French Wine Dinner at Chez Joël Bistro Francais Chicago
We met fellow
Pour Boys
Dan with Linda and Lyle with Terry at one of our favorite eateries in
Chicago,
French Bistro Chez Joel on Taylor Street, in what used to be known as Little Italy, near the
Medical district, just south of the UIC Campus.
A passing summer
rain burst almost disrupted our plans to dine on the outdoor patio but
we pushed back our dinner but 1/2 hour and the skies cleared for a delightful
evening.
All our entrees were wonderful, tastfully and artfully
prepared and presented. I had the Seared Duck Breast & Leg Confit, one of the best I have
had anywhere, Dan and Lyle the Fresh Fish Special of the Day, Brook Trout, which resembled grilled
Salmon, and the ladies all had the filets of beef.
Prior to dinner we had appetizers of the Duck Liver Pâté, Frog Legs, Beet Salad and the Escargot.
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Chez Joel Filet of Beef
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Chez Joel Duck Confit
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Chez Joel Brook Trout
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We
ordered from the thoughtfully and carefully selected winelist a selection of French wines starting with
Chateau Mangot Bordeaux. I followed with a Crozes-Hermitage and then a
Brane Cantenac Margaux. For the dessert course I ordered a Sauterne while Dan and
Lyle had a Tawny Port.
Interesting that on our previous visit to Chez Joel, back in pre-covid 2019, we ordered these same two wines, the Crozes-Hermitage and the Mangot, which we also had on an earlier visit there back in 2013.
Maison Les Alexandrins Crozes-Hermitage 2017
Consistent with the earlier tasting, I recast my notes from that earlier blogpost.
While not as elegant, concentrated, complex or intense as some of the recent Syrahs featured in these pages, this is a fraction of their price. A fun and fitting comparison that holds its own very nicely against the pair of Croze-Hermitages we tasted in Paris last week (and the second one).
Crozes Hermitage is the biggest vineyard appellation area among the Northern Rhône appellations with 3200 acres. It is spread over 11 different communes situated in the department of La Drôme on the left bank of the Rhône River.
Deep purple ruby colored, medium bodied, bright vibrant black berry and
black cherry fruits, notes of smoky, spices and hints of black pepper,
nice balance of acidity, turning to smooth silky tannins on a long
finish. An outstanding QPR, high quality to price ratio wine.
RM 90 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/editnote.asp?iWine=3286227
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck - 90 pts
Reviewed by: The Wine Advocate - 90-92 pts
http://lesalexandrins.com/en/
Chateau Mangot St Emilion Grand Cru 2012
On
our last visit to Chez Joel we tasted the 2014 release of this label,
and prior to that, the 2009 release. Tonight's tasting was consistent
with that those earlier experiences.Of the previous visit I wrote the
post below.
For the entree course we selected this label which ideal with the steak and duck courses. We've had this wine before from the winelist at Chez Joel over the years,
in several vintages. It consistently represents great value in a
quality appropriate selection at a fair and moderate price-point.
This cru, is from the St Emilion Grand Cru
appellation, crafted from the Estate's 4 terroirs spread between the
foot of the slopes, slopes, terraces and plateaux. It is a blend of 85%
Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the 21
different plots that of the Estate vineyards.
Bright garnet colored, medium bodied, tangy black berry and black
currant and plum fruits, spice, floral and notes of anise and cedar, dry
with cloying tannins on the long finish.
RM 90 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/editnote.asp?iWine=2533218
https://www.chateaumangot.fr/en/
Château
Brane-Cantenac Margaux-de-Brane 2015
For the entree course I selected this Left Bank
Bordeaux from the Medoc. This is the third label of Château
Brane-Cantenac, Margaux. Owned by Henri Lurton, one of several Lurtons
to
own property in Margaux, the Lurton family has been at the helm
of the property for four generations .
From the Chateau review: "Created in the 18th Century by the De Gorce family who
gives it her name, this great vineyard produced yet, a century before
the classification of 1855, one of the most renowned wines of Médoc. The
Baron de Brane, called “the Napoleon of wines”, purchased the vineyard
in 1833 and devoted all his energy to this growth. He renamed the
property “Brane Cantenac” in 1838. In 1925, François Lurton, main
shareholder of Château Margaux, bought this prestigious growth. His son
Lucien, then, his grand-son Henri took over him at the head of the
property."
We drove past the the 75-hectare estate during our visit to and tours around Margaux back in 2018.
We've
long been fans of their Grand Cru but this was my first tasting on
record of their second label. It was delightful and in my book was the
WOTN - Wine of the Night of the Reds. I'll be seeking this out to add to
our cellar collection, a high QPR label for more budget conscious
sipping appropriate occasions.
Its
second wine is rich and concentrated with solid tannins as well as
generous blackberry fruits. It will be impressive as it ages. Drink from
2020.
From the 2015 vintage, a phenomenal ideal
vintage in Bordeaux such that the second and even the third labels of
top producers were exceptional, as 'all boats rise with the tide', as
the saying goes.
This release is a blend of
Bordeaux sanctioned varietals: 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon,
more akin to a Right Bank than a Left Blend composition.
Garnet
colored with hues of purple, medium full bodied, structured but elegant
and nicely balanced, expressive concentrated dark berry fruits with
bright floral notes accented by spice and hints of licorice, chocolate
and vanilla with a silky tannin lingering finish.
RM 91 points.
This was rated 92 points by Wine Enthusiast and 87 points by Vinous.
For the final dessert course I ordered this Sauterne that was a delicious, perfect accompaniment to the lava chocolate cake. Château Suduiraut Lions de Suduiraut Sauterne 2016
Like the previous selection, this too is the second wine of a well known prestigious Bordeaux Grand Cru.
Resembling its flagship first label big brother this was delicious and a perfect perfect accompaniment to the lava chocolate cake.
The history of Château Suduiraut began in 1580 with the marriage of
Nicole d’Allard and Léonard de Suduiraut. Classified as a Premier Cru
Classé (First Growth) in Sauternes in 1855, it has always been known as a
superb property (its neighbor is Château d’Yquem).
In the
1990’s, the estate was sold to French financial insurance conglomerate
AXA, who invested in the Château making significant investments in its
vineyards and winemaking facilities. This eventually translated into a
dramatic
increase in the quality of the wines.
The Suduiraut vineyards span 92 hectares consisting of gravel, sand, limestone and clay
soils on sloping hillsides. They are planted to 90% Semillon and 10%
Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is fermented in French oak barrels
and aged on its lees in 50% new French oak for 18-24 months. Lions de Suduiraut, their third label, is produced from almost
nearly 100% Semilon. This release was a blend of 93% Semillon and 7% Sauvignon Blanc.
It was aged 50% in new barrels and 50% from barrels of one vintage, for 16 to 18 months
Dark
golden, weak tea colored, medium bodied, sprites of sweet honey,
apricot with note of peach and glints of pear, citrus and notes of
lychee, stone fruit on a tongue coating unctuous finish.
RM 91 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3417749
https://www.suduiraut.com/
As usual and to be expected at Chez Joel, a wonderful, relaxing fun wine and dine evening.
http://chezjoelbistro.com/
