Domaine Serene & Ketcham Estate Wine Dinner

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sage on The Coast, http://www.sagerestaurant.com/, hosted a wine dinner this evening. The weather was very pleasant and we sat in the outdoor dining area. I was not familiar with Ketcham Estate wines http://www.ketchamestate.com/, . They are in the Russain River area od Sonoma.

Appetizer was "Tempura Prawns with Papaya Mustard, Roasted Figs with Proscuitto". The mustard was great, just a right balance between spicy and sweet. This was paired with the 2007 Domaine Serene Rockblock Viognier.

Next came "Sauteed Soft Shell Crab with Coconut Rice, Mango Salsa and Sirachia Aioli". The wine as a 2007 Ketcham Estate, Sonoma County Viognier. I personally liked this voignier better than the Domaine Serenc.

" Grilled Wild Salmon with Summer Vegetable Risotto and Roasted Tomato Sauce " was served with a 2007 Ketcham Estate Russian River Pinot Noir. This wine really opened up after awhile in the glass. It was still a little tight when first tasted.

Entree was "Roasted Duck Breast and Peaches/Blueberry Compote". A 2006 Domaine Serene Evanstad Reserve, Willamette Pinot Noir was paired with this dish. A good pairing the duck was perfect.

Main course was "Roast Rack of Lamb, Mushroom Potato Gratin and Market Vegetables". The wine paired with the lamb was a 2005 Domiane Serene Rockblock, Seven Hills, Walla Walla, Syrah. A great pairing.

Dessert was "Roasted Apricots and Cream with Burnt Honey and Shortbread.. The wine that was originally listed was substituted with the Tablas Creek dessert wine we had a couple of months ago.

The food was great and all the pairings were good. I did find that I liked the Ketcham Estate Viognier best and I really liked their Pinot after it opened up.

They have just recently retained Mike Browne of Kosta Browne as their winemaker. Ketcham Estate is allocation and the list is still open. Needless to say I added my name If Mike Browne does what he did to the Kosta Browne wines this should be a winery worth looking at.

I was lucky enough to get on Kosta Browne's allocation list before it closed. Steven Rigisch of Ketcham said that there is a waiting list of 12,000 to get on Kosta Browne's list.