Dr Dan and Linda hosted our Pour Boys Wine Group (sans Bill and Beth C who were traveling in St Julien, Bordeaux this week) for a gala summer dinner.
As is customary, we each brought a couple bottles of wines to share and compare for pairing with the food.
The ‘three amigos’ were reunited with Bob and Gloria flying in from Miami for the occasion.
Besides Linda and I and Bob and Gloria, we were joined by Dan’s friends, Joe and Linda, and Linda, as well as our Pour Boys Wine Group regulars, Ernie, Eric and Cathy and Lyle and Terry.
Dan laid out his usual selection of artisan cheeses, nuts, chocolates, crackers and smoked salmon.
The dinner feature theme this evening was ‘Sausage’ and there were five different sausages for the entree course, accompanied by corn on the cob, baked beans, potato salad, bean salad, quiche casserole and accoutrements.
The sausages included Joe’s homemade Italian Sausage with cheese, Sheboygan Bratwurst, Chicken Sausage, and Dan’s legendary family favorite, Cavapcici.
After dinner there was a dessert sundae bar with ice cream and toppings, and a broad selection of Linda M’s home baked cookies, brownies, pierogis and assorted artisan chocolates, nuts, fresh berries, melon and pineapple with yogurt.
The collective group brought a wide selection of white and red wines as well as sparkling wine and champagne before dinner, and after dinner ‘sticky’ dessert wines and a vintage port.
The White Wine flight included …
Domaine Wachau Ried Traunthal Gruner Veltliner Federspiel
Dr Loosen Erdenner Treppchen Mosel Riesling Ausliese 2019
Darioush Napa Valley Viognier 2010
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020
Sea Smoke Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2018
The Red Wine flight included …
Le Fonti Poggino Gran Selzione Chianti Classico 2018
Nino Negri Valtelina Superiore Inferno Ca’ Guicciardi (Nebbiolo) 2020
Sea Smoke Southing Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018
Peter Michel “Les Pavots” Knights Valley Red Wine 2012
Chateau Magdeleine St Emilion Premiere Grand Cru Classe 2011
Hickinbotham “Brook’s Road” McLaren Vale Clarendon Shiraz 2020
After Dinner dessert wines …
Chateau d’Yquem 2013
Far Niente Dolce Napa Valley Late Harvest 2014
Graham’s Vintage Port 1991
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020
Joe brought this classic, legendary Napa Valley crowd pleaser from Chateau Montelena.
Le Fonti Poggino Gran Selzione Chianti Classico 2018
Chateau Magdeleine St Emilion Premiere Grand Cru Classe 2011
Dan contributed from his cellar this vintage aged Bordeaux.
The dessert wine flight …
Chateau d’Yquem 2013
Far Niente Dolce Napa Valley Late Harvest 2014
Graham’s Vintage Port 1991
Lyle brought from his cellar collection this premium Vintage Port. This is one of the last remaining bottles of the four cases he acquired of this label upon release. We’ve enjoyed tasting this wine over the last three decades as it has aged gracefully.
At 30 plus years, the label, foil and most importantly the fill level were ideal for the age. Lyle was able to extract the cork using an ahso two pronged cork puller, necessary as the aged cork was starting to crumble and would’ve likely crumbled and disintegrated using a customary corkscrew.
At thirty-four years, this is entering another stage of its tasting profile, perhaps, some would argue, now reaching the apex, but, the last stage of its optimal tasting window.
Chateau d’Yquem 2013
Ernie brought from his home cellar, multi-decade vertical collection, this ultra-premium classic Sauternes Chateau D’Yquem, always a special treat! We’ve enjoyed this label in several of our wine dinners including D'Yquem, Quintessa, Saxum Highlight OTBN 2016 - Three tastings flights.
Far Niente Dolce Napa Valley Late Harvest 2014
Linda brought this imaginative, rare, ‘new world’ late harvest Sauternes style ‘botritized’ dessert wine, Dolce - a wonderful comparison to the classic ‘old world’ legend Chateau d’YQuem. Ironically, I pulled from our cellar and considered bringing this same label, albeit a different (older) vintage. It was great that Linda brought this for a special comparison and pairing. It also allowed me the opportunity to witness the aging of my vintage bottle (s).
This is from ultra-premium Napa Valley producer Far Niente who boast being “America’s only winery to specialize in a single, exquisite dessert wine crafted in the cherished Sauternes style”. They have fun with this wine they call ‘Dolce’, which derives is name from “Dolce far niente", an Italian phrase that translates to "the sweetness of doing nothing”.
This is from ultra-premium Napa Valley producer Far Niente who boast being “America’s only winery to specialize in a single, exquisite dessert wine crafted in the cherished Sauternes style”.
They have fun with this wine they call Dolce, which derives is name from “Dolce far niente", an Italian phrase that translates to "the sweetness of doing nothing".
https://farniente.com/wineries/dolce
Thanks Linda and Dan for hosting another festive gala dinner.
