Trefethen Wine Dinner @ DCC #trefethenfamily

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Wine Dinner

The last wine dinner I went to Don was out of town, so I took Gayle, his step-mother! She enjoyed the night as much as I did! Besides knocking over my wine glass the first moment we sat down, it was a beautiful night! The chef created food especially for Gayle because of her allergy to seafood and all was great! We sat at the table with the distributer and the winery owner, Janet Trefethen. 

Janet and me!

In the foyer, before entering the ballroom, we were offered either 2013 Estate Chardonnay (sold out) or 2012 Estate Merlot ($40) both from Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District. Both of these wines were paired with hand passed seared scallop crostini-almond caper butter and Trefethen grilled ahi tuna.

The four-course dinner was fabulous and each one was paired with the following wines. 

The first course: Sichuan Shrimp Salad with gingered riesling vinaigrette and crispy wontons. This was paired with a 2014 Estate Dry Riesling, ($25) Oak Knoll District Napa Valley wine. I don't normally drink a Riesling, but this one was a perfect complement with the salad. Very fresh and flavorful.

The second course: Grilled Lamb Chop with thyme and wild mushrooms and Texas peas. This was paired with a 2010 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, (SOLD OUT) Napa Valley. Bright complex flavors with a deep ruby red color and very delicious!

The third course: Smoked Filet Mignon with house made sausage and pappardelle with rife roasted tomatoes. This was paired with a 2013 "Dragon's Tooth" Blend, ($60) Napa Valley. They say it is good with all "beasts". It was a mouthwatering blend.

The fourth course: Orange Blosson Honey Panna Cotta with stone fruit and black plum reduction. This was paired with a 2013 Estate Late Harvest Riesling, ($50) Napa Valley. It reminded me of creme brûlée, which I love. 

Thank you, Janet, for coming to Dallas and for surviving the 2014 earthquake in Napa Valley! Readers, here is one pic from the internet of their historic building on the property that has been preserved after the quake!

More Roses'- Happy Pink Friday!

I still love Roses' even though it's not summer anymore! It's just so beautiful to see a glass of something pink! Happy Pink Friday everyone!

Here's a rose' we found in Dallas while shopping in a new market in Dallas-Fresh Market!

 

It's a 2014 Oronta Garnacha Rose' I have linked the name with the write-up from Fresh Market on Facebook. We loved this market and this wine. It's only $10 and worth drinking and rated 90 points by Stephen Tanzer!

We found this Spanish Rosado at Spec's in Dallas for our Mexican fiesta dinner with Meredith, Rory and all their friends. It's a 2013 Zestos Rosado of Old Vine Garnacha from Madrid, Spain. ($11) Fun rose' for your next Mexican fiesta!

2014 Chateau Haut Rian Bordeaux Rose' ($13)

"Light and fruity, but still structured and complex."

2014 Chateau Valcombe Epicure ($13) A completely dry rose' made of Grenache Noir (60%), Cinsault (20%), Carignan (10%) and a touch of Clairette (10%). Very nice rose'!

2014 Cotes De Provence Commanderie de Peyrassol ($22) We had this wine in Highland Park Village at Molto Formaggio during a wine and cheese class. "This wine is the classic representation of the pink-tinted wines of this region and is the workhorse wine of the estate.  It carries a pale rose color, a lovely fruit blossom nose and finishes crisply dry with a stony touch that gives it class and elegance. The grape blend is usually Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah in varying percentages."

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Rose' Reserve, Maison fondee a Reims en 1851 ($30). A powder pink rosé, with a delicate sparkle. A complex nose of homemade strawberry jam and fresh gingerbread. A deep wine with an aromatic finish. Beautiful rose'!

 Happy Friday or any day for that matter!

Spring Valley Vineyards-Frederick Red Wine from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State!

Don asked me what I wanted to do one Wednesday evening in March. The last cold front of the year was coming in, but the weather was gorgeous. The evening called for a patio somewhere. We brainstormed about places to possibly dine and then I remembered it was half-price bottle night at the club. We arrived and they had a table for us right by the windows looking out onto the golf course, which is where people always want to sit this time of the year. Then it dawned on us that we'd rather be outside. Even though we knew a spring storm was coming in late that evening, we felt safe enough to sit outside on the patio under the large orange umbrellas.

The hostess took us outside where we chose a table close to the walls out of the wind. We could hear the ducks quacking in Turtle Creek, which runs through the golf course. Geese were flying over the water and honking to each other and one large grackle was flying in for a landing on the patio waiting for someone to drop something. During the summer by the pool, if you leave your table, your food will be gone by the time you come back. The grackles watch the tables constantly and are known professional thieves!

The evening went off without a hitch, except for two light rain showers. We stayed in place under the umbrella and never got a drop of rain on us!

