We are pleased to announce a wine dinner being held on Thursday evening, July 17th, 2008 at Fascino Restaurant in Montclair.

This five-course menu prepared by Chef Ryan DiPersio, will be paired with some of the fabulous Rhone wines of the Alain Junguenet wine Portfolio. Alain and his son John will be in attendance and speaking about the wines, which include some older vintages of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cote-Rôtie and a special preview of some of the 2006 releases.

For reservations, please call Fascino@ 973-233-0350. For further information please call 973-992-4441

This is a sneak peak at the menu and wine selections:

THE MENU:

RECEPTION:
Domaine Boisson, Cairanne, CDRV, Blanc, 2006

COURSE 1:
 Seafood Salad with Avocado Carpaccio, Watermelon Radishes, and Meyer Lemon Dressing
 Le Vieux Donjon, Blanc, 2007

COURSE 2:
Crescent Farms Duck Breast, Spring Herb Spaetzle, Glazed Cippolini & Sour Cherry Puree
Bousquet des Papes, ‘Chante le Merle’ Rouge, 2000

COURSE 3:
 Australian Lamb Sirloin, Cumin-Carrot Puree, Sunchokes, Fava Beans, & Royal Trumpet Mushrooms
Bernard Burgaud, Côte-Rôtie, 2001

COURSE 4:
 Assorted Chesses
 Le Vieux Donjon, Rouge, 2006
 & Domaine de la Cote de l’Ange, ‘Tradition’, 2006

COURSE 5:
 Warm Berry and Apricot Crostata with Zabaglione Gelato
 Domaine Pouderoux, Maury, ‘Vendange,’ 2005

 **************************Update**************************

What could be more appealing than spending an evening of sipping great French wines from the Rhone Valley? Spending an evening sipping them with the charming importer of those very same wines! That is exactly what we did this past week in Montclair New Jersey. We sipped them with thirty-three of our closest friends, and had quite the memorable evening. Here is a bit more information on the wines, and we’d like to hear from anyone out there who either had them with us, or have had them elsewhere.

DOMAINE BOISSON, CAIRANNE, CDRV, BLANC, 2006:
 “This estate, run by Regis and Bruno Boisson, needs to be watched carefully, as they have emerged in a serious fashion with their 2006’s” WA
 THIS WINE WAS AN EYE OPENER FROM FIRST SIP TO LAST. IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TASTING. IT IS A REALLY FRESH AND CONCENTRATED BLEND OF GRENACHE BLANC, CLAIRETTE, BOURBOULENC AND ROUSSANNE! cb

LE VIEUX DONJON, BLANC, 2007:
 THIS WINE IS RICH, RIPE, VOLUPTUOUS AND CONCENTRATED.
ON THE NOSE AND PALATE THERE IS PLENTY OF APPLE AND PEAR AS WELL AS A TOUCH OF SPICE.
THIS WILL BE THE PERFECT WINE FOR AUTUMN CONSUMPTION BECAUSE OF ITS VISCOSITY AND RIPENESS. cb

BOSQUET DES PAPES, ‘CHANTE LE MERLE,’ ROUGE, 2000:
 The 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes is peppery, garrigue, lavender, black cherry, currant, and new saddle leather-scented and flavored.
 WINE ADVOCATE, 91 POINTS

BERNARD BURGAUD, CÔTE-RÔTIE, 2001:
 CLASSIC COTE ROTIE; DARK AND LUSH WITH LEATHER AND SPICE. GIVE IT A FEW MORE YEARS AND IT WILL BE RIGHT IN THE SADDLE! cb

LE VIEUX DONJON, ROUGE, 2006:
 “An estate for connoisseurs with cold cellars, these traditionally made Chateauneuf du Papes rarely strut their stuff until they have been in the bottle for 5-7 years. Moreover, this is one of the few estates that has resisted the current fashion for producing old vine cuvees.”
 WINE ADVOCATE, 90-92+ POINTS

DOMAINE DE LA COTE DE L’ANGE, ‘TRADITION’, 2006:
 “Well-made, with low acidity, lovely fruit, and an attractive, plump style, it should be enjoyed during its first decade of life.” WINE ADVOCATE

DOMAINE POUDEROUX, MAURY, ‘VENDANGE,’ 2005:
 A DELICIOUS, PORT-LIKE DESSERT WINE MADE FROM GRENACHE NOIR.
DELICATE AND STRUCTURALLY WELL DEFINED. CB

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