offer live music entertainment on weekends and every second Saturday from June through October they host line dancing. On this day, performing was the talented and entertaining singer songwriter Adrienne Frailery from Milford, IN. She entertained the house playing guitar and the electric piano, singing a mix of soft rock, ballads, and country. 

I wrote about the Indiana Wine industry, the Indiana AVA’s and Wine Trails in more detail in this earlier blogpost - Carpenter Creek Cellars - Indiana Produced Wines.

A fun outing for an afternoon or evening, a taste of Indiana.

Spectacular Italian Dining in Rural Indiana

Spectacular Italian Dining in Rural Indiana

On Sunday, we traveled to Delphi, Indiana, 25 miles northeast of Lafayette, to wife Linda’s hometown, for a birthday celebration dinner for brother Stan, with sister Dr, Pat. 

We dined at Paretta’s Italian Ristorante on the courthouse square, city center Delphi, adjacent the Delphi Opera House, immediately opposition the Carrol County Courthouse - “La Tavola Where Everyone is Family”. 

In their words, “We carry on our heritage of immigrants who ventured to the United States in the late 19th century, seeking a fresh start and carrying with them the rich culinary traditions of Italy. At Paretta’s, we believe in doing things the hard way because it’s worth it. That means hand-rolling fresh pasta, creating mouthwatering dishes from scratch, and taking no shortcuts in our quest to serve you the finest Italian cuisine.”

What an incredible culinary discovery of this dine site -  quant, rustic, unpretentious, the food was outstanding, rivaling our favorite Italian dine sites at home, in Chicago, even New York City. 

The siblings, Linda, Stan and Pat

We could not have imagined such a delightful dinner, in a rustic Tuscan Mediterranean setting, with such extraordinary imaginative and thoughtfully prepared dishes. 

From the “Start the Table” appetizers we ordered the Bruschetta Board - Crostini Bread with Three Flavors - Margherita, Ricatta Honey and Pesto - three different preparations of bread and toppings - all were delicious,  and the Fried Ravioli with Marinera, Alfredo and Pesto Sausage - both were artfully presented and delicious, albeit the portions were small, suitable for two or three, but a stretch for four. 

For Main Course entrees we ordered the Baked Pasta - from the menu - choice of two types of pasta, penne or spaghetti, and choice of five preparations Marinara, Vodka, Alfreda, Bolognese or Pesto, and choice of addition of one of four meats, steak, meatballs, Shrimp or chicken. 

Linda ordered the Penne, Pesto and Steak, while Stan and I both ordered the Spaghetti, Bolognese and Meatballs. Both selections were extraordinary, artfully presented, delicious and ample proportions. 

Spaghetti, Bolognese and Meatballs 

Penne, Pesto and Steak 

Pat ordered the “Brunch Plates” the Calabrian Heat - Eggs, Calabirna Peppers, Pepperoni, Potatoes and Ricatta. 

For a finishing dessert course we had the home-made Tiramisu, which was delectatble. 

A surprising delightful and memorable outing, worthy of the journey. 

Our server Liz was great. 

Afterwards, on our way home, we drove seven miles north of town into the country to visit Arvin’s Acres Winery for a tasting flight of locally crafted wines. I wrote about that in a follow on blogpost - Arvin’s Acres Winery, Carroll County, Indiana. 

Pirouette Red Blend with Tomahawk Ribeye

Pirouette Red Blend with Tomahawk Ribeye

Saturday night dinner, we grilled out and ate on the patio, one of our favorite meals, grilled tomahawk ribeye beefsteaks with baked potatoe, asparagus and sweet corn. 

Linda masterfully achieved the perfect preparation of the steak, “Pittsburgh Style”, as its called, charred on the outside for extra flavor, a hot pink center.

For an ideal wine pairing to complement the dinner.I pulled from the cellar a Washington State Bordeaux varietal blend. 

Long Shadows "Pirouette" Columbia Valley Bordeaux Blend 2017

We hold nearly a decade of vintages of this label as part of our Long Shadows club allocations so as part of cellar inventory management, I pulled the oldest vintage release. I’ve written about earlier vintages of this label in earlier blogposts - Long Shadows Pirouette 2016 with beef roast, Long Shadows Duo Showcase Katy Business Dinner, and Long Shadows Pirouette 2014 at Sullivan’s Steakhouse.

. 

As I wrote in those earlier blogposts, this is one of our favorite labels for a Bordeaux varietal red blend, a sleeper, not well known or sufficiently regarded, given the pedigree of the winemaker and the quality of the product. 

This is the Bordeaux varietal red blend from the Long Shadows Vintners's Collection that features world class winemakers and Washington State Columbia Valley fruit. 

This label is produced by legendary winemakers Philippe Melka, named one of the top nine winemakers in the world by Robert Parker, in collaboration with Agustin Huneeus, Sr.. another legendary wine producer. I;ve written about about Philip Melka numerous times in these pages including that recent Sullivan’s Steakhouse post and previously - Château Boswell Napa Valley Estate Reserve Red Wine 2016. I featured Huneeus in a recent blogpost here - Faust Napa Cab with St Pat’s Dinner.

We’ve featured Long Shadows and their vintners collection, and our visit to their hospitality center and tasting room in Woodinville (WA) in these pages. 

We’re members of the Long Shadows wine club and hold nearly a decade of vintages of their various label releases. 

Checking our cellar inventory, we hold nearly a decade of vintages of this label so we pulled the oldest in our holdings. At nine years of age, this is likely at the apex of its drinking window.

The 2017 Pirouette is a left-bank Bordeaux blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 13% Malbec, and the rest Petit Verdot, crafted from small lots from Washington State's finest vineyards.  It was aged 22 months in French oak barrels with 85% being new.

 

Winemaker notes - “The Cabernet Sauvignon, primarily sourced from a collection of Red Mountain’s best vineyards, gives Pirouette the structure and textured richness that has come to characterize this acclaimed growing region. A small percentage of old vine Cabernet from Sagemoor Vineyard, planted in 1972, adds complexity. Merlot brings juicy richness to the finished wine. Malbec from Sonnet Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills adds spice. Finally, Dionysus Vineyard’s Petit Verdot enhances the wine’s color and contributes to the wine’s layers of intense aromas and flavors.’

“The 2017 Pirouette has an expressive nose with a firm core of dark fruit and mocha flavors, displaying a layered concentration of black cherry and well-integrated oak spices. Vibrant and full-bodied across the mid-palate, this is a texturally pleasing wine with a broad and lengthy finish.” 

This was a blockbuster release, rated 96 points by Jeb Dunnuck and International Wine Report, 94 by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and 93 by Steve Tanzer.

Dunnuck wrote - “It can be drunk today but will develop additional complexity with 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more.”

Dark ruby colored, full bodied, vibrant expressive blackberry, plum and black currant fruits with savory accents of cinnamon and clove spice, bitter dark chocolate and crème de cassis with smooth polished tannins on a sumptuous finish.

RM 94 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?3581703

https://longshadows.com/library/pirouette/6951

https://longshadows.com/

@LongShadowsWine

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