The wine we chose for the evening meal, which consisted of a fried artichoke appetizer, corn chowder for me and grilled trout for Don, was a red wine from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State.

2007 Frederick Cabernet Sauvignon Blend ($50). This highly structured, fruit-driven wine is a "New World" style blend. In France it would be called "Un Vin Charpente", meaning wine with a strong structure like a roof. A nose of candied plum, blackberry jam, and flowers leads to a soft-palate, with Cabernet Franc adding texture and vibrancy to the Cabernet Sauvignon. It also consists of 20% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.

Aaron, the club's sommelier, said we chose a perfect wine to try tonight. He usually decides for us, but we chose before he could get out to visit with us on the patio. This wine was delicious and one I would definitely have again.

This is on the bucket list of wine countries to visit!

  

"Call Me A Cab....ernet!" #StaglinWine #SeleneWines #DelDottoWine #BRANDLIN_wine #StSupery

 We've been lucky enough to have tasted some fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon wines this year due to my hubby's love and eternal search of the perfect  Cabernet! I have to also give great credits to our friend, Aaron Benson, the now past sommelier of the Dallas Country Club. Aaron has been so good to us and led us to many great Cabs we would have never tasted if it weren't for him. His talents, skills, and friendship will continue on into his next venture he has chosen. We wish him all the luck and blessings for his new career and marriage in November.

 2008 Salus Staglin Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($200) I found this wine on sale for that price! Whoa! It scored 94 points from Wine Spectator!Delicious!

2010 Volker Eisele Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($50). We found this one in Sonoma while on our winecation in June. Loved it! 92 points from Robert Parker! This is a medium to full bodied wine that will last over the next ten years.

2006 Selene Dead Fred Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) Napa Valley. This wine was amazing and a comes with a sad story about a long-deceased cat.  A wonderful wine worth finding or ordering. Medium to full bodied wine that will keep a long time in the cellar or drink right now. 

2012 Del Dotto Caves Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($55). This bottle was in our wine fridge and I don't know where it came from, but it was delicious. This winery is on my bucket list to visit. It looks gorgeous on their website! Check out the beautiful label!

2011 Brandlin Mount Veeder Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($60) an excellent choice Cabernet by Cuvaison Estate Wines, originally purchased from the Brandlin Family that settled the rocky slopes of Mt. Vedder in the 1870's. Fabulous wine!

And last by not least is a 2009 St. Supery Estate Grown, Family Owned Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley ($30). "This is a rich, structured wine with excellent depth and flavor."

Enjoy any or all of these Cabernet Sauvignons. You can't go wrong with any one of them. :)

#PalazzoWine DCC

This past May for Mother's Day, Don treated Gayle and I to the buffet at the Dallas Country Club! I love the Sunday buffet anyway, but this day was wonderful! Moms and their little sons and daughters running around everywhere, grandmas and grandpas being honored on this special day, and pictures taken everywhere you look! It was beautiful inside and out! 

 We dined in Turtle Creek Grill by the fireplace. Gift boxes of scented soaps were given to each mom at the reception area. Food was in every room and hallway elegantly displayed and gracefully served. It's what mothers dream of on this day (not having to cook!) I so appreciated the time of relaxation with Gayle and Don. I would loved to have been with my own daughters, but they live so opposite of each other (STL and BPT) and I can't divide myself in two pieces on one day! So FaceTime helped so much to be able to see them and talk with them and tell them how much I love them and what wonderful mothers they have become!

Aaron Benson, the club sommelier, stopped by the table to share a wine as a surprise for Mother's Day. It was delicious!

2012 Palazzo Cuvee' Blanc ($55), inspired by the great Bordeaux Blancs of France. It is "beautifully balanced and elegant" food wine made predominantly from Semillion grapes with a touch of Sauvignon Blanc (5%). A very "superior food wine".

Enjoy!

#BishopArtsDist #BlvdierDallas

Don and I recently met another couple in the Bishop Arts District for drinks and appetizers. I love the unusualness of this area. It looks like no other place in Dallas in which I am familiar. Located in North Oak Cliff, it is the home to many shops such as restaurants, art galleries, coffee shops, bars and boutiques. It's a fun place to visit, dine, shop, and people watch! I especially love the chocolate shop, Dude, Sweet Chocolate and Eno's Pizza!

The couple that we met chose Boulevardier as a location to meet and talk about paper, wine, and food! Chris is from England, so he was quite pleasant to listen to during the visit. Chris is very passionate about his family tree and a business his family had during the early 1900's. He and Don were cooking something up for the creative center at Clampitt Paper which sounded pretty interesting. We have visited their home in Lakewood and have seen the history and art that was passed down to Chris during the last century. Some of it will eventually be on display at the creative center.

While dining at Boulevardier, Chris and Don ordered a bottle of wine by Bret Brothers. The 2012 vintage is a white burgundy from France rated highly by critics.

