The 2003 Beaujolais Party!

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Three of us arranged for a local restaurant, the Sommelier's Palette in Shorewood, to devise a menu for us around some of the more promising Beaujolais Nouveau offerings this year. The food was great, and though the wines weren't mind-blowing, they were really delicious and paired well with the food. All wines, of course, are from the 2003 vintage.

For starters we had a Bouchard Aine et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau, paired with several appetizers: olive and sage farinata; duck rilletes with pickled cherries; crab and artichoke cakes; and grilled veggies. The Bouchard was very light and fruity, with a pronounced flavor of dried cherries and some mineral on the finish.

Next, we had a Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Villages Nouveau, paired with pan-seared salmon with green apple risotto and a Calvados beurre blanc, and a side of carrots, fennel, and glazed pecans. This wine was the best of the three--somewhat more complex, with notes of plums and mixed berries. It went very well with the entree.

After that, we had a Prosper Maufoux Beaujolais Villages Nouveau paired with a cheese course. The cheeses were Gourmandise walnut (cow's milk with walnuts, from France), Monet (California goat cheese), and Point Reyes (a mild bleu cheese from California). The cheese was plated with all sorts of bread, crackers, dried fruit, and nuts. The wine went well with everything, and had a distinctive raspberry flavor.

For something a little extra, we each had a glass of 1994 Smith Woodhouse Port with a chocolate torte and an apple-cinnamon phyllo purse. A pleasant way to end the experience, though I think Port is a bit sweet for my taste. (Sorry, Georgie!) Very delicious, however.

Now I'm at home and bloody useless, due to all of the wine I've consumed. But I'll sleep well tonight, and work will snap me back into reality tomorrow....