Wine and Tapas Dinner-Bistro 491-Wed, Jan. 25

There’s usually a lull in wine dinners during the Holidays lasting until the mid-January. The wait was worth it if you were one of the more than 50 guests who attended the Bistro 491‘s special Pre-Valentine Tapas Wine dinner Wednesday night.

Warren and his staff produced a four-course tapas dinner that included pan seared halibut, pan roasted duck breast and lamb lollipops. Each were superb.

The wines, presented by Ranson Rabun were all rated 90 points and above but under $20. The Elizabeth Rose Pinot Noir was popular with its nice Bing cherry flavors balanced with some earthy notes. It paired nicely with the pan seared duck.

Ninth Street Wine Market provided wine assistance for what was a great evening.

Where: Bistro 491, 491 Highland Avenue, Augusta, GA, 30909. 706-738-6491
Wine selection presented through Ninth Street Wine Market.
When: Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Cost: $40 per person (include tip and tax).

Here is tonight’s menu:

Greeting
Gruet Blanc de Noir NV(New Mexico)
Tasting notes:Pale Salmon in color, our Blanc de Noirs has aromas of raspberry and cherry, complimented by a rich, round mouth feel on the palate and a balance of crispness and toastiness. A wine in which compliments any style of food.
Winery: Gruet

Course 1
Michel Gassier Nostre Pais Blanc 2009(Costieres de Nimes,France)
Paired with: Pan seared Halibut with creamed leeks, asparagus puree and tempura green onion.
Tasting notes: The pale yellow color tinted in green announces a wine with a great deal of freshness and purity. The complex nose reveals floral and mineral notes with accents of fresh citrus fruits. Lively and fresh, the aromas of flowers and white fruits, blends with flint. The very soft finish evinces a great deal of minerality. The blend is 80% Grenache Blanc, 10% Viognier, and 10% Roussanne.
Winery: Michael Gassier

Course 2
Elizabeth Rose Pinot Noir 2009(Napa Valley, California)
Paired with: Pan roasted Duck Breast with mushroom basmati rice, cherry gastrique and micro greens.
Tasting notes: Fresh, ripe and packed with vibrant flavors of Bing cherries. The berry provides an essence to the wine that is supple, elegant and medium- bodied. The wine also possesses a pleasant earthy edge with nuances of mushroom and aromatic notes of the forest floor.
Winery: Elizabeth Rose

Course 3
La Posta Cocina Tinto 2010(Mendoza, Argentina)
Paired with: Lamb lollipops with lentils, carrots and blackberry-mint coulis
Paired with: : Purple-colored, it offers notes of cedar, spice box, pencil lead, blueberry, and black cherry. On the palate gamy notes emerge to accompany the sweet fruit.
Winery: La Posta

Course 4
Paolo Saracco Moscato 2011(Italy)
Paired with: Pear Charlotte with golden caramel sauce
Tasting notes: Fragrant aromas of summer stone fruits like apricot and peach explode from the glass. The palate is refreshing with mouth watering acidity. The finish is very long with the perfect touch of residual sugar.
Winery: Paolo Saracco