Desserts and dessert wines

[wondersofwine]

Last night the Fayetteville Wine Society met at Morgan's Chop House (previously Trio Cafe and then The Vineyard) to taste dessert wines with some desserts.
I didn't take good notes--was listening to conversations and eating, etc. but here is a list of what we tried and what desserts were offered (small portions per person as we shared a single dessert among about four people.)

We had a non-vintage Gruet Brut sparkling wine to start (New Mexico.) Yeasty nose with "pain grille" flavors. This was in a flight with the Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs NV (sparkling wine from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.)

We had a plate of candy from The Chocolate Lady (a shop in downtown Fayetteville) and it was suggested that we pair the white chocolate candy with dried apricot and a touch of ginger with the Gruet and a white chocolate-covered strawberry with the Ste. Michelle. Both combinations were great!

Next flight was a Marenco "Pineto" Brachetto D'Acqui DOGC (Italy) and a 2007 Santa Julia "Tardio" Torrontes (Spain--CORRECTION: ARGENTINA.) I have had a couple Brachettos before (most often from Banfi) but always find them joyful and fun to drink. It is a sparkling rose' wine from the Brachetto grape and has strawberry, raspberry or watermelon like flavors. It paired especially well with the white-chocolate covered strawberries. The Torrontes is a white grape from Spain (CORRECTION: ARGENTINA) and in this case a "late harvest" riper version. It was flowery in aroma and very nice on the palate. I may order a bottle or two of the Brachetto and Torrontes for sharing with friends since they are are good intro to wine for the novice. I believe the Torrontes was under $11.

(To be continued tomorrow--I haven't even gotten to the desserts furnished by the restaurant and four more wines.)




[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 01-28-2009).]