Grand Cru Bordeaux Dinner

Tuesday. January 24, 2017

Dinner at a private residence tonight. Small group of 7. Theme was "Bordeaux" and the host was pouring Grand Cru's.  

We started out with an array of appetizers.  Cheese plate, crackers, chips, seared salmon with sauces, seared ahi with citrus soy sauce, hummus, pesto, marinated olives, fried vegetable birds nest.  I had some chevere cheese a few crackers, a piece of salmon and a piece of ahi. What the others tasted like I have no idea.  Way too many and conflicts of taste. To me this many appetizers is dinner.

Dinner consisted of Chateaubriand with seasoned juices, two kinds of bernaise and sauteed mushrooms in gravy. Roasted potatoes, roasted mixed vegetables, baby carrots, roasted brussel sprouts with leeks and bacon, cauliflower gratin and baguette bread.

The beef had very good flavor, cooked perfectly for me and very tender. Downfall was it was not warm. Part of that probably was one guest was  late and we did not start plating until after her arrival.  There were two bernaise sauces. I tried one and it was good. I had some if the mushroom gravy but it was also luke warm and had canned sliced mushrooms instead of sliced fresh. Had one roasted potato, a spoonful of mixed vegetables which I could have done without. The Brussel sprounts were very good as was the gratin.

Again as per my palate, two many flavors competing with each other. Do less dishes and concentrate of making what you do outstanding. A lot of times "less is more".  Also if someone is more than 10 minutes start without them. The food was all luke warm and it took away from the flavors and enjoyment of the food.

Even the bread had issues. It was heated in the over but the crust was chewy not crisp.  Frankly I thought it was heated in the microwave. It was a baguette and they should have crisp crusts. Heat them whole then cut them.

The wines were excellent. 1995 Chateau Chauvin, St. Emilion, Gand Cru Classic was my favorite.   2006 Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Grand Cru Classic. Opened up quite nicely after an hour or so in the decanter. 2006 Chateau Mondorion, Grand Cru, 29010, Chateau de Chanlegrine, Graves. 2005 Reignac, 2010 Chateau Vellois. A 2005 Chateau Coutel, Premiere Cru Classic, Sautherne-Barsac was the last served with dessert.  

Dessert was a pineapple upside down cake with berries.

We had a range of conversations, from political  to porn and everything in between.  I was the only republican in the group but I swing between very conservation and fairly liberal,  depending on what it is. I am basically more of a constitutionalists. 

I was also the only one working so I had to depart earlier than the rest. I am sure the conversation kept going at a good pace. An enjoyable evening with a good group of interesting people.