Backyard Dinner with Larry Schaffer and Tercero Wines

 Friday, August 20, 2021

Dave & Louise Solzman of  Chef Louise's Catering held another delightful backyard dinner at their home. This time with Larry Schaffer, winemaker and owner of Tercero Wines.  Weather was perfect, a very slight breeze and warm evening.  Dinner again limited to 30 people. 

Started out with Jumbo Scallop Ceviche with Avocado and Micro Cilantro. Scallops were perfect. Paired with a 2020, Tercero,  Clairette Blanche, Santa Ynez Valley, Happy Canyon. $33.  Interesting wine. I really preferred the taste when it warmed up just a tad. Tart but not acidic. A perfect pairing

Next is Tea Smoked Duck Breast Salad with A Dried Cherry Vinaigrette. Duck was exceptionally good, moist and tender.  The vinaigrette was the right touch for the greens. A 2020 Tercero Nouveau Cinsault , Zaca Mesa Vineyard, $30, was the chosen wine. Carbonic maceration.  Wine paired  very well with the duck but it just did not grab me.

Third course is Coq au Vin Farro Risotto. Again a very good dish. Tender chicken and the farro was a perfect play for it. Wine is a 2017 Tercero,  Carignane, a Spanish grape sourced from Camp 4 Vineyard, Santa Ynez, $38. An excellent pairing.

Main dish is a Filet Mignon au Pouvre with scalloped potatoes. Meat is cooked perfectly to a medium rare. Paired with a 2014 Mouvedre, sourced from Larner Vineyards, Ballard Canyon,  Zaca Mesa Vineyards in Los Olivos and Camp 4 Vineyards in Santa Ynez, $44. I have always liked this Mouvedre. Big, jammy with out being overly. 

Dessert is a Peach Galette with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream. A nice ending to the meal The new 2020 Outlier  a dry Gewürztraminer, Carrari Vineyards, Los Alamos. $33,  was the wine selection.  Larry has not made this wine since 2014 as his source of grapes dried up. Luckily he found another source. Wine is excellent with spicy foods but it was a perfect pairing with this dessert. 

Another beautiful night under the stars (and helicopters from the airport). I wave at the helicopters flying overhead just in case it will show up on the evening news. 

Looking forward to next months dinner. Karen Steinwachs and Buttonwood Wines.