Dinner Overlooking the Straits

Posted on July 25, 2014 by thewineraconteur

While we were at a conference at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island there was a dinner for all of the attendees and it was in a private dining room located between two of the restaurants in the main lodge. The location was stellar as it looked out on the Straits and one could watch commercial freighters and pleasure boats as well. It was only a couple of days after the annual Port Huron to Mackinac race. The cocktail reception began out on a deck outside of the dining room and it was very charming and the feeling of the resort was upon us all. Some of the attendees had just returned from a golf outing, and others like ourselves went and enjoyed some wine in the afternoon prior to the dinner.

Conference Wines Lineup

The dinner was a well prepared example of what the resort could offer. We started with a Michigan Salad. Then we all had a plate of filet of beef and a chicken breast with potatoes and Porcini mushrooms. For dessert we enjoyed a fruit topped cheesecake and coffee.

MI Mission Point MB

The bar that started out on the deck was later rolled in to the dining room and it was well stocked with beer, liquor and of course wine. The wines were a collection of popular wines all from California with just a California designation which for a large group was just fine. There was a Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc NV and all the rest of the wines were from Canyon Road Winery. From Canyon Road there was a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay and all were vintage 2013. While not as interesting as some of the other wines that we enjoyed during the conference they worked well for the evening event. I started with Chardonnay and then went to the Cabernet Sauvignon during my entrée and then went back to the Chardonnay. All in all it was a fine conference and the planners did a fine job and no one was unhappy.

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Two Austrian Wines

Posted on July 23, 2014 by thewineraconteur

The first night on Mackinac Island, even though we were staying at Mission Point Resort, a group of us went out for dinner at Woods, part of the The Grand Hotel group. Since the conference was starting the next morning, all of the participants that arrived the night before were on their own for dinner, drinks and good times. There were ten of us, that decided to go out for dinner at Woods and we had to call for a “taxi” and it was a good thing that we did. While The Grand Hotel may have been a two mile walk from our hotel, Woods was way beyond the normal grounds of the hotel, on the other side of the airport and golf course; in fact the poor horses had to stop several times along the way to rest.Fass 4 Gruner Veltliner 2013
When we arrived at Woods, we were greeted by a Tudor style mansion with a Bavarian air to it. This building at one time was used by the children of the families staying at The Grand Hotel and to maintain that tradition in concept instead of white tablecloths, the tables were covered with white paper and there were crayons for people to doodle between courses. The building is also home to America’s oldest operating duckpin bowling alley. They did a fine job converting the building to the current situation with a bar on the side, and a very ample size restaurant on the other side of the anteroom. There were also photographs of America’s favorite child Shirley Temple featured on the wall, while in the dining area there was a pianist and a taxidermist’s haven.  We started off by ordering a Chicken Liver and Pork Pate plate, but it like the other appetizers started circling the table, so we tried Baked Escargot, Smoke Mackinac Trout, and a Vidalia Onion Tart as well. Then we tried to Lobster-Shrimp Bisque during the salad course and it was very rich, and thankfully not over salted as some bisques can be. My Bride enjoyed Pecan crusted Mackinac Whitefish with Black Beluga Lentils, while I had to enjoy the Pan Roasted Farm Raised Duck Breast, Duck Confit Bread Pudding, Hazelnuts and PlumGastrique. This was followed by a Grand Marnier Crème Brulee and coffee.

