dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
 | | 02/24/2004 1:18 PM |
| This ended up being a very small off-line, just four of us: capitolkat, travelrep, jabberva from the WS board, and myself.
We picked Lavandeau for our first repeat restaurant for these monthly off-lines for a good reason, no corkage on Mondays. As last time, the food was excellent. I started with escargot and then had the excellent beef stew. The stew had lots of red wine in the fixings and was topped with an excellent mac and cheese in a French style. Excellent example of French country cooking. I ended with the cream brulee. I'll leave it to the others to say what they ate, but everyone seemed very pleased with their food.
The wines.
2001 Ken Wright Nysa Vineyard Pinot Noir
Lean and bright, it had lots of rasberry and mineral tastes. Nice long finish, not too tannic (not overly so at least) an excellent example of a CA PN that wasn't made in the "over the top" style. 90 pts.
1999 Chateau La Roque Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St.-Loup Cupa Numismae
Powerful wine, supprisingly so for a Languedoc. Lots and lots of fruit, plum and cherry, with notes of leather, spice and minerals. Very concentrated. When we first tasted it everyone commented on how much fruit it had. 92 pts. It would have been my WOTN except that the next wine was
2001 Clarendon Hills Old Vines Grenache
When we poured this it shouted FRUIT. The aroma just exploded out of the glass to your nose. Very extracted. This is the definition of a chewy wine. I know why those who love that extracted style love this wine. Lots of plum and currant flavors, this is one of those love it or hate it wines. I loved it. 93 pts.
Dessert was served with2000 Schramsberg Cremant
Slightly sweet, with vanilla and cherry nose. It was smooth and very tasty. I am not much of a fan of sparklers, but this was quite good. 88 pts. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 02/24/2004 1:46 PM |
| Nice to hear of another successful DC Crü event, dw. I hope the others chime in with their thoughts!  | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 02/24/2004 1:49 PM |
| | Who knows TJ, you might be able to make the next one. In fact, aren't you planning the March get together? | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 02/24/2004 1:56 PM |
| | Hmmm. I think I am supposed to, but I think also that Jaimetown and JohnnyB are trying to get something worked out for post MacArthur Beverages' Barrel Tasting thingie. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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travelrep
Northern Virginia
Barrel Filler
Posts:1080
| | 02/24/2004 2:18 PM |
| Time for my two cents...
Although it was a small off-line, the company, food and wines were great. First time meeting Jabberva and Capitolkat and good to see Dinwiddie again. Maybe sometime in this century TJ will attend and I'll be able to see that he exists in the flesh...
I started with the same escargot appetizer that Dinwiddie had. Then it was grilled shrimp and scallops over a bed of lentils, beans and sauteed spinach and ended the meal with three small scoops of sorbet with fruit. A very good meal at a reasonably affordable price.
As for the wines, I'd have to agree with Din's assessment of them. They were all good, but I'd also say that the Clarendon Hills Grenache was my wotn.
Thanks for the cameraderie, food, wine and an all around good evening.
T-rep | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 02/24/2004 2:31 PM |
| Sounds like a good time fellas. Glad to hear you liked the Clarendon Hills, I just picked up a bunch I plan to hide away for a few years before opening.
Cheers
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"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Bottler
Posts:3411
| | 02/24/2004 2:56 PM |
| | Sorry I couldn't make it guys, I was looking forward to some good wine and food. I went home sick yesterday from work and found out that the friends we hung out with on Sunday night both had strep throat - so it was a good thing I didn't attend this OL. | | | |
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dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 02/24/2004 4:07 PM |
| | Fred, where did you pick it up. After drinking it last night, I told myself I had to try to find some. | | | |
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norm herring
Grape Sorter
Posts:232
| | 02/24/2004 5:05 PM |
| This was another fine evening of good fellowship , good food and wine. It doesn't get any better. The Clarendon Hills was worth the trip alone. I love my Schramsberg and really enjoyed it with my profitteroles, The La roque was also exceptional with bright cherry flavors, smooth finish and it went well with my Tuna, which was prepared perfectly -served with a hickory flavored mashed potato, and the Wright Pinot was a nice companion to my country pate. the Bread was crisp as was the conversation, and the prices were right.
By the way Fred if you have a sales point for the Clarendon I would love to know. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 02/24/2004 5:18 PM |
| Man, I need to make one of these again soon, I am missing out on meeting travelrep and capitolkat and seeing jabberva again (haven't seen ya since Equinox).
must plan on figuring out how to attend next thingie | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 02/24/2004 5:33 PM |
| Sorry kids I got the Hickenbotham not the old vines. Check these places thought
the Wine Chateau. They will ship.
1-877-755-4529 ask for Wade.
www.finewine.com | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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Jim Hanlon
Barrel Filler
Posts:1205
| | 02/24/2004 11:46 PM |
| Always nice to read about these events, especially as a former DC resident. I'm back in DC next week, and may check out Lanandou on Monday with the free corkage -- thanks for the tip.
BTW, the Ken Wright Nysa is from the Dundee Hills in Oregon, not California. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 02/25/2004 2:35 AM |
| | Palena's even better, even if you do have to pay $20 corkage. But Lavandou is quite fine | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 02/25/2004 2:11 PM |
| | apparently TJ is a paid spokesman for Palena. I gotta go soon TJ and discover this amazing food. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 02/25/2004 2:13 PM |
| Actually, the next place on my hit list is the Minibar located inside of Cafe Atlantico.
heh heh heh | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 02/25/2004 2:24 PM |
| | In fact, Palena is just up the street from Lavandeau. It is right at the entrance of the Cleveland Park Metro station. | | | |
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Corkage
Grape Puncher
Posts:975
| | 02/25/2004 3:00 PM |
| Sounds great guys. Fred, that Clarendon Hills was good, yeah?
I will make March, wherever that may be. | | | |
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norm herring
Grape Sorter
Posts:232
| | 02/25/2004 4:21 PM |
| I just got the last 4 bottles of the Clarendon from KL wines in SF-- I don't ordinarily do this but it was special so I went on line to find it.
yummy-- Parker says it will age well for the next 7-10 years | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 02/25/2004 5:33 PM |
| | Sehr Gut. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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