Castillon

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10/16/14 – October Right Bank Bordeaux Dinner at Charivari

On Thursday, October 16th at 7pm, please join me, Bear Dalton, at Charivari Restaurant for our October Right Bank Bordeaux Dinner featuring twelve great Right Bank red Bordeaux wines from the 2011 vintage (starting of course with Champagne and ending with a favorite from Barsac) paired with Chef Schuster’s Autumnal seasonal offerings.

d'AiguilheThe MENU
Blue Point Oysters & Gruyere aux Gratin with
Barons Rothschild Brut Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV

Moulard Duck Ballotine & Multigrain Quinotto,
Coffee Bourbon & Merlot reduction with
Ch. Puygueraud, Francs – Cotes de Bordeaux, 2011
Ch. d’Aiguilhe, Castillion – Cotes de Bordeaux, 2011
Pomerol de La Pointe, Pomerol, 2011
Ch. La Pointe, Pomerol, 2011

LaConfessionRed Beet Sorbet

Herbs de Provence Braised Lamb Shanks aux jus,
Black Garlic Potatoes Puree, Green Bean Bouquet with
Ch. La Confession, St. Emilion, 2011
Ch. Clos de l’Oratoire, St. Emilion, 2011
Ch. Berliquet, St. Emilion, 2011
Ch. Larcis Ducasse, St. Emilion, 2011
Ch. Pavie Maquin, St. Emilion, 2011
Ch. Canon La Gafelliere, St. Emilion, 2011

PavieMacAssortment of Cheeses with
Ch. Croix St. Georges, Pomerol, 2011
Ch. Clinet, Pomerol, 2011

Apple Tart Flambé
Ch. Coutet, Barsac, 2011

This October Right Bank Bordeaux dinner will cost $120.00 per person including a 5% discount for cash or check or $126.31 regular. All taxes and tips are included. Attendance at this dinner is strictly limited to 20 people. For reservations, please reply by email to MarloAmmons@specsonline.com or call Marlo Ammons at 832-660-0250.

Charivari is located at 2521 Bagby (77006) in Mid-Town Houston.

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Wine of the Week: Ch. AMPELIA Castillon 2011

FrancoisDespagneAt last Tuesday’s (01/21/14) 2011 Mostly Cru Classé Bordeaux Tasting at the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice in Houston, a lowly unclassified Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux was a surprise star of the show. I have drunk many vintages of Ch. Ampelia and quite like them but I don’t remember the wine showing this well in such august company. This makes me particularly happy because owner winemaker François Despagne is such a good guy. Despagne is better known as  the owner/vigneron/winemaker of highly regarded St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé Ch. Grand Corbin Despagne. He spends several days every year in Texas tasting and talking about his wines.

Ch. AMPELIA, Cotes de Castillon, 2011 ($17.99)ChAmpelia
An organically grown, 13% alcohol blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc  fermented half in stainless and half in concrete tanks using pump-over and aged 12 months in all French oak barrels (33% new) The grapes were hand-picked and sorted both in the vineyard and on the sorting table at the chateau.   Deep purple-red in color with well formed legs; dry, medium-full-bodied with freshly-balanced acidity and medium-chewy phenolics.  Dark juicy-dusty red fruit with spice and a hint of basil/mint over dusty earth and supple oak. Very well integrated and complete. Alive in the mouth. A pleasure to drink now but will improve with some time in the bottle. BS: 91.