Professional
Friends of Wine held a celebration dinner in
honor of our group continuity, the birthdays
of U.S. Presidents Washington and Lincoln, as
well as Groundhog and Valentine's Days. Not
that we needed any of these excuses
for having a fabulous dinner with a menu
built around selected large-format bottles.
Our spouses joined us and we had a fabulous
meal and a memorable evening. (Limousines and
designated drivers transported us all, safely
and sanely--okay, moderately
sanely.)
Each course
was fabulous to behold and delicious to
consume (see the menu
below). Chef Jim Overbaugh and staff really
wowed us with food that was superbly matched
to the winelist we had presented
them.
For me, the
heavenly food-wine highlight was the
intermezzo of Smoked Chicken Consommé
with the 1997 Siduri Pinot Noir. That smoky,
savory, rich flavor of the soup with the ripe
black cherry and subtle herb components of
the wine profoundly percolated my palate. The
surprises among the wines were the still
fruity and really nicely balanced 1986
Silverado Chardonnay and the wonderfully
complex and classically structured 1979 Mount
Veeder Cabernet. Neither showed signs of age.
And the fantastic 1975 Suduiraut was a great
capper.
(individual
plates below and Chateau Suduiraut
photographed by Jonmari Loving)
PICTURED
BELOW LEFT TO RIGHT: Diana Burnett, Roy
Harland, JaneAnn LaMar, Greg Stach (front),
Jon Koobation (back), Mark Arvanigian,
Kimberly Arvanigian, Marlene Johansen,
Patrick Skovran (sommelier, standing), Ron
Radoicich, Brigeen Radoicich, Glenn Barker,
Joy Barker, Christine Overbaugh, Jim
Overbaugh (Executive Chef), Chris Mariscotti,
Claudine Mariscotti, Rosemary Vallis, and
James Vallis
