Valhalla

Great night at Valhalla Restaurant in Raumati 

with the Kapiti Beefsteak and Burgundy Club last night:

Blind wine tasting, matched perfectly to the meal by our winemaster, Stewart MacPherson:

Seafood Chowder

(wine Villa Maria Private Bin East Coast Viognier 2010)

Most of us picked this to be a Pinot Gris rather than a Viognier. Beautiful apricot, honeysuckle and spice, with a dry palate, which developed well with the rich flavour of the seafood chowder

Beef Wellington

2 wines with the red meat:

Arriba Tempranillo. 

Lovely fruit flavours of plum and black berry fruit, cinnamon and memories of Christmas and Apres Ski. Proud to say that our "children's table", six of us under 50 years old, got this wine varietal right!

Cateau Bourgneuf 2006 Bordeaux

We thought this may be either Italian or again from the Iberian Peninsula, possibly Montepulliciano or even Tinta Barocca. Robust tannins with sweet berry fruit. Australia got strong support, and everyone was surprised that this delightful wine was a Bordeaux. Nobody got it completely right, though again, the children's table, in the person of Ava got the Merlot component right. She was the only one in the room to pick up on this aspect. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Quite a few thought possibly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Upside Down Creme Brulee with berry reduction

Blandy's Duke of Clarence Madiera

Everyone guessed that this was an Iberian Pensinsula wine. Tawny Port, Ruby Port, Sherry were the offerings. Only one palate got it right - Madiera.

All in all a great evening's entertainment and degustation.