Weingut Brundlmayer Pinot Noir Reserve 2011
A couple of the wines on the wine list sounded intriguing and after decided on our dinner selections, I had to find the right wine. I asked if I could have a taste of two of the wines, to decide on the right one. Imagine my surprise when the tastings were full pours of both wines. The two wines that had caught my eye were both from Austria, a country that I had not really (if ever) had the pleasure to try their wines. The first wine that I will discuss was the wine that did not make it, but I put it aside to have later along with my entrée was Weingut Brundlmayer Pinot Noir Reserve 2011. This wine carries an appellation from Kamptal in Austria. I was aware that Pinot Noir was a favored red in both Germany and Austria, so I was curious about it. The wine was more fruit forward then I thought would be a good choice for my Bride’s whitefish, but it was very good with my entrée.  The other wine that I tasted and decided to go with, was a varietal that I have read about from several of the other Wine Bloggers that I follow, and it goes to show that I do read what they write about. We had a Fass 4 Gruner Veltliner 2013 by Weingut Bernhard Ott GMBH from Wagram, Austria. This was a very enjoyable wine with some spice and acidity and it worked very well with both of our dinners. I also shared some with some of the other diners who had just ordered a bottle of Chardonnay, so they could try a different white wine and perchance look for it, the next time they were out dining.

Entrance to Woods
Afterwards, the restaurant manager had called for a “taxi” to take us back to the hotel, and we were given quite a tour of the island, even though it was late, the evening sky illuminated very well so we could appreciate a lot of the homes that we passed, including the mansion that is for the Governor of Michigan when he is up on the island. We were also given a grand view of the port from up on the bluff on our way back, and I could feel for the horses, as our driver was constantly applying the brakes on the wagon as we were going down hill.

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Having Wines at Bistro on the Greens

Posted on July 21, 2014 by thewineraconteur

After four hours and fifteen minutes in the car (can you tell that I am a Michigander?), a half hour ferry ride and just short of a mile hike we arrived at our destination for a conference. We were going once again to Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island. The reason for the hike, is that on Mackinac Island there are only three vehicles (I believe) a police car, a fire fighting vehicle and an ambulance. The methods of transportation on this resort island is by foot, by bicycle or by horse drawn taxis, so one does have to keep an eye on the road, unless one wants to have some unwanted extras on their shoes; in fact just due to this fact, my Bride took her oldest pair of walking shoes to the island. Our hotel had arrangements with one of the ferry services, so we did not have to walk our luggage to the hotel, which is a good thing, as not only were we carrying clothes and necessities, but two lap top computers, one projector as an adjunct to one of the computers, and another suit case just for documents, brochures and other items for the conference. I would not have been a happy camper lugging all of that luggage for a mile going uphill at times.

Andrieux & Fils Cuvee Victoria Cotes de Provence 2013
There were several building on the campus of the resort, in fact at one time this resort was an actual campus, but it had been totally remodeled and updated. We had a suite in one of the outlaying buildings away from the main lodge and the conference center as well. We had a two room suite, which was very nice, but the best part was we had an enclosed patio off of the suite with tables and chairs and a very private hot tub. Since we did not have a lake view this was great, as our patio abutted a wooded bluff, so we away from all distractions. For two days in the late afternoon there was a small gathering at the “Bistro on the Greens” at the resort. The ‘greens” was a small well manicured miniature golf putting course overlooking the lake, a part of the channel, so one got a chance to watch the huge freighters that ply the Great Lakes for commerce.

Ch L'Hospitalet Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape 2007
The Bistro had a small menu, a small bar and a small collection of wines for those that either finished “golfing” or just wanted to enjoy the charming weather and enjoy a drink or two. We tried several different glasses of wines during our gatherings and two of them caught my fancy.

Mission Point Resort Suite Spa
The two wines that I will mention were from the “interesting” list of wines on the wine list. The first wine was Andrieux & Fils Cuvee Victoria Cotes de Provence 2013, a rose wine, which is one of the well known types of wine from the Provence region. This wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah and was very enjoyable in the afternoon sun, and thankfully we were all grouped under the veranda of the Bistro and had a great view. The second wine was Chateau L’Hospitalet La Reserve Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape 2007 by Gerard Bertrand. The Coteaux du Languedoc is becoming more popular, especially for the price points, as so many French wines from the great regions are pricing themselves out of the price of fun drinking, and hence some of the producers are really making strides to get away from the concept of just making table wines. This wine was a mix of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre and I enjoy this wine as well. I am not big on using flowery descriptive terms for wines, especially since I was not going to keep a log while I was enjoying the company of friends and to me that makes the wines all that much better in taste and in memories.

