Red Car Wine dinner at Chianina

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

This was a new wine label for me. I had never heard of them before. But I will say I enjoyed their wines far more than the Duckhorn wines at last months dinner.

We started out with a selection of canapes. Scallop chips, Crab Roll, Oysters on the half shell and Fried Pork Foie Terrine. All very good but I was really partial to the Pork Foie Terrine.  Paired with a 2016 Rose of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast. Very light and it grew on you the more you tasted.

Second course is a Tasmanian Ocean Trout with English Peas, Fava Beans and Madras Curry. This dish was excellent. The Ocean Trout is similar in texture and taste to salmon. Skin was crispy. The accompaniments  were perfect for the fish.  A 2103 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast was the wine selected. I did detect a very slight oak taste. Turned out to 3% in new French Oak barrels and the remainder in neutral. Very good chardonnay.

Next was Nettle Cavatelli, Slow Cooked Egg, Grana Cheese and Crispy Pancetta. Flavors were wonderful but somehow I just cannot get into Cavatelli. I think it is because it is too dense. I prefer Gnocchi.  served with a 2014 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast. Good wine.

Fourth course is a Superior Farms Lamb Ribeye, Green Garlic Sauce, Asparagus and Morrell Mushroom. Meat was perfect. . Wine was the best of the evening. A 2014 Pinot Noir, Fort Ross-Seaview. This was a really beautiful wine. A very good pairing.

Fifth course is a Chianina Ribeye, Spring Onion, Roasted Potatoes, Bacon and Black Truffle. Again a great dish. Paired with a 2012 Syrah, Fort Ross-Seaview. 

Dessert was a Passionfruit Sorbet with Vanilla Crumble. A perfect ending to a heavy meal.

All the food was excellent. They did a great job on this dinner. Only negative was that the Salted Honey Rolls fell flat. Did not taste salt on them at all and that is what really make this roll taste good. 

This dinner was not sold out which is too bad. It was so far superior to the Duckhorn dinner in food and wine. Negative was that the winery owner did not visit out table. We had a wine rep that two a sort time and that was it.