2010-2011

---

31) September 25, 2010

Bordeaux 1996 Left Bank Vertical

Venue: Characters Fine Dining

Flight 1:
Chateau Langoa Barton (St. Julien)
Chateau Gruaud Larose (St. Julien)
Clos du Marquis (St. Julien)
Flight 2:
Chateau Kirwan (Margaux)
Chateau Brane-Cantenac (Margaux)
Chateau Calon-Segur (St. Estephe)
Flight 3:
Chateau Sociando-Mallet (Haut Medoc)
Chateau Pontet Canet (Pauillac)
Mystery Wine (a 1996 Bordeaux style wine from outside of Bordeaux, but where???)

*The mystery wine was 1996 Dominus from Napa Valley.

32) October 26, 2010

Regional tasting: Burgundy

Venue: The Wine Cellar

33) November 13, 2010

Sparkling Wines and Sushi

Venue: Mikado South Common

1) Edamame and spinach with a black sesame sauce, paired with Langlois Carmin Dry non-vintage (100% Cabernet Franc sparkling wine from the Loire Valley, France).
2) Sashimi sampler plate paired with Veuve Clicquot 2002 Vintage Champagne.
3) 2 fresh raw oysters.  One paired with quality cold sake, the other paired with Chartogne-Taillet Champagne "Sainte-Anne" non-vintage.
4) 1 piece Dragon Eye and deep fried shrimp with Shishito (Japanese mild pepper), paired with Gaston Chiquet Champagne Blanc de Blancs non-vintage.
5) 2 pieces salmon sushi "pizza" paired with Devaux Cuvee Rosee Champagne non-vintage.
6) Chef's special: salmon ball with shiitake mushroom, paired with Rolet Pere et Fils Cremant du Jura, non-vintage.
7) 2 pieces Mango Tango roll and 2 pieces Sunset Roll, paired with Devaux Blanc de Noirs Champagne, non-vintage.

34) November 27, 2010

Canadian Wine Cage Match: Battle Syrah!

Venue: Devine Wines and Spirits

Wines:

Two Hands Bella's garden Shiraz

Rosenbloom syrah

Camplezen Syrah

La Frenz Shiraz

Cedar Creek Platinum Syrah

Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Syrah

Sandhill Small Lots Program Syrah

Painted Rock Syrah

35) February 22, 2011

The many styles of Riesling: food and wine pairing

Venue: Tzin Wine and Tapas

1) Dry Alsatian - 2008 Trimbach Riesling

2) Dry New World - 2007 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Riesling (Ontario)

3) Off-Dry Canadian - 2008 Vineland Semi -dry Riesling

4) Off-Dry German - 2008 Selbach - Oster Kabinett

5) Sweeter German Auslese - 1989 Jos. Christoffel Jr. Riesling

6) Dessert - 2005 Mission Hill SLC Riesling Ice Wine 

Food menu from consulting chef Blair Lebsack:

1) Chick pea caldo verde calabrese & prawns
2)Warm Camembert & Pear Crostini with shaved ricotta salata
3)Scallops a la plancha
Chorizo broth (or lobster broth)
Fennel- horseradish slaw (fennel, radish, green onion, horseradish, white wine vinegar, honey)
4) 5-Spice Duck Salad Rolls (carrots, braised duck, red onion, mâché, zucchini)
Ginger gastrique, crushed cashews (sliced duck breast on top)
5) Brown sugar brined pork tenderloin.. Sweet potato purée, stewed apples
6) Stone Fruit Crumble, Sheep cheese custard

36) March 26, 2011

The Godfather Tasting: an evening of wine and cinema from Francis Ford Coppola.
Location: Pigogo Gallery

 Screening the first of the three Godfather movies and also enjoying ten wines from the Coppola line from California, paired with catered munchies from D’Lish.
 

Reception wine: Sofia Blanc de Blanc.
 

Flight One:
-Coppola Diamond Collection Chardonnay (vintage TBA)
-Director's Cut Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2006
-Director's Cut Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (vintage TBA)
 

Flight Two:
-Coppola Diamond Collection Claret 2007
-Director's Cut Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2007
-Rubicon Estate Cask Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
 

Flight Three:
-Rubicon 2001
-Rubicon 2004
-Ruibcon 2005

Food:

1) Duck confit and shaved pink lady apple salad on wilted arugula with an orange and vanilla vinaigrette.

2) Radicchio risotto with Saskatoon berries - I know this sounds strange but it is delicious.

3.  French onion soup with the cheesiry pecorino gratin.

4)  Braised beef cheeks with a roasted root vegetable salad ( Sun chokes, beets and parsnips), and a black current demi glace sauce.

5)  Chocolate souffle with a cherry compote.  

37) April 29, 2011

Cellar Diminishment Fundraiser Dinner for Edmonton’s Food Bank

Venue: Characters Fine Dining

Reception wine:

-Domaine Barat Chablis Premier Cru Les Fourneaux 2002

Flight one: Portuguese dry reds.

-2007 Quinta do Vale Meão “Meandro”

-2005 Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines (Wine Spectator #3 wine of the year, 2008)

-2007 CARM Douro Reserva (Wine Spectator #9 wine of the year, 2010)

Flight two: mini-vertical of Chateau Musar from the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.

-1998 Chateau Musar 

-1999 Chateau Musar 

-2000 Chateau Musar 

Flight three: Bordeaux style blends.

-2005 Montes Alpha M, Chile

-2001 Clos du Marquis, St. Julien, Bordeaux

-2004 Cliff Lede Poetry, Stags Leap District, California

Food:

Course 1: Duck Cassoulet with the Portuguese reds.
Course 2: Spaghetti with pork belly, sausage, sundried tomato with the Chateau Musar vertical.
Course 3: Grilled lamb skewers with the Bordeaux blends.

* We raised $900 in donations for Edmonton’s Food Bank at this event.

38) May 24, 2011

Best of BC Wines

Venue: Private home

1) 2009 JoieFarm "A Noble Blend."

2) 2007 Blue Mountain Pinot Gris Reserve (Stripe Label).

3) 2008 Cedar Creek Platinum Chardonnay. 

4) 2007 Quails’ Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir. 

5) 2006 Red Rooster Meritage. 

6) 2007 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc. 

7) 2006 Road 13 Fifth Element 

8) 2002 Summerhill Pyramid Platinum Series Pinot Noir Ice Wine.