By: AJ McClellan
A great first day in Bordeaux! An easy 8 hr flight across the pond to Amsterdam then a simple hop over to Bordeaux and we are here.
Our first night we got acclimated by stopping in at a few local pubs to test the neighborhood beer (it’s ok, we will get to the wine soon enough…) Unfortunately Dave’s bags did not make the journey, and while they are having a great time in Seattle, they were not doing Dave much good over there… so while we were out we grabbed a few garments… After a few more pubs it was back to the Hotel Grand Barrail to get ready for dinner tonight.
For dinner we went to the four and a half star Hotel de Plaisance. Dinner was fantastic! We started with a bottle of Chateau de Chantegrive, a Blanc from Bordeaux. Light and easy drinking with a great acidity and fantastic minerality, pineapple with pear cider. For an appetizer we had the Duck foie gras pan sautéed with small ravioli of seasonal mushrooms, truffle juice and veal emulsion served with a wine pairing of Chateau Grande Clotie, another Bordeaux Blanc that was fatter with more apple notes. While the Bordeaux was great, Dave and I conspired to get a glass of Sauternes out for the table (as no proper foie gras should be served without a Sauternes complement). A perfect pairing! The sweet wine and creamy rich food was amazing.
For the main course we had Princely Lamb with Semoline, aromatic vegetables, crispy fajitas (made from couscous – very interesting). With this dish we had Chateau de Pressar St Emilion Rouge. A very nice bottle of wine, great fruit structure with classic Bordeaux earth and a touch of spice.
Dessert was of two parts with a jivara/passion fruit mousse served with mango emulation and cacao sorbet and a strawberry gariguette served with almond shavings. The dessert was brilliant, served with the Domaine Taile aux Loups, a semi sweet Chenin Blanc. The pairing was perfect.
