KBBC May Meeting: The Office, Paraparaumu

May 19, 2013 Meeting 

The Office Restaurant, Paraparaumu Beach

WineMaster – Stewart Macpherson

No photographer, so just Stewart's excellent notes and

A few notable Quotes…

 

"Conversation is the enemy of good wine and food." 
- Alfred Hitchcock

"Wine never dies. Instead it lives in the soul of the person who consumes it.."

- Baron Philippe de Rothschild


"Strategy is buying a bottle of fine wine when you take a lady out for dinner. Tactics is getting her to drink it." – Frank Muir

"There is no back label with a story, on a beer can”– Eli Callaway, founder of Callaway Winery

"Wine is sunlight, held together by water!" – Galileo Gallilei

"A mind of the caliber of mine cannot derive its nutrient from cows." – George Bernard Shaw

                                       

WINE 1 – on Arrival & with Starter of a  trio - oxtail reduction - with offals, Filo bouche and hot smoked salmon on beetroot relish with pickled vegetables

Feudi Di San Gregorio 2011 Falanghina RRP$31.99 Our Cost $31.99 (from Caro’s Wines) 13% Alc/Vol

                                    

The Capaldo Family: Winemakers at Feudi Di San Gregorio (Fiefs of St. Gregory)

Falanghina is an ancient Italian white wine grape, reportedly of Greek origin. It is also said that Falanghina is the grape variety behind Falernian, the most famous wine of Roman antiquity. There has been a renaissance of interest in Falanghina since the turn of the century, and there is now a movement to restore the reputation of this once venerated grape. Most Falanghina is grown in Campania, in southern Italy. The vines thrive in the porous volcanic soils around Mt. Vesuvius and the warm Mediterranean climate. The berries are yellow-skinned and coated with a thin layer of protective wax. As a wine it can have a slightly pine scent, but is better known for uts citrus blossom aromas, in particular bitter orange. On the palate it typically shows classic apple and pear flavours, with spicy or mineral notes.

                                                        

WINE 2 – with Beef Wellington – Prime Angus Fillet surrounded by puff pastry, paté and mushroom, with beef jus.

                                  

Luis Alegre Reserva 06 Rioja –RRP$34.99 Our Cost $28.99 (from Advintage) 14% Alc/Vol

Beautifully balanced Tempranillo from the Bodegas Luis Alegre team. Intense, meaty and aged 19 months in the bottle. The nose displays vanilla, cinnamon and tobacco. The palate is meaty and well balanced with mouth-filling flavours of spices and ripe fruit.Predominantly (90%) Tempranillo with select Rioja varietals blended; mellow Mazuelo, juicy Grenache and robust Graciano.

                              

Views of the Bodegas Luis Alegre

WINE 3 – with Beef Wellington – Prime Angus Fillet surrounded by puff pastry, paté and mushroom, with beef jus.

                                          

Ch.Clerc Milon 047 Pauillac – Average RRP$120. Our Cost $84 (from the vineyard) 13% Alc/Vol

The 45 hectare vineyard of Clerc Milon in Pauillac is planted to 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere. Clerc Milon adjoins two of the finest growths in the Medoc, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Lafite Rothschild, and is indeed now owned by Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The average age of the vines are old at close to 53 years of age. The vine density is the same as what is planted at Mouton Rothschild with 10,000 vines per hectare.

The wine of Chateau Clerc Milon is vinified in 40 stainless steel temperature vats which allow for very precise vinification of the vineyards 45 hectares of vines. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wine of Chateau Clerc Milon is aged in an average of 30% new, French oak barrels for between 14 and 18 months. The amount of oak and time in barrel depends on the character of the vintage.

                                                      

Winery at Chateau Clerc Milon

WINE 4 – with ‘Pera Pochado co Helado’ (Pear poached in Red Wine) and served with Cinnamon Icecream

Marcarini 2011 Moscato d’ Asti – RRP$28.99. Our Cost $28.99 (from Caro’s Wines)

5% Alc/Vol

Marcarini,  La Morra, Piedmont, Italy

One of the worlds most delicate and delicious, slightly sparkling (it is frizzante not spumante ) wines made in the world today. Made from the moscato grape (and coming in at a modest 5% alcohol) it is as though someone has crushed fresh grapes in your glass. As it comes from the cool north of Italy the crisp acidity gives the off dry fruit flavours real verve and thrust.