From time to time, members of the Willamette Wine Tasters and their families host and participate in collateral events. This page is dedicated to these tastings. 1982 Bordeaux Tasting - August 14, 2004 On a hot summer evening, Greg and Cami Bunnell hosted the '82 Bordeaux tasting at their home in Bull Mountain. Those attending included Rhett Murfitt and Rebecca Armstrong, Mike and Kristin Webb, Howard and Kathleen Johnson, Paul and Vickie Bonar, and Loren and Sheila Bunnell. The group collectively brought food and wine to share with good friends. The menu was broken down into five courses: Preludes, Salade, Entree, Grand Frommage and Grand Dessert. The first course included Fresh Prawns Chilled on Ice with Lemon Wedges and Cocktail Sauce, Steamed Mussels with Saffron-Cream Sauce, Goose Pate, Grapes covered with Gorgonzola and Crushed Almonds, Bacon Wrapped Dates Infused with Mascarpone, Raspberry Brie Tarts, Sausage and Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms and Caramelized Onion Torte. The salad course was Baby Greens topped with Pancetta Wrapped Peaches and Blue Cheese. The first and second courses were accompanied by a magnum of 1990 Pommery Cuvee Louse, a 1994 Ch. Beaucastel Blanc, a 1995 JL Chave Hermitage Blanc, a 1998 Ch. Couhins-Lurton Blanc, a 2000 Domaine de Remizieres Hermitage Cuvee Emilie and a 2001 Turley The White Coat. The entree, a Boeuf en Croute, was plated with Twice Cooked Potatoes with Chevre and Sauteed Haricots Verts with Red Peppers and Pine nuts. The two Wellingtons were the perfect fit for eight 1982 Bordeaux that inlcuded a Ch. Beychevelle, a Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou, a Ch. Leoville Barton, a Ch. Leoville Las Cases, a Ch. Montrose, a Ch. Palmer, a Ch. Pichon Longueville and a Ch. Talbot. None of the wine disappointed and most agreed that the Talbot and Beycheville were the most balanced wine of the flight. Close behind were the Montrose and the Las Cases. The Grand Frommage included an Old Amsterdam Aged Gouda, Pierre Robert Triple Cream, and Borough Market Stilton. A 1994 Ch. La Mission Haut Brion and a 1994 Ch. Angelus were paired up with the cheese plate. The Grand Dessert, a Triple Berry Shortcake with Vanilla Whipped Cream and Chocolate Truffles were matched with a 1988 Ch. Climens and a 2000 Taylor Fladgate. Most stayed well into the evening and agreed the '82's were still "young."
1975 Bordeaux Tasting - September 24, 2005 On a wonderful Saturday evening, five couples gathered at Rivers Restaraunt at Avalon Hotel and Spa on the Willamette River to see how some 30 year-old Bordeaux were holding up. Stu Stein, the Executive Chef, prepared the entire menu based upon the wine being offered. Those attending this event were Bill and Pat Kimmer, Mike and Kristin Webb, Greg and Cami Bunnell, Howard and Kathleen Johnson, and Paul and Vickie Bonar. A nice selection of Hors D'Oeuvres were served with a Double Magnum of 1997 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs. The appetizers included Citrus cured Salmon on Potato Bellini, Parmesan Crisps filled with Goat Cheese Mousse, Kalamata Olive Tapanade Roulade and Crispy Mushroom Risotto Croquettes. The second course, Grilled Sweet Corn Soup with Dungeness Crab Corn Napoleon and Shellfish Oil, was the perfect fit for three whites from around the world, a 2000 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne, a 2000 Kistler Cuvee Cathleen, and a 2001 Leeuwin Art Series. The entrees were completed in two separate courses - the first was a Mushroom Crusted Sturgeon with a Guanciale, Mushroom and White Bean Salad; the second, a Cherry Smoked Muscovy Duck Breast with Prosciutto Wrapped Fennel Bulb and Dried Cherry Infused Red Wine reduction. These, of course, were served against the eleven '75's, a Ch. Pichon Longueville Baron, a Ch. Montrose, a Ch. Lynch Bages, a Ch. Rauzan Segla, a Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste, a