Dinner - Blacksburg (My House) Traditional Italian

After a group effort on the last dinner, I decided to take the reins and flex my culinary muscles, or lack there of. It was a struggle to get things on the table and I gambled with a few new recipes but prepared by loosening the mood and all the guests' palettes with lots and lots of wine. We paired only three wines but consumed no less than twelve bottles all different styles and varietals. We tried, a Samorens Cotes du Rhone 2010, a Bollenberg Gewurztraminer 2011, a Muscadet Servet et Maine Sur Lie 2011, Mandla America White 2010, Paradox Cotes du Rhone 2009, Buzet Family Reserve NV, and Vin de Pay du Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc to name a few. This was a true tasting. 

The three wines we choose to use for the dishes were the; Chateau D'Orschwihr Gewürztraminer from 2011 with Pasta Primavera for the antipasti, a  Samorens Cotes du Rhone  from 2011 with  Chicken Fontina for the segundo, and a Shotfire Red from 2010 with a Tiramisu for the Dolce.

First Course

Chateau D'Orschwihr Gewürztraminer 2011 + Pasta Primavera
The Gewurztramier caught me off guard. This wine absolutely wreaked of honey. It was almost comparable to a mead. I was shockingly disappointed with its performance. I had intended the semisweet and crisp flavors to cut the creamy mustard sauce and enhance the spice but it was just too strong a wine. Luckily there were other whites at the dinner to join in but the Gewurztraminer let me down. 




 

Main Course

 Samorens Côtes du Rhône 2011 + Chicken FontinaToo date this is the best Cotes du Rhone blend I've had. I found it Spicy and Rustic just what was needed for this rich tomato pepper cheese sauce.  The wine came in leathery yet jammy with a deeper medium alcohol feel, wtih a medium plus length and complexity that only grew in depth when pair with the food. I was not disappointed here. 

Dessert!

 Shotfire Red 2010 + TiramisuI had been let down by the Antipasti and ok with the Segundo but the Dolce was spot on. The semi-sweet bitter-chocolate and cherry of the wine sang with the rich cream and sweet cocoa of the Tiramisu. It was a perfect pairing however it was not the best pairing. That distinction is reserved for what came next.









Moneti 2007 Super Toscana + Tobacco

It's hard to put how good this wine was into words. Granted we drank it last after 11 other bottles but take my word. It carried a sensational nose, heavy leather scents with essence of blackberries, blueberries and stone. It was an inky sort of wine with incredible complexity and it left with a soft semi-dry long finish. Not unlike a long drawn out sigh one makes after finishing something profound. 

Overall I think I could have done a better job on the food but with the help of some great wine the whole thing came together. I plan for the next meal I cook to be perfection and the pairings to be sublime. 

The Wine