October 26, 2002
With the ground covered in snow
the picturesque River Café on Prince's Island Park was a warm and inviting sanctuary.
Our members quickly took comfort in the surroundings and sampled several Bordeaux
wines such as Château Recougne 2000, Château Chantegrive 1993, Château de Haux 1990,
and Château du Grand Barrail 1993.
Our Maitre inducted three new members: Bill Pringle, Chris Dobbin and Mark Ferrier.
Chef Glen Manzer prepared a uniquely Canadian five course
dinner that showcase our Bordeaux wines for the evening.
The Menu
First course
Toasted Hamilton barley
with Buffalo Hump caramelized onion
Château Recougne, 2000.
Second Course
Baby spinach and pear salad
with spiced pecans and goat cheese dressing
Cranberry Sorbet
Main Course
Muscovy duck breast
Duck confit wild rice strudel
Parsnip puree
Black currant sauce
Château Barrabaque, Fronsac 1999.
Château Mazeris, Fronsac 1994.
Cheese Course
A selection of Canadian farm cheeses
Château Cos d'Estournel, St Estephe 1979.
Dessert Course
Kicking horse coffee pana cotta with white chocolate
Chocolate espresso crisps
Cru de Gravere, Ste-Croix-du-Mont 1993.
Wine Comments
One of the finest and least-known areas of Bordeaux is Fronsac.
Our dinner showcases two wines from Canon Fronsac.
Château Barrabaque 1999 was a wine recently discovered
during one of the wine tasting events held this summer.
This will be a wine you will want to include in your own
cellar. This wine was full of fruit and rich berry.
The other wine was Château Mazeris 1994 a refined and supple
wine. The vintage 1994, as a whole remains unapproachable with an overly
tannic personality that overwhelms the positive aspects, resulting in a wine that lack charm.
These wines are a cross between those of Pomerol and
St. Emilion with their combination of soft merlot fruits and
cabernet backbone, they offer great value.
A special highlight of the evening was the 1979
vintage of the most outstanding cru of St Estephe Chateau Cos d'Estournel.
A wine that combine body and delicacy, vigor and generosity, with
a harmonious bouquet and a balanced taste.
The famous poet of wines, Biarnez, glorified this renowned
chateau when he wrote:
"There stand Cos d'Estournel
The equal of the greatest growths of Gironde,
In all its glory shining through the world."
To complete the evening on the snowy island paradise we had a
wonderful dessert wine Cru de Gravere from a little-known
area Ste-Croix-du-Mont that is situated opposite Sauternes.