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My Favorite Magazine Issue of the Year

Posted on July 19, 2014 by thewineraconteur

I guess that I am an amateur “foodie” and “wine geek.” The two go together so well and when you throw them into a mix with friends or sometimes just a great date night, it is almost nirvana. What does this have to do with a magazine you may wonder? I subscribe to Wine Spectator and once a year they have their “Restaurant Awards” issue and this is an issue that I keep right at my desk. I have used it as an amateur concierge for some of my customers through out the years, but basically I use it as a guide for when my Bride and I wish to go out for dinner to try something new, or when we are planning a vacation.

Wine Spectator
There is a caveat in the issue where they state “our awards program evaluates wine list, not restaurants as a whole.” This is fine, and I look at the recommendations as a guide. When we are going somewhere new, I automatically subtract any chains that are located near us, or that we have already been to, as most while they may be wonderful are cookie-cutter establishments, and if they are successful, why change? I look at the wine selection of a restaurant, as in the number of wines that they offer, then I look at the type of food offered and then I look at the price range of the menu that they submit to the editors. My philosophy has been that the finer the wine selection, and if the menu prices are in the proper ration, I will take a chance on the restaurant. As far as I am concerned, if a restaurant has a large cellar, they would only do it to enhance the food that they are preparing. In all of the years that I have followed this concept, I have only had one bad experience, and it was not about the wine or the food, but the monotony of the plates encountered in a “Chef’s Tasting” as there was not enough variety, and the total indifference of the wait staff and administration. Of course I have never bothered writing about that evening, and it may have been the most expensive dinner we ever had.

NY Windows On The World MB
I also look at some of the past years of this issue, as I have tried to maintain most of them. I get a chance to look at some of the restaurants that are no longer in business and I lament that. I also think of some of the famous restaurants that I will never have a chance to go to, either that my Bride went to, before we met, or vice-versa. I also think of some of the great dishes that I have enjoyed, and less I forget to mention, some great wines that I have had over the years as well. After all, what does a raconteur have besides memories to talk about?

The French Laundry Bill

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A Leisurely Day in Plymouth and a New Restaurant

Posted on July 17, 2014 by thewineraconteur

The Plymouth Art Fair was going on, and the weather was obliging. We decided to make a day of it in the charming city of Plymouth, Michigan. The art fair seems to keep growing in size, as there were more little by-ways of tents to discover this time and it made for a nice afternoon stroll. My Bride had a few ideas of items that she wanted to shop for, but we ended up empty handed, which does happen from time to time. On the way back to where we had parked our car, we noticed that the Plymouth Historical Museum was open and we decided to spend some time there, since neither of us has ever been there before. The assorted docents were well trained and the exhibits were well done, especially the Weldon Pets Lincoln Collection, which captivated my Bride, while I meandered over to the rest of the displays and then took a second tour of them with her.

Laetitia Pinot Noir 2012
We decided to go have dinner, and we were going to try a new restaurant that had just opened up. Aqua was this sleek new establishment housed in a building that used to be a Greek Coney Island eatery, and it now has a very enticing façade. Facades and facelifts may be the easiest things to change, but we were willing to try this new establishment that was between two sections that are popular in Plymouth. We went in with out a reservation and were taken to a table immediately, as we really did not want to sit in the lounge area, as I dislike television sets when I am dining, and I am also not a big fan of dining outside, though the patio area was very appealing. We were each handed an I-pad which allowed us to navigate through all of the different menus, drinks and wines. Every item was photographed, and it was easy to decipher what wines were offered by the glass and which ones were by the bottle. The menu was quite different from the last establishment, even though I understand that it is still the same owner, only now there is a “fusion” element to the dishes.