This is a great Chardonnay that has aged well. Drink until 2016+ ($46).

Love the tees the servers wear at this restaurant!

Enjoy!

#EducatedGuessWn Roots Run Deep Winery in Napa!

This past summer we moved up near Belt Line to be near Cullum's school for his last two years at RISD. So we've been dining at some old places we used to dine when Don lived up in Addison. Chamberlain's is one of my favorite up north of HP/UP that I like for seafood. While I was on a very restricted diet for swimsuit season, I was still able to eat salmon, asparagus, and taste Don's wine.

This wine label says it all! Very interesting way they came up with the name of this wine. Below you will see that this a blend of many grapes, but mostly a Cabernet Sauvignon and that is why Don chose it as a glass of house wine for the evening. Very good wine!

The website says they are working on a location to have visitors, but right now the property is not permitted for tours and tastings.

Their other wine is called Hypothesis. Check it out here! It's produced by a BRAND new way of winemaking called FLASH DENTENTE. Well, I've never heard of it. It was used in France in the 1990's and only introduced in America in 2009. An interesting read for those that love wine and how it's produced.

Otherwise, just make an educated guess!

I'm done with the diet!

Kitchen LTO #KitchenLTO DeLoach Wines #DeLoach_Wines

Don's Vistage group (CEO's) had their annual retreat in April, which is usually out of town, but this year it was held in Big D in Trinity Groves. The retreat culminated with a dinner at Kitchen LTO right around the corner from Kate Weiser Chocolates! It was a blustery night, with severe storms looming over the region, and we left as soon as we finished eating.

Kitchen LTO is a permanent pop-up restaurant that reinvents itself twice a year. Two up-and-coming chefs and artists get to have a home in the restaurant for six months. So essentially a new restaurant is born two times a year. This means that there is a new menu concept and new art on the walls. The featured chef and artist now until December 31 is Chef Anastacia Quinones and Artist Crimson Shults. Check out the menu and all the information about the chef and artist on the link above. It's a cool concept!

For my wine choice of the night, I chose a 2013 La Reine Chardonnay ($17) from DeLoach Vineyards in California. This wine is a blend from three world-renowned appellations. Monterrey grapes give this full-bodied Chardonnay its dense fruit flavors, Sonoma County contributes to its luscious mouthfeel and texture, while Mendocino County adds brightness and add a long lingering finish.

Enjoy this California Chardonnay!

Kitchen LTO

Other Rose's We've Had This Past Summer!

There are so many roses' we've tasted this summer! While they are still on my mind and before it gets really cold for some of you, I wanted to share them!

Forgot to take a pic of the wine actually in the bottle!

2013 Skin Deep, Vin De Pays Des Cotes Catalanes ($16), a product of France, bottled by Dept. 66, Maury, France. This rose' is imported by Orin Swift Cellars in Sausalito, CA. I had this in Beaumont with my youngest daughter, Abigail and her husband, Daniel. He had picked it up at the local supermarket as a surprise for Abs and me. We liked it, but after reading reviews about it, some people say it is high in alcohol, so purchase at your own risk. So it's 15.7% as opposed to the usual 13.5 or 14%?! If you don't drink the whole bottle, then you're good, right?! We thought it was great!!!!

Chemin des Sables 2014 La Cote Revee ($10) light in color with a salted melon finish, not sweet but dry. Very delightful! The quintessential French rose' the people in Specs told me as I was looking at the bottle!

Sorry! Another empty bottle!

2014 Miraval ($22) produced at Chateau Miraval owned by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. It received rave reviews from wine critics. Wine Spectator named their first vintage in 2013 in the top 100 wines of that year. The retailer describes it as an 'intriguing pale pink rose with strawberry, white pear and floral aromas' with summer berry, wild herb and tangy tangerine flavours balanced by a refreshing acidity.' 

2014 Jolie Folle ($18) Vin de Pays de Mediterranee Rose A liter of rose from the Provence region in southern France. Do you you really need anything else during the spring and summer months? Light, zesty and classic, this is quintessential rose from Provence but with the added bonus of more volume and less drain on your pocket. The grapes for this wine are picked at night to maximize freshness and purity of fruit. The result is a gorgeous wine that is bursting with lush red fruits, tangy spice and a dash of minerality.

2014 Borsao Rose' ($10) "Red luminescent color with warm glows. Has a strong aroma of berries and sweets. Very young and fresh in the mouth, well balanced with its acidity, rich in floral nuances and spices."

I was afraid to try it, but found it to my liking. Very nice rose' from Spain! Garnacha seems to be perfect for rosé. This is a very good wine ... fairly complex, not sweet, just really good.

2014 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, ($28)  Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Los Carneros grown, produced and bottled in Napa, CA. A dry and aromatic rose' from whole cluster pressed organic Pinot Noir grapes. 

Until next time, enjoy your rose's!