Bastille Day Dinner 13th July 2012

Every year we do a Bastille Day wine dinner which is a great excuse to wine and dine. This year we had chef Patrick Farjas--ably assisted by his buddy chef Gaston--prepare for us a four-course, Lyonnais-inspired dinner. We featured an all-French lineup of wines imported by Martine's Wines, the pioneering French wine import company owned by Martine Saunier.

With chefs Gaston and Patrick manning the kitchen, how can we miss?

Patrick Piuze's Cremant de Bourgogne and 2010 Petit Chablis. Terrific start!

A Bastille Day soiree should always start with a tasty charcuterie plate.

 

With the charcuterie plate, the luscious '10 Georges Vernay Viognier and the '09 Herri Mina Irouleguy blanc were simply awesome! Some good spicy notes to go with the charcuterie.

And Paul entertained us during the night, singing French music and more jazzy stuff, really elevated the evening for everyone!

On a bed of pappardelle the best coq au vin! If I remember correctly I think the ratio was 9 bottles of vino per chicken, 2 days maceration, then roasted, fined, but without filtering. The broth was clean and packed with a smoky, earthy flavor. Fork-tender chicken. Yum! Merci Chef!

With Coq au Vin ya gotta have a Beaujolais! But Paul Janin's '10 Beaujolais-Villlages is extraordinary. From 60 year-old vines planted on just 1 hectare plot near Moulin a Vent. Handpicked and handsorted. 20% whole-cluster. Less than 400 cases are produced. Great vintage, beautiful with the coq!

2010 Bourgogne Rouge from Patrice Rion, one of the Burgundy producers we most admire! This comes from plots near Chambolle-Musigny, no wonder the finesse shows. Quite mineral as well. Enclosed in saranex-lined screwcap. Great with the coq au vin!

Gorgeous '10 Gilles Robin Crozes-Hermitage Papillon, floral and silky from young vines Syrah, great with the coq au vin! And ya gotta have Bordeaux for Bastille Day! This one the '10 Cru Monplaisir from an estate near Margaux and made by the former cellar master of Chateau Margaux, deeply concentrated, fabulous depth, amazing value!

Vacherin glacé, the special Lyonnaise dessert, whoo, what a treat! Orange and pomelo flavored cake at the bottom, ice cream, choco-banana meringue. Curnonsky and Larousse would be impressed!

Ah, the amazingly bright and pure '06 Chateau Les Justices Sauternes! 88% Semillon, a very high percentage. Honeyed and mineral, apricot flavors. Does wonders to the Vacherin!