Cepasantiguas Rioja 2011
We were excited from using the menu, and we were going to share many of the dishes, so that we could get a wider sampling of the different plates being offered that day. We started off with baked Brie in Phyllo dough wrapping with assorted micro-greens and fresh fruit. My Bride started off with a glass of Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay 2012 from the Sonoma Coast of California and after all the walking in the sun, I am sure that she enjoyed the wine even more and it went well with the Brie plate. I started off with a glass of Martinez Corta Cepas Antiguas Rioja 2011, which was made entirely from the Tempranillo varietal and I found it very satisfying as well with the Brie. Our next course was a plate of Mussels, which my Bride favors much more than I, but I did share them with her. This dish was prepared with natural broth, smoked tomatoes, garlic and an Albarino white wine, it was very well prepared. I had finished my wine with the Brie and I was enjoying a glass of water with a slice of cucumber, a very nice touch for this summer day.

Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay 2012
As we were studying the assorted menus, there was a brunch item that had caught both of our attentions, and since the major underlying part of the dish was offered as an entrée, we asked if the brunch version could be ordered and the kitchen was very amiable and agreed to our request. The dish was called Lobster Benny, and it was a take off on Eggs Benedict, where the base was two Lobster and Crab cakes, topped by a poached egg and a very subtle Hollandaise Sauce with a side of spiced home fries. I decided to try their Seven hour Beef Short Ribs with came with root vegetables. I have to say that both dishes were very well prepared and presented.

Sassi Pinot Grigio 2013
My Bride had a glass of Sassi Pinot Grigio 2013 from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. It had just the right amount of acidity and a touch of sweetness that worked extremely well with her dish. I chose a wine that surprised my Bride a bit, she thought I would order a Cab with my entrée, but I selected a Laetitia Vineyard and Winery Pinot Noir 2012 from the Arroyo Grand Valley. This wine was very supple and complimented the slow cooking of the short ribs.

MI Aqua BC
Each dish came out looking exactly like the photographs that were on the I-pad menu, but they were all served on oversized plates, so the dishes were deceiving. After our four courses we were both sated, and really did not need a dessert. We may have tried a dessert, but our only complaint, if it is really a complaint, was that they did not have any de-caffeinated coffee, and perhaps that is still because they are new and it was an over sight on their part. My Bride is already talking about going there again, with me and with some of her friends, which is how much she enjoyed the experience.

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Another Graduation Party

Posted on July 15, 2014 by thewineraconteur

The time of the year is upon us, where we get to celebrate our graduates. One of my cousin’s daughters was an honoree this year and they had a party at their house. There was a huge pavilion erected in their back yard and I am sure that they were cooking up a storm prior to the party. There was an assortment of Armenian and Italian dishes prepared to cover both sides of the family involved, and that is not to mention all of the desserts that were set out on a sweet table. I would venture that nobody went hungry that evening.

Luna, Menage,Decoy
There were beverages set up all over the grounds, from water and soft drinks, beer and wine, as well as mixed drinks; so all of the basics were covered. There were also two iced urns of homemade Sangria, one white and one red, which I thought was a nice touch, instead of some of the store bought Sangria wines that are marketed.

Carnivor and Cryptic
There was an ice tub with a selection of three wines on ice. The first bottle of wine was Luna Pinot Grigio 2012 with a California AVA. Ménage a Trois Midnight 2012 from the Trinchero Family Estates was the second bottle in the tub. This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot and it had a very deep color, perhaps that is why they named it Midnight. The third bottle was from the Duckhorn group of wines, their Decoy Sauvignon Blanc 2013 from Napa Valley and this wine also had some Semillon blended with the Sauvignon Blanc. Of the three wines that were on ice, I seemed to keep going back to the Sauvignon Blanc as it was the most refreshing and had the best taste for my liking.

Sangria urns
There was also a selection of two other red wines that were located in the house to keep a more steady temperature instead of being out in the sun. There was Carnivore Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 which carried a California AVA. The other wine was from Cryptic Wines, their Cryptic Red Wine 2012 which had a rather eclectic blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and another 7% of other red varietals. This wine also had a California AVA as the grapes were harvested from Paso Robles, Clarksburg, the North Coast, the Central Coast and some other California locations as well. I have to admit that I did not try either of these two wines, as I was enjoying myself with family and friends under the pavilion and the chilled wines were fitting the need aptly.

