WanderCurtis Wine

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Category Archives: past events


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Louis Jadot Wine Dinner at Patron Restaurant April 24th 2018

Maison Louis Jadot is a family owned business based in Beaune, Burgundy  established in 1859. They also have substantial vineyard holdings throughout the Cote d’Or as well as the Maconnais as well as producing  wine from a number of other appellations throughout Burgundy.

The winemaker, Jacques Lardière, has been with the company for over 30 years and together with Pierre-Henry Gagey and his father André before him, has built the company to be one of the finest in Burgundy.

 

We  hosted at the excellent French  Patron Restaurant in Kentish Town with Maison Louis Jadot’s  Export Director Sigfried Pic.

A three course dinner was matched with some of the finest Burgundies from the Louis Jadot range.

 

Aperitif, we compared Chablis and Saint-Véran.

The Chablis was a favourite with lees ageing adding to texture and complexity with a lovely mineral/oyster shell note typical of Chablis grown on  kimmeridgean soils

First course: Foie Gras with brioche served with Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanée 2013 – beautiful rich textured lovely vanilla from oak ageing nicely balanced with ripe stone fruit

Main course : Duck confit and Gratin Duaphinoise served with Beaune 1er Cru Theurons 2009

Dessert a selection of artisanal cheese  served with Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cazetiers 2007 and served blind the  Moulin-à-Vent La Roche 2007 in magnum


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Dinner with Champagne Taittinger – December 5th 2017

Following our brilliant evening a few years ago with Kevin McKee, UK Director of Family Taittinger, we had another treat  at Fredericks with a marvellous Champagne selection.

The evening included a tasting, hosted by Kevin, of a range of their finest Champagnes matched with a delicious three course dinner in Frederick’s private club room.

We tried their signature Cuvee of the house through to their prestigious cuvee Comtes de Champage 2006 made in tiny quantities and only in exceptional years, the ultimate expression of Taittinger.

Alongside Comtes we had the unique opportunity to try Domaine Carneros Le Reve 2007, from Taittinger’s joint venture in California. Le Reve (“The Dream”) is Domaine Carneros’ masterpiece. A prestige cuvee made from almost 100% Chardonnay grapes. This is arguably America’s greatest sparkling wine.

 

 

Aperitif – Taittinger Non-Vintage in Magnum

 

Starter – Taittinger Prelude Grands Crus

 

Main – Comtes de Champagne 2006 + Domaine Carneros Le Reve 2007

 

Dessert – Nocturne Sec Rosé NV

 


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Yalumba Wines of the Barossa Region with Chief Winemaker , Louisa Rose – October 5th

Following Adam’s two week wine tasting tour with Wine Australia in November, we chose some of our favourite wines for this dinner.

Barossa in South Australia is one of Australia’s oldest and greatest wine regions .

We were hosted by Yalumba’s Chief Winemaker Louisa Rose who is  one of Australia’s most experienced and talented winemakers. Her name is synonymous with Viognier in Australia.  In 2014 ‘The Age’ named Lou Australia’s Best Winemaker. Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery founded in 1849 and unusually has it’s own cooperage and nursery.

Wines Tasted

Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée 2011

Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier

Yalumba The Virgilius Viognier

Yalumba The Scribbler Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz

Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz

Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz

Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz

Yalumba FSW8B Botrytis Viognier

Menu

Salt & pepper squid, chilli sauce
Pan-fried duck breast, baby vegetables , broccoli & wasabi purée
Chocolate mousse

The Viogniers particularly shone through. The Eden Valley Viognier full of fresh ripe apricots with a lovely texture and finish.

The Virgilius was outstanding. Almost Burgundian with depth texture smokiness long finish and beautiful balance.

This will age well for 10 years.Scored 96 points in a recent Decanter review by Matthew Jukes.

 

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Vina Errazuriz with Magui Chadwick May 11th 2017

The Errazuriz Estate was founded in 1870 in the Aconcagua Valley in Chile.

