We are really looking forward to tonight’s wine event, an event that promises to be extremely meaty. It will be held at Abattoir - French for “slaughterhouse,” it’s a perfect restaurant name for the Hallowe’en season - the latest creation of Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison, whose other establishments (Bacchanalia, Quinones at Bacchanalia, Floataway Café, and Star Provisions) are among the finest in town. You can take it to the bank that Abattoir is not where PETA holds its annual Board of Directors banquet... which is all to the good, as far as I am concerned.
The wines themselves - always the star of the show - will be drawn from the various countries of South America. All are red, with the exception of the Speaker’s Wine and dessert wine... and that’s also all to the good, as far as I am concerned.
I’m hoping Denny and Houston Steve can make it. That way, the political discourse is likely to be at least as meaty as the food.
Speaker’s Wine:
2008 Zolo Torrontes - Mendoza, Argentina
First Flight:
2005 Miolo Merlot - Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil
2006 Concha y Toro “Terrunyo” Carmenere - Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile**
2006 Concha y Toro “Don Melchor” Cabernet Sauvignon - Puente Alto Vineyard, Maipo Valley, Chile***
Charcuterie: Selection of House Cured Meats and Terrines
Second Flight:
2007 Viña Cornejo Costas Tannat “don Rodolfo” - Cafayate Valley, Argentina
2007 Familia Deicas Tannat Reserve “Don Pascual” - Juanico, Uruguay
2007 Ichanka Bonarda - Famatina Valley, La Rioja, Argentina**
White Oaks Pasture Confit Chicken, Celery, Bacon, Apples
Third Flight:
2008 Gascon Malbec Reserva - Mendoza, Argentina
2008 Achaval Ferrer Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina
2008 Catena Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina
Grilled American Beef 3 Ways: Wagyu Flat Iron, Radish; Georgia Grass Fed NY Strip, Potato, Greens; Prime Black Angus Ribeye, Butternut Squash
Dessert:
2006 Concha y Toro Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest Reserve - Maule Valley, Chile*
House Made Ricotta Panna Cotta, Plums, Honey
As usual, I’ll weigh in with my commentary after the event. Meat: It’s what’s for dinner!
Update: There were a few last-minute tweaks to the menu and wine list. The confit duck leg was replaced by chicken confit; delicious, but not what I had been so looking forward to having. And, unfortunately, one of the bottles of Don Pascual Tannat - the only Uruguayan wine - was corked, so half of the attendees (including Yours Truly) missed out on that one. The meaty provender, however, was tasty enough to warrant a return trip.
Abattoir, for what it’s worth, is actually located in a former slaughterhouse. If you hold your ear up to the walls and listen very closely, you can almost hear the frantic mooing of the beeves of yesteryear...
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6 comments:
Also let us know what you think of the Torrontes. I have a few bottles of Crios Torrontes (can't recall the vintage offhand) that I rather like. It seems to me that it's a white that should be better known.
Both Houston Steve and I will be there.
With that name, you'd hope they let you smack the calf with a hammer tableside, and let you carve off your own slab of veal...
@El Capitan - They do. Which is why they give you a rubberized, full-body bib as soon as you walk in the door. Souvenir hammers - take 'em home or give 'em as gifts - are available in the gift shop.
I will be interested to hear your opinion of the wines from Uraguay.
I was given a bottle of wine, a rose like light red and it was superb.
Unfortunately, I don't speak a word of Spanish (Uraguayan?) so I have no idea just what it was or what region it came from.
Hey, wine is for drinking, No?
@BlogDog - The Torrontes was quite pleasant; nothing special, but with nice fruit.
@PQ - Unfortunately, the only Uruguayan wine we had was corked, so we really had no fair way to judge it.
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