Pour Boys Fall Wine Dinner features spectacular wines and food pairings
We hosted our Pour Boys wine group fall wine dinner. Bill & Beth came in from South Carolina, escaping Hurricane Ian, Dr Dan & Linda from Indiana, and Lyle and Terry out from the City.
We were joined by son Sean and Michelle and grand-daughter Lavender, recently new neighbors, and son Ryan and wine buddy Dave M.
Each time we think we have out done ourselves with a spectacular wine flight, we seem to step it up another level, and tonight was another such occasion.
We started with a pair of premium California Chardonnays with grilled scallops in beure blanc sauce, baked brie in pastry with toasted almonds and figs, with fresh berries and toast points, and deviled eggs.
Nickle and Nickle Sonoma County Russian River Valley Stiling Vineyard Chardonnay 2013
Sea Smoke Santa Rita Hills Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2010
Dan brought a recent release of this label which we set aside to drink this older vintage release.
Lyle wanted to try a certain St Julien Bordeaux from his cellar so I opened an older vintage of the same label for a mini vertical tasting of Château Branaire-Ducru. We then opened another Bordeaux from the same vintage for a mini horizontal tasting as well.
Château Branaire-Ducru St Julien 2005 and 2010
Linda and I visited and toured Château Branaire-Ducru Chateau winery and vineyards (below) during our St Julien Bordeaux Wine Experience in 2019. We also visited Pauillac and the vineyards and grounds of Château Pichon Lalande (below), one of my absolute favorite producers' labels.
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac 2010
As we then moved to the dinner courses we opened a selection of California Bordeaux varietals and blends, starting with Linda's stuffed mushrooms followed by chopped wedge dinner salad.
Linda then served grilled Tomahawk Rib-eye beefsteaks with a medley of grilled vegetables - corn, brussel sprouts, carrots, haricot verts, and onions, and scalloped potatoes.
Linda then served with the grilled Tomahawk Rib-eye beefsteaks a delicious medley of grilled vegetables - corn, brussel sprouts, carrots, haricot verts and onions, and her super scalloped potatoes.
Flight of California Bordeaux varietals and red blends -
Chateau St Jean 'Cinq Cepages' Sonoma Red Blend 1997
We have visited the magnificent Chateau St Jean in northern Sonoma Valley numerous times over the years during trips to Napa and Sonoma, including a couple visits with Bill and Beth.
Most recently we visited Chateau St Jean in Sonoma and did a Reserve Private Tasting with Dr Dan and Bill during our Napa Sonoma Wine Experience in 2017 (shown left).
Peter Michael 'Les Pavots' Red Blend 2011
Fellow wine buddy Ernie couldn't make it tonight. He's a wine club member from this producer and often brings this wine to our dinners. We've been fans and collectors of this wine for decades and pulled from the cellar this vintage release of a favorite label to match/compare with the same vintage Diamond Creek, another legendary label.
Peter Michael hails from Newbury in Berkshire, England where I worked for fifteen years back in the eighties and nineties. I regret this was in the early days before he became a legendary American wine producer and hospitality entrepreneur over there, and that I never got to meet him during my almost two hundred trips to the region.
Diamond Creek Vineyards Napa Valley Diamond Mountain Gravelly Meadow Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
We've visited Diamond Creek Winery on several occasions over the years. We did a private tasting with Bill and Beth during our Diamond Mountain Wine Experience - Diamond Creek Vineyards back in 2011, and then again with Bill and Beth and Dan for the Diamond Creek Open House 2015 Release Tasting in 2017 (shown left).
Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Vineyard Napa Valley Red Blend 2009
Brandlin Mt Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
We were then joined by son Ryan and his neighbor, wine buddy, Dave; Ryan brought a couple of big reds from Napa Valley and Dave brought a classic Aussie Shiraz/Syrah.
Ryan and Dave recently hosted a spectacular Boy's Night Out cellar tour and tasting that I wrote about in these pages.
Phillippe Melka 'Metisse' MontBleau Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Seven Apart 'Expedition' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Wine buddy Dave brought from his cellar this classic Australian Shiraz/Syrah signed by the producer.
Mollydooker Velvet Glove McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006
For dessert, Linda served her delectable chocolate mousse with homemade profiteroles with fresh berries and whipped cream.
To accompany the dessert course we pulled from the cellar an aged birthyear vintage port from Ryan's birth year.
Warres' Late Bottled Vintage Port 1982
As the evening progressed, to settle or substantiate debates and claims, and open questions about the Napa Valley vintage years 2004 and 2005, the guys ventured back down to the cellar to pull a couple Napa Cabernets from those vintages.
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| Ryan and Dave - photo from Caroline Ct Wine Boys 22 |
Darioush Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvigon 2004
Unless we manage another group dinner in the meantime, we'll next meet for our annual OTBN - "Open That Bottle Night", as is customary, the last Saturday in February. Following the seasons, we'll meet down on Seabrook Island in Charleston at Bill and Beth's. We hope then to possibly be joined by Bob & Gloria from Palm Beach County, and perhaps Ernie, and possibly Eric and Cathy, whom were all unavailable for tonight's gala.
