The place for all things wine, focused on serious wine discussions.

WTN: Wines with Terrines

Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker

no avatar
User

Bill Spohn

Rank

He put the 'bar' in 'barrister'

Posts

9458

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:31 pm

Location

Vancouver BC

WTN: Wines with Terrines

by Bill Spohn » Sun Aug 06, 2006 1:14 pm

Terrine 3 – 2006
August 5, 2006

Three years ago I was trying to think of a way of holding a dinner where we could feature food instead of just wine, and where each couple could prepare a dish and present it as a pot-luck sort of thing.

The theme that I finally came up with wasn’t so much a type of food or cuisine as a method of preparation – terrines. It allows tremendous scope in terms of ingredients and preparation methods and as I took the liberal view on allied dishes like ballotines, pates, galantines and such, there was enough range to keep everyone happy. We’ve done it three times now, in the garden, at a table which comfortably seats 12 people.


[img]http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/terrine/dining-area.jpg[/img]


It is fun to bill it as ‘Garden Stadium’, and as an Iron Chef sort of competition, but in fact the only competition is against oneself, trying to make something interesting that pleases yourself and others.


Accordingly, the official judges remain fairly non-judgemental.

Image

The fun part is not only choosing and preparing a dish, but also coming up with two often quite different wines to go with it, giving us all an opportunity to study the fascinating art of food and wine matching.

This year’s event took place over about 5 hours in absolutely perfect conditions, not too warm, not too cool, and the food, wine and company was as always second to none.

First up was:

Terrine de Poisson Trois Couleurs

Image


A wonderful terrine of sole, halibut and salmon with an herb mousse and really great sauce of tomato mayonnaise, it was paired with:

Clos du Chateau de Mosny Montlouis-sur-Loire Brut NV – a very pleasant little Loire bubbly that had a pleasant soft nose and sufficient acidity to go reasonably well with the food.

2002 Bourillon-Dorleans Coulee d’Argent Vieilles Vignes Vouvray – it got more interesting with this wine which showed a waxy honey and fruit nose, medium bodied, and with a bit lower acidity than is usual in this wine, as well as a bit more fuit in the mouth than you expect. Very nice match with the fish.

Terrine aux Ris de Veaux et Homard Truffé

Image

My dish, so I can give a bit more detail. A recipe from Tour d’Argent, it is layered sweetbreads, lobster and sliced black truffle in a Port bouillon jelly, served with two kinds of mayonnaise, a green and a red flavoured with spinach and tomato respectively.

The recipe was cause for domestic upheaval as she-who-must-be-obeyed had forgotten there were two live lobsters in the fridge and let out a shriek when she opened the door and they greeted the light by making a break for it. For the rest of the day she wandered around muttering “For the love of God, Montresor” and named them Montresor and Fortunato (see Poe’s story ‘A Cask of Amontillado” if you don’t know the reference).

2003 Black Hills Alibi – a Bordeaux blend from a BC winery, and probably the best such in the province, I thought I’d give the home team a shot at glory. Lighter wine with clean slightly citrus nose, quite nice with the food but in this case overwhelmed by the competition.


1995 Ch. La Louviere – none of us cellars much white Bordeaux, but whenever we taste a wine like this we always ask ourselves why that should be. The nose on this was really tasty – an oak and fruit melange that reminded me of vanilla pudding. Complex in the mouth and very smooth, sweet and long, it was the hands down popular choice as best match with this dish.

Jambon Persillé

Image

Image

Two pictures as this contestant, in a blatant attempt to influence the judges, submitted a side dish of majestic proportion, a Belgian endive and red onion tarte tatin with cheese pastry that was admittedly excellent. The main dish was nothing like the traditional ham in parsley jelly either, but was richly textured with five layers and accompanied by a helping of French potato salad that was the perfect foil to the flavours of the terrine.

1995 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Russin River Cuve – a very Burgundian wine, right from the excellent Pinot nose featuring cherries to the smooth silky finish. My choice as best wine with the food, but then I may be rightly accused of being a bigger fan of Burgundy than of New World Pinot

1999 Siduri ‘Christian David’ Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – an impressive wine in the more usual American style, this showed a big rich Pinot fruit nose, sweet entry, was smooth on palate and has some soft tannin remaining – must have been a bit of a brute when younger. A stylish wine, it failed to seduce me from the Williams Selyem.


Terrine of Guinea Fowl, Green Lentils and Porcini Mushrooms


Image



1962 Chateau La Grace Dieu, Grand Cru (Saint-Emilion) – an even more pronounced difference between the wines with this interesting course. 1962 was a decent vintage overshadowed by 1961. I do not know this producer and don’t recall ever seeing it before. Nonetheless it put on an interesting showing. There was (needless to say) nothing much in the way of fruit left, but the nose was copybook mature claret until it very suddenly went all metallic on us. Brown edges and a lot of acidity and some remaining flavour interest.

1999 Casalferro – this IGT from Barone Ricasoli showed currants and coffee in the nose, with quite a bit of oak and a hint of pepper. Still tannic, it is an international style of wine with good length and a future ahead of it. None of the telltale terminal acidity of so many Italian wines, and a good accompaniment to the dish.

Terrine de Lapin aux Noisettes

Image

1988 Beaune-Teurons – Albert Morot – a slightly stinky nose and lots of acidity, the fruit levels a bit low but pleasant and perhaps the better wine with the food.

1996 Condado de Haza - this was a nice mature Condado from back in the days before they started pounding this out in great quantities, to the detriment of quality. Leather and fruit in the nose, the wine smooth and mature. Nice on its own and with the food, but a little lower acidity made the Burg the best wine for matching the food in this flight.

