This past March 30th, I attended a Cote du Rhone Masterclass lunch.
The luncheon was held at Aldo Sohm wine bar located at 151 West 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan.
It was a three-course lunch served with six Rhone wines that included whites, reds and rosés. These were budget friendly wines that were meant to showcase that Rhone wines can be approachable and easy drinking.
It was an excellent lunch with each of the first two courses paired with a white, a rosé and a red. With the very good cheese course we drank what we wanted. Since the cheeses were semi soft, the white wines worked very well with them.
Menu
Golden & red beet, terrine seasoned goat cheese
2020 Vignerons de l’Enclave “La Resistance” Blanc: Medium gold in color, floral, green herbs on the nose, full fruit with melon notes, moderate acids, easy drinking.
2021 Cellier des Dauphins Rosé Reserve: Light pale red with strawberry notes on the nose, easy drinking with low acids and honeydew melon notes.
2020 Joseph Castan “Tresor du Rhone” Rouge: Opaque medium red. leather and rosemary on the nose, dusty black fruit, silky tannin and crushed rock notes.
Braise short rib, spinach, fried shallots, red wine reduction
2019 Andre Brunel “La Becassonne” Blanc: Medium dark gold with honeydew on the nose, medium to full bodied, tight, juicy fruit, good balance and very drinkable.
2021 Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé: Medium pale red, cantaloup melon on the nose, firm with some tart notes.
2019 Delas Freres “St Esprit” Rouge: Opaque dark red with green notes on the nose, chewy, black licorice fruit, silky tannins and a nice grip at the end.
Cheese of the moment Chef’s selection
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