French wine dinner

Be sure to save the date for an upcoming French wine dinner at Terrapin -- it sounds très fabuleux! The Rhinebeck restaurant will be posting the menu for Feb. 5 (a Thursday) event at its Web site soon... UPDATE: The event will now be starting at 6:30 p.m. (probably so you can savor the wine ...)

The presenter will be boutique wine distributor Serge Dore, who will be pouring four French wines paired with a four-course meal in the Terrapin dining room. $49/pp. Reservations are required as seating will be limited. Call 845-876-3330.

Here is more info about the wines from Terrapin. By the way, if you are interested in French wine (and I am guessing that if you have read this far, you are ...) the upcoming (February) issue of HVC magazine contains a super column about the wines of Bordeaux.

Domaine De La Renjarde
Origin: AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages
Producer: Alain Dugas
Vintage: 2004
Alc%/Vol: 13%
Varietals: 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 12% Cinsault, 8% Mourvèdre

By The Wine Spectator:
"Solid, with a focused beam of red and black currant fruit woven with subtle toast, cocoa and mineral notes. Nice bit of grip on the finish."
89 Points

By Robert Parker:
"An excellent Côtes du Rhône made by Alain Dugas, the administrator of Chateau de la Nerthe in Châteauneuf du Pape, this blend of 60% Grenache and the rest
Syrah, Mourvèdre, etc. is soft, fruity, deep plum/ruby-colored with nice, spicy berry fruit intermixed with some pepper and loamy soil notes. Round tannins add to the
overall charm and seductiveness of this wine."
87 Points

Domaine Du Grand Tinel
Alexis Establet
Origin: Châteauneuf Du Pape
Producer: Famille Elie-Jeune
Vintage: 2005
Alc%/ Vol: 14.5%
Varietals: 99% Grenache, 1% Others

By Robert Parker:
"Fruity and soft, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Alexis Establet avoids the hard tannin character present in this vintage. This plump, attractive, opulently styled 2005 exhibits notes of figs, damp pine needles, sassafras, sweet currant and black cherry fruit, pepper, and spice. It is a delicious, broad, savory offering meant to be consumed now and over the next 12-15 years."
90 Points

By Stephan Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Deep ruby. Seductive bouquet of red and dark berry preserves, fresh flowers and minerals. Clean and brisk, with suave redcurrant and raspberry flavors, medium weight and silky tannins. Gains sweetness on the finish but maintains a sleek, focused personality. This is balanced to age but compelling already."
91 Points


Château Tour De Mirambeau
Origin: Bordeaux
Producer: Thibault Despagne
Vintage: 2006
Alc%/ Vol: 12%
Varietals: 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon, 20% Muscadelle

By The Wine Spectator:
"Rich for the appellation, with lemon, lime and apple pie. Full and balanced."
88 Points

By Robert Parker:
"An exquisite example of this over-achieving estate, the 2005 white exhibits plenty of honeyed apple as well as hints of cream, lemon zest, and grapefruit. Mediumbodied, crisp, dry, and refreshing, but obviously designed for near-term consumption, this is best drunk over the next several years."
90 points

Château Les Justices
Origin: Sauternes
Producer: Xavier Gonet
Vintage: 2005
Alc%/ Vol: 14.5%
Varietals: 90% Semillon, 10% Sauvignon

By The Wine Spectator:
"Aromas of apple tart, almond and spices. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, with a syrupy, spicy finish. Orange peel flavors."
91 Points

By Serge Dore:
"The AOC sauternes is special, the land, the river, the morning fog makes it all happen...the botrytis. Les Justices is a wine to be consumed in the early stages of its life...yellow color, clear and very viscous with aromas of apricot. The wine taste peach, apricot and sweet with some honey-like flavor...we personally enjoy it with prosciutto and
parmigiano on late Sunday afternoon...superb!"