Ch. La Lagune, a Ch. Leoville Barton, a Ch. Leoville Las Cases, a Ch. Talbot, and Ch. Beychevelle and a Ch. Pichon Longueville Lalande. After enjoying these lovely Bordeaux, and none were flawed, the group was treated to the Grand Frommage entree of Artisan Domestic Blue Cheese, a Point Reyes Farmstead "Original Blue," a Rogue Creamery "Smokey Blue," and a Westfield Farms "Classic Goat Blue." The frommage went beautifully with two Vintage Ports from 1977, a Dows and a Grahams. If this was not enough for the palate, the group ended the evening with a Honey-Mascarpone Cannole wiith Candied Pine nuts, berries and Mint Syrup along with a 1989 Ch. La Tour Blance and a 1971 Ch. Rayne-Vigneau, both from Sauternes. Although many of the experts had rated some of the Bordeaux as being "past maturity," not one bottle showed any hint of being over the hill - to the contrary, most of the wine (particularly the Barton and Talbot) still had some good tannins to go along with the fruit. Everyone seemed surprised with the Rauzan Segla that was rated in the 50's by Parker - it was voted the wine of the night even though it was the lowest rated wine tasted during the evening.
Willamette Wine Tasters Holiday Dinner - December 7, 2005 With the exception of the Bonar's who had a prior committment, all members of the group, and their spouses, attended the holiday dinner at Rivers. Those attending included Neal and Val Bell, Brant and Karen Blodgett, Greg and Cami Bunnell, Brad and Diana Courtney, Loren and Sheila Bunnell, Steve and Carrell DeShaw, Howard and Kathleen Johnson and Mike and Kristin Webb. Stu Stein, once again, came through with a perfect menu and atmosphere for the evening. There was no particular theme for the evening other than getting together to share good wine and the blessings bestowed to all. A horizontal of S. Anderson Brut from the Stag's Leap District (1991, 1994 and 1995) came with "shots" of Celeriac and Potato Souple with White Truffle Oil. We moved to Oregon Dungeness Crab Salad, Wild Mushroon Tartlets and Salmon Cakes wiht Golden Trout Roe along with three Chardonnay's, a 1998 Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge, a 2003 Cuvee Mumm and a 2004 Olivet Kane, along with a 2004 Edmunds St. John, a Rousanne from Paso Robles. Without a missed step, we moved to the Soup course,a Consomme Royale, a celery root custard topped with a double clarified roasted pinot noir game broth and a bruinoise of root vegetables was poured with three Oregon Pinot Noir beauties, a magnum of 1998 Shea Back Block, a 2000 Christom Marjorie Vineyard and a 2000 Shea. As with past tastings at Rivers, we split the entrees into two courses. The first was a Hot Alder Smoked Sturgeon wrapped in Procuitto with Roasted Squash Flan, Wilted Greens and a Merlot Buerre Rouge. This entree was served with a 1999 Leonetti Merlot, a 1999 S. Anderson Reserve Merlot and a 2000 Woodward Canyon Merlot. The second course, "Steak & Eggs" (a grilled pasture-raised Western Grassland New York strip with parmentier of Braised Short Ribs and a Fried Quail Egg), were matched with four Cabernet Sauvignon's from California, two from Napa and two from Sonoma - a 1976 Jordan (the first vintage), a 2002 Marston Family, a magnum of Joseph Phelps Insignia and a 1997 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages. .jpg) The Grand Dessert, Double Chocolate Terrine with Port Ice Cream and Chocolate Tuile, was offered with a huge treat, a 1985 Jack Meyers Pinot Port, along with two non-vintage Zinfandel ports, a Chateau Potelle Zinie Port and a Rombauer Zinfandel Port. The toast, given by Steve DeShaw, while hoisting a glass of Jack's Pinot Port brought many found memories of our dear friend. The evening came to an end with most staying the night and a few folks staying up very late sipping wine and swapping tales at Avalon's new "wine bar." And boy did we look marvelous! |