It is widely considered as the premier family wine estate of Chile.

We tasted seven of their premium wines presented by Magui Chadwick

Magui is the daughter of Eduardo and the Sixth generation of the family involved in the wine business.

This was a great opportunity to try many different varietals and discover the excellent quality of wines that Chile produces.

 

 

Aperitif: In the garden

Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2015

Starter: Goats cheese Arancini

Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay 2015

Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2015

Main Course: Steak with Chimichuri sauce

Max Reserva Carmenere 2014

Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Don Maximiano 2014

Dessert:Rarte Tatin and Zabaglione ice cream

Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

 


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Champage Gosset dinner. It’s not about the bubbles, but they help!

Ahead of our Champagne Gosset wine dinner in the club room at Fredericks Odilon de Varine chief wine maker & deputy MD talked to Kiran about his wine making approach.

There followed another memorable wine diner with each course of the menu designed to complement the wines.

Adam Wander menu.crtr

Highlights included the way the toasty & nutty notes of the Grande Reserve were complimented by the pan fried herb gnocchi with Pecorino sauce and the way the Bream, mushrooms and cream worked with the superbly refined and complex & yet fresh Celebris 2004. Matches made in Heaven!

gosset1


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Champagne Gosset with Odilon de Varine Chef du Caves February 23rd 2017

 

Champagne Gosset on Thursday February 23rd 2017

 

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Gosset is the oldest known producer of wine in Champagne, its origins going back to 1584.Situated in the tiny Grand Cru village of Aÿ, 5km from Epernay, Gosset’s famous neighbours include Bollinger. However, production is much below that of the larger houses, at around 1.3 million bottles per year.All Gosset champagnes are ‘recently disgorged’, normally with a high proportion of Chardonnay.

Along with a fabulous matched dinner we tasted some of their best Champagnes and rounded off the evening with  a glass of Cognac Frapin VSOP.

Aperitif -Gosset Grand Rosé NV is blended from 56% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 9% red wine from Ambonnay

Starter – Gosset Grande Réserve NV is blend of several vintages, powerful, and biscuity, made of 46% Chardonnay, 44% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier, it is ideal with food. Packaged in the “Bouteille Ancienne” characteristic of the Gosset range with deep red labellingGrand Blanc de Blancs Brut NV made exclusively from the best parcels of chardonnay

Main – Champagne Gosset Grand Millesime 2006 one of the finest vintage Champagnes produced by GossetChampagne Gosset Celebris 2004 It is the top cuvée, only produced in the best vintages.

Dessert – Champagne Gosset Petite Douceur

Digestif – Cognac Frapin VSOP

We were very lucky to have Cellar Master Odilion De Varine presenting these fabulous Champagnes .

 

 


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Wines of Vidal, New Zealand with Hugh Crichton. Friday October 7th 7.30pm

Vidal wines, bottle and design details

Vidal Wines of Hawkes Bay was founded over 100 years ago .

They produce pure varietal wines which New Zealand is famed for.We tasted

Vidal Estate Chardonnay 2014

Reserve Chardonnay 2015

Legacy Chardonnay 2014

Estate Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Reserve Syrah 2013

Legacy Syrah 2011

Menu
Wild mushroom risotto
Sirloin steak, Padron peppers, hand cut chips, peppercorn sauce
Selection of cheese from The Cheese Plate (with quince jelly)

Hugh Crichton , (Vidal’s head winemaker since 2006 who has previously worked at Chateau Soutard Grand Cru Classe in St Emillion and Donnafugata in Italy) had us all totally captivated , his passion clear for all to see . The quality of the wines shone through.

Wine of the night

Legacy Chardonnay 2014 -This is right up there with top Premier Cru Burgundy and has the awards to show for it.

Complex , toasty, smoky, beautiful crisp acidity with a long finish and lush mouthfeel .