We thoroughly enjoyed an evening of Old World French wine and a delicious small plate menu while tasting our way through some of Kermit Lynch’s lesser known gems.

This was our first wine class at Red Rock. We’ve enjoyed many meals here but seem to have had conflicts with the wine class schedule. Tonight’s menu suited the wines perfectly and our speaker, Adam Fortuna, from Veritas Wine Distributors was both informative and easy to understand. Turns out, we know a lot of the same people and he was more than willing to “talk about old times” which for an old codger like me, made the evening special.

Our first course of Braised Mussels with a garlic, herb, lemon zest and lavender infused crostini was served with 2018 Domain du Salvard DeLaille “unique” Sauvignon Blanc IGP, Loire Valley FRANCE. Though clearly varietal Sauvignon Blanc it is not nearly as over the top herbal nor with the emphatic cat piss / pine needle essence we associate with New Zealand Sauv Blanc. Not as figgy as California Sauv Blanc either. Yet, there is plenty to like with a very lemony minerality and soft herb nuance. The brisk acidity needs food and keeps the wine fresh and lively through the finish and cleanses the palate even with seafood.

Next, we enjoyed a really complex hearty green salad with a rosemary wine vinaigrette with 2017 Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone (mostly Grenache) FRANCE. The nose of clean fruit shows a demeanor not unlike a wine aged in oak with a very expansive soft red fruit richness without an edge or raw power. This wine is completely unoaked which comes through loud and clear on the violet scented bouquet and solidly fresh mouth coating red fruit in the palate. It defines the terroir of the Southern Rhone Valley.

Our meat course was a rustic version of Beef Bourguignon with short ribs served over remarkably savory mashed potatoes and root vegetables braised in a red wine demi-glace paired with 2015 Chateau de Bellevue (mostly Merlot) Lussac-St. Emilion, Bordeaux FRANCE. This organic wine aged in neutral oak exhibits a classic Bordeaux nose with lots of condensed black fruit plus all sorts of forest smells and the scent of fresh air after a spring rain. The fruit is extraordinarily pure finishing with a broad mouthfeel that is both fine, firm and dry.

Our finale consisted of a dense chocolate torte with red wine and cherry gastrique served with 2017 Clos La Coutale (Malbec), Cahors FRANCE. Though I have a long history with this wine, I’ve never tasted it this young nor ever enjoyed it with dessert. At this point, it is impossible to believe that this is a wine to keep for 15+ years, yet, I know absolutely, it lasts and gains complexity without loss of freshness for decades (see https://www.michiganvintner.com December 20,2017). Tonight, this young Malbec tasted like just that. Forget about the pedigree, currently, bright fresh red fruit with very prominent nuance of orange rind and rhubarb is juicy soft with very little feel for the tannin that will undoubtedly emerge in a year or two. This is a perfect example of how “serious” wines that are worth their reputation are delicious young , old or in between.

Enjoy in Good Health

A Brian Cain, the Michigan Vintner