Lamb Terrine

Image

This terrine used traditional pig’s foot for gelatine and while the experimental batch had no problem sticking together, this one had a minor failure of ‘stiction’ but certainly not of flavour – you can’t find a good pig’s foot when you need one!

1998 Domaine Bois de Bourson Chateauneuf du Pape – I am not acquainted with this producer although others present were. Great nose with black pepper and Rhone funk, it still could use some time as the tannins are evident if softening. Spicy/peppery in the mouth as well. Very nice.

1997 Montresor Santomio – this merlot/cab blend from Veneto was very presentable indeed with ripe fruit and chocolate in the nose, which reminded one generally of Bordeaux a bit, and it would have made an interesting ringer in a group of clarets, only the slightly high terminal acidity and the ripeness in the nose being clues to origin. The maker’s name was particularly apt in light of SWMBOs previous lobster adventures.

We finished up with some chees and a Gould Campbell Old Vintage Character Port, some of which had found a home in my Port jelly, Quite pleasant at the age of about 25 years (I’ve had it for more than 20 years). You don’t see that terminology any more, do you?

At the end we took a vote and it was unanimous that there be a T4 next summer (only this time I won’t wait to hear what everyone else is making before making a decision myself….)
no avatar
User

Jenise

Rank

FLDG Dishwasher

Posts

42549

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:45 pm

Location

The Pacific Northest Westest

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by Jenise » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:13 pm

Bill, that was another terrific event. The level's getting upped every time; what exquisite dining! No restaurant in town can match it. I dreamed all night about making terrines, can't wait for T4.

Some comments about the food and wines: although I agree with you about the La Louviere being the better match for your gorgeous lobster and sweetbread terrine, 20 minutes later I switched allegiance to the Alibi. The nose on the LL turned into Bananas Foster, where the Alibi just quietly got better.

Re the Siduri, no it wasn't a monster in its youth. It's always been a big wine in the California vs. Burgundy sense, but it's always been on the refined/elegant side and aging has only brought in superb secondary complexity. I really loved that wine; Daddy Adam did little Christian very, very proud. And forget the terrine, if I do say so myself I thought the Siduri with the endive tarte tatin was one of the best wine/food pairings of the night.

Anyway, thanks again for another great night. As wine and food challenges go, this is as good as it gets.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
no avatar
User

Bob Parsons Alberta

Rank

aka Doris

Posts

10773

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:09 pm

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:01 pm

Great Bill, only one terrine missing. Chocolate!!
no avatar
User

wrcstl

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

881

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:20 pm

Location

St. Louis

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by wrcstl » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:11 pm

Bill,
I want to eat at your house. Major fan of terrines and pates with wine plus the judges you assembled certainly are capable. The real reason for posting is the 1996 Condado de Haza. I have one bottle given to me about 6-8 years ago and sitting in my temp controlled cellar. I have never had the wine but we have a Spanish wine tasting coming up in 3 weeks and I was thinking about bringing this one. Have some well known '95 & '96 Priorats but am afraid of the oak. Sounds like the Condado de Haza will work. Did you decant or is there a need to?
Walt
no avatar
User

Bob Parsons Alberta

Rank

aka Doris

Posts

10773

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:09 pm

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:14 pm

Walt, why not do an Open Mike on the Condado? I`m ready for that one, 3 weeks you say?
no avatar
User

wrcstl

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

881

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:20 pm

Location

St. Louis

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by wrcstl » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:25 pm

Sounds OK to me but afraid there won't be that many people with Condado. I tend to stay away from expensive Spanish because of the oak. Have a case of top name Priorats and they all are too oaky for my taste. What about doing just Spanish Tempranello?
Walt
no avatar
User

Bill Spohn

Rank

He put the 'bar' in 'barrister'

Posts

9458

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:31 pm

Location

Vancouver BC

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by Bill Spohn » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:27 pm

The Condado will work right out of the gate without needing any prolonged decant time. It doesn't fade either so it isn't critical.
no avatar
User

Mark Lipton

Rank

Oenochemist

Posts

4285

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:18 pm

Location

Indiana

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by Mark Lipton » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:36 pm

Bill,
It's great to read your notes on this one with photos. One technical question: many of the photos appear blurred, and not by lack of digital resolution. Were you photographing under low light conditions (always possible in the gorgeous Pacific NW) or did you have a very shaky hand (too little wine?)? I'm genuinely confused. Great food, interesting wines and a beautiful setting. Wish I could've joined you.

Mark Lipton
no avatar
User

Bob Parsons Alberta

Rank

aka Doris

Posts

10773

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:09 pm

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:02 pm

wrcstl wrote:Sounds OK to me but afraid there won't be that many people with Condado. I tend to stay away from expensive Spanish because of the oak. Have a case of top name Priorats and they all are too oaky for my taste. What about doing just Spanish Tempranello?
Walt


Tempranillo sounds good to me. Anything in mind at this time?
From Portugal, would not mind trying one of those reds that use the port varietals?
no avatar
User

wrcstl

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

881

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:20 pm

Location

St. Louis

Re: WTN: Wines with Terrines

by wrcstl » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:22 pm

Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:
wrcstl wrote:Sounds OK to me but afraid there won't be that many people with Condado. I tend to stay away from expensive Spanish because of the oak. Have a case of top name Priorats and they all are too oaky for my taste. What about doing just Spanish Tempranello?
Walt


Tempranillo sounds good to me. Anything in mind at this time?
From Portugal, would not mind trying one of those reds that use the port varietals?


Bob,
I am up for anything and would like to take a break from mentioning the theme. I do not have any Portugal reds but will certainly get one if you select the theme. I may offer '03 or '04 Chablis less than $20 as I have found a bunch of this stuff but will wait a couple of weeks. I will post an Open Mike just before the Spanish tasting which is in 4 weeks.
Walt

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Amazonbot, Google [Bot] and 4 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign