Essex County Wine Society

 

 

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Essex County Wine Society

August 12, 2010

 

Dear Fellow Wine Society Members and Friends,

Greetings from the Office of the President. Strangely it looks just like my dining room at home.  After 25 years as a member I am honored to serve as President. Now I can finally answer all those who ask "What do you do all day when you are retired?".

Our 2010-2011 season will start September 12th with our Fall Dinner. We will be returning to  Vine in Basking Ridge which we all enjoyed for our Spring Dinner in May 2007. Vine remains as one of the top  dining choices in the Basking Ridge/Bernardsville area with Zagat raising its food rating to 25 (from 22) and service to 24 (from 21) in the most recent survey. The restaurant is very "wine friendly" often sponsoring wine dinners itself. Our Dinner Committee has worked with the chef to create the following menu matched with our wine selections:

Hors d'ouvres & Champagne
Salmon Tartare, Lemon Caper Zest
Buratta on Endive, Drizzled with Basil Infused EVOO
Mini Crab Cakes, Citrus Buerre Blanc
Braised Beef on a Stick

Champagne- Nicolas Feuillatte NV Brut Rose  (Rated 89 by WS, Nov '09, "This is spicy, showing strawberry and cherry flavors that fold nicely into the rich texture. The spice elements continue from start to finish. Nice length.")

Dinner Menu
1st Course
Pan Roasted Yukon Gold Potato Gnocchi, Butter Sage Sauce

Wine - 2008 Domaine Raymond Dupont-Fahn Chaumes des Perrieres (an excellent white burgundy from a vineyard adjoining Meursault Premier Cru Les Perrieres selected by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee)

2nd Course

Ahi Tuna over Warm Lentil & Crispy Prosciutto

Wine - 2004 Nicolas Potel Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits (Bill Nanson, Burgundy-Report says  "Medium-plus cherry-red colour. The instant aromatic impact comes from red fruit notes before a stronger, mineral/cedar element takes over. The less wine you have in your glass, the more wonderful it smells, lovely red fruits."

 

 

3rd Course
New Zealand Rack of Lamb, Ratatouille, Fresh Thyme Sangiovese Syrup

Wine - 1996 Chateau Lynch Bages  (Robert Parker's last WA review in June 2000 "In the flight of young wines, with all the vintages of the nineties represented, this wine stood out for its absolute purity of creme de cassis, ripe fruit, medium to full body, high tannin, wonderful sweetness, massive richness on the mid-palate, and abundant power, density, and ripeness. It is clearly the finest Lynch Bages since the 1989 and 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025." For a humorous contrast see WineLibrary TV episode #183).

Cheese Course
Manchego, Tellagio & Blue Veined Cheese

Wine - 1986 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes (Wine Advocate Jan '98, " the 1986 is a super concentrated, aromatic wine with gobs of botrytis, and creamy, unctuous, peach, pineapple, and apricot flavors", rated 92 WA & 93  WS)

Dessert
Mini Warm Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Gelato

If you wish to sit with particular members at the dinner, please indicate the names on the attached response form and we will do our best to accommodate you. Be sure to respond by Friday September 3, 2010.

For directions to the restaurant please call the restaurant or check their website  www.Vinerestaurant.net . Plenty of parking is available on site.

Details of the Fall Dinner are as follows:                                         

                                              Date:                     Sunday, September 12, 2010

                                              Reception:            5:00 p.m. 

                                              Dinner:                  6:00 p.m.

                                              Attire:                    Smart casual

                                              Location:               Vine

                                              Address:               95 Morristown Road(Route 202)

                                                                             Basking Ridge NJ 07920 

                                              Telephone:           908-221 0017

                                              Cost:                      $110 members

                                                                             $130 non-members &  guests

Hope to see you all there!

Dennis Roland                      "Only the first bottle is expensive"  French proverb

2010-2011 Tasting Events

Sep 12, 2010

Fall Dinner-VINE

Oct 7, 2010

Lopez de Heredia Rioja

Mahesh Lekkala

Nov 4, 2010

Cali  Zinfandel

Dr. Melvin Brown

Dec 2, 2010

2007 CdP

Gil Bauer

Jan 13, 2011

Veneto Reds

Doug Salthouse

Feb 3, 2011

Loire Whites

Dick Appert

March 3, 2011

Washington Cabs

Ron Schwartzman

April 7,2011

Ch. Rauzan-Segla Vertical

Dennis Roland

May 1, 2011

Spring Dinner-tba

 

 

 

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