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Another Social Media Wine Story

Posted on July 13, 2014 by thewineraconteur

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. I have to admit that I belong to a couple of Social Media sites, some are more business oriented and one is basically social. While I was trying to keep abreast of all the postings I received a private message from a friend that I had earlier wished a Happy Birthday along with other salutations to it. My friend asked me if I had seen the two pictures of wine that he had posted from Sicily. I told him that I had never had any wines from Sicily, and that I was curious about them and that I would check out the wines at a later point in time. I was intrigued and I looked forward to checking the postings. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the two bottles of wine and discovered that neither was from Sicily, but from Italy proper.

Madrigale Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale 2011
The first bottle of wine was an easy one for me as it was Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2011. This is one of my favorite districts in Italy and I have written about the wines often. This Tuscan wine is made from the Montepulciano grape and truth be told, I have yet to have had a bad bottle of wine from this district, some may be a little lighter then others, but always a safe bottle to choose to accompany a dinner. I have written about a Pinot Grigio wine from this particular winemaker before, but I have not had this wine.

Cantina Zaccagnini dal tralcetto 2011
The other wine is quite fascinating to research; Madrigale Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale 2011. This wine is from the Puglia district in the Southeastern part of the boot and is known for its wine as well as its olive oil. Primitivo is the only varietal that is allowed to be used for Primitivo di Manduria DOC, and this varietal is known here in the United States as Zinfandel. The Dolce Naturale DOCG is the sweeter variant of Primitivo di Manduria and has a stricter and higher classification. The grapes are dried on the vine, hence a higher concentration of sugar and a minimum alcohol proof of 13.5% and is only made in particular vintages, so it is a rarer wine to find. So I think my friend received two bottles of wine that he will enjoy for his birthday.

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A Wine Tip through Social Media

Posted on July 11, 2014 by thewineraconteur

“One of the best $13 bottles of wine. What’s your opinion John..?” is the message that was posted on my personal Facebook page the other day, with a photo of a particular wine. It was posted by an old friend of mine, going back to the days of my involvement in a youth group through my church. I know that he likes wines, because he has mentioned it to me, and we share a common consideration for Rioja wines.

Creta Roble
The photo that I am posting of the label is exactly as I received it, just with the name of the wine and the vintage year and at first I was perplexed as I did not recognize the name of wine. Since the label said Creta Roble 2011, I was not sure what to expect, since the two of us are Armenian by nationality, I immediately thought of the island of Crete and maybe he had found a wine in a Greek restaurant, but I discounted that thought immediately.

MarquesDeRiscal 1970
So I was off to do some more research, which I don’t mind, and I am always open to a wine suggestion, even from my Barber (which I have wrote about). It turns out that this wine is a pure Tempranillo wine from Ribero Del Duero in Spain, which fully explains why my friend enjoyed this wine, as this is the key varietal for Rioja wines from Spain. This is a wine that is made from a seventy year old vineyard and the wine is aged in older American and French Oak barrels. I also found out that “creta” means chalk in Spanish, a word that I must have missed in my classes of Spanish that I took. The “creta” refers to the chalky soil that is prevalent in the Ribero Del Duero. Another wine that I will be on the look out to try, and that is why Social Media can be a learning experience at times.

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A Graduation Party

Posted on July 9, 2014 by thewineraconteur

This is the time of year when high school students have graduation parties and we just went to one for a young that happens to be our nephew. He graduated from a military academy and is getting ready to start his high education in equine studies, which goes beyond just equestrian arts. The young man lives in Kentucky, but both of his parents are from the Detroit area, as well as the majority of their relatives, so they elected to have the graduation party in Michigan.

