Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Friends Spring Fling Wine Dinner Delivers Fun

Cheers to Friends!

COVID kept this group of friends bottled up for far too long. Time to uncork the bottles!

The beginning of spring was ushered in with a private wine dinner at Cellar 55, to salute fun and friendship. The event  featured dishes by Chef Jounte Burwell and wines from Nina Escobar from Cellar Distributing.

Mauzac and Nuts & Berry Salad

Pierre Brut Nature Mauzac and Nuts & Berry Salad

The opening salad dish said “spring” in every possible way. It featured mixed greens, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, feta cheese and toasted almonds. This wine comes from the Limoux region in southern France and is made with Chenin Blanc and Mauzac. Nice bubbles with notes of green apple. A great starter for the evening.

Rosé and Gazpacho

Mary Taylor 2020 Saint Pourcan Rosé and Gazpacho

Gazpacho is another perfect spring dish – a chilled tomato soup. The soup was finished with cucumbers, red onions and cilantro. This is a 100% Gamay rosé that is copper in color and hails from the Loire region. It has a lovely taste of dried cherries and peach.There is a good acidic backbone, which made for a superb pairing.

Voces Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Filet

Voces El Viajero 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley and Petit Filet

The wine was crafted by winemaker Fernando Candelario, who was born in Mexico. The wine is plush with juicy blackberry and currants. The finish is smooth and silky. This wine is aged in both American and French oak and the flavors are well integrated. The filet rested on a thin bed of polenta and was finished with a red wine sauce.This was a heavenly combination of vino and cuisine!

Chef Jounte and Tokaji

Arvay 2018 Tokaji Edesem and Chocolate Pot de Crème

The final dessert, a Chocolate Pot de Crème, featured fresh berries, French cream, and mint. Paired with the dish was the Arvay Tokaji, which is a famous dessert wine from Hungary. This wine is usually made with Furmint, but for this one the Muscat grapes are used. The Tokaji gains its special flavor thanks to noble rot – a mold called botrytis that feeds on the water in the grapes and concentrates the grape sugars into honey-like sweetness. The only thing sweeter than this wine was the opportunity to gather with friends free of COVID isolation! Special thanks to Caroline Greer for organizing the dinner.

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