6.02.2008

Wine with Dinner


Stony Hill 
Napa Valley 1995 Chardonnay

Stony Hill Vineyard has been producing delicious, fruity, non-oaky Chardonnay for over a half century. This wine has been off my radar screen for years. Too bad. This is just the style of Chardonnay that I adore - non-oaky, balanced and elegant.  

The 1995 vintage is still fresh and lively, with concentrated fruit, it is complex and graceful, has an attractive minerality with a honeyed character. Love it! It was an extraordinary complement to some of first courses of David Humm's fresh modern French dishes we enjoyed at Eleven Madison Park restaurant.


Marcassin, Three Sisters Vineyard 
Sonoma Coast 2003 Pinot Noir 

We had ordered a variety of main courses at Eleven Madison Park including the Lavender Honey & Spiced Duck, Vermont Farm Suckling Pig with Plum Chutney & Five Spice Jus, and Organic Chicken with Oregon Morels & Sauce Vin Jaune. We were very excited to have the opportunity to drink Helen Turley's world-class Marcassin Pinot Noir with our main course.

Wine writer/critic Robert Parker writes: "The 2003 Pinot Noirs are showy wines, with the 2003 Pinot Noir Three Sisters offering a combination of white chocolate, blueberry, raspberry, a touch of smoke and earth, with good underlying, tart acidity, very seductive aromas and flavors, and a spicy, long finish." Ooohhh!

Helen Turley, one of the world's most influential winemakers, talks about Marcassin Pinot Noir:

FYI - Marcassin is French for young wild boar.