Concannon Chardonnay 2012
The venue selected is a great complex that is a huge marina, restaurant, bar, catering, apartments or condos (I am not sure), boathouses and a myriad of related amenities. Mac & Ray’s is a great place to have a party, and I have been there on prior occasions as well, that is how I can explain the matchbook that is becoming an antique curio, as they are no longer given out. The graduation party was held as a Sunday brunch and there was a fine turnout to honor the young gentleman of the moment. The brunch was in the main dining room and we were in an adjacent banquet room with a great view of the marina and Anchor Bay. It was a classic style brunch set up with a very long table of chafing dishes with assorted breakfast dishes, a Prime Rib carving station, a custom omelet station and then a sweet table. As is typical for a brunch like this, one cannot eat all that is offered, well perhaps the teenagers can, but at my age, I did not even try.

MI Mac & Ray's MB
Our banquet room also had a private bar that was well stocked with assorted liquors and beers. The wines offered were typical for an institutional meal like this and I tried the Chardonnay, it was agreeable, so I stayed with it for the time; they also were offering Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well. Concannon Chardonnay 2012 was my choice, and it is listed as a Glen Ellen Proprietor’s Reserve, but it carries a California AVA. Since they were not serving Mimosas I figured that a Chardonnay would be the best choice for the dishes I was choosing.

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The July Birthdays

Posted on July 7, 2014 by thewineraconteur

As I have written before we get together once a month to celebrate all the birthdays in the families at one time. It is more economical and convenient to just have one big party each month and it has become the norm for this ritual. Needless to say it was rather hectic at the house in preparation, giving the house an extra dose of cleaning and getting a dinner planned to work around all the different food requirements and regimens of the some of the guests. Shall I say with all due modestly that my Bride excels at this type of stress and she survived effortlessly.

Opus One 2000
We had her wonderful Caesar Salad that I think everyone is addicted to, as well as a couple of other salads that she or some of her sisters brought as well.  One of her sisters had made an appetizer of shrimp that was Mexican in origin with an avacado, lime and cilantro mix. Her one sister from Louisville made all of the vegetables in the kitchen with all of the chaos that was surrounding that area at the moment including sautéed asparagus and Brussels sprouts with bacon. I was busy slicing the meat because we had made whole tenderloins of beef and pork, so they were all sliced into medallions for the dinner. There were an assortment of cakes and puddings and even a scratch-made Key Lime pie by our son and his new wife. In fact when I surveyed the food table after everyone had eaten, there was nary a “doggie-bag” to be made for anyone to take home, so the dinner was a total success, but I really expect that anymore under my Bride’s supervision.

Moreson Pinotage 2012
As for the beverages we had started out with an assortment of white wines that I have written about in the past that are a staple in this house, and then there was Sangria that was being enjoyed as well. I was all set to surprise my Brother-in-Law with the new bottle of Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013 that my Bride had just discovered and since I know how much they enjoy that varietal. When they arrived, his wife handed me a three bottle travel bag of wines that they had brought to share with the party and she said that they were concerned that carrier had slid over on the side and they were worried that some sediment in one of the wines would have been disturbed and that I might have to decant the one bottle. I also wanted them to try the Moreson Pinotage 2012 to get there take on the wine, as neither of them had ever had this varietal. When I opened the carrier, imagine my surprise to find that besides another Chardonnay to add to the festivities, there was a bottle of Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013 and I started to laugh and I had to share this fact with my Bride who thought she had found a coup and here they were ahead of the curve. The last bottle in the carrier was the one that my Brother-in-Law was concerned about, it was an Opus One 2000 and he wanted to see how it was maturing as he had some more of it back at his cellar. The Pinotage was a hit, as they were admiring how smooth this wine was, and then we opened the Opus One during our dinner and there was nary a trace of sediment, and I had forgotten how great this wine is, as we had not had some in a while and made me think of the bottles in my own cellar. We finished off the evening enjoying the Meiomi though we should have started off with this wine as it was much more fruit forward then the first two reds that we were drinking, but by this time we were just enjoying the company and this wine was just easy sipping to finish off the night.

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013

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