IN-HOUSE MONDIALE EVENT
THE STAIKOS’S
MAY 16, 2009
The Judgment of Flemington
By Ernest Jaeger, Charge de Presse Provencial Honoraire
Oenophiles throughout the world certainly remember the famous Judgment of Paris, the wine tasting of 1976 that changed the world of wine; at least, the world of California wine. In a blind taste test in France’s capital city, with almost all French judges, California wines were ranked above many French classic wines. The results shocked the wine world!
Echanson Provincial/Vice Echanson George Staikos, his wife Christi and their daughter Angelina warmly and generously hosted our chapter at their beautiful home in Flemington NJ on a lovely May evening. The tasting was casual with tasting stations set up throughout their home. New world style wines produced by old world producers were pitted again old world style wines produced by new world producers. We tasted and voted on the wine in each pair we thought was superior. Chef Rotisseur Scot Lahey prepared small plates to complement each wine flight.
The evening began with a refreshing Llopart Rose Brut Reserva 2005 and delicious spanikopita, proscuitto wrapped hearts of palm and wild mushroom profiteroles. As we sipped and nibbled, Staikos introduced the varietals we would taste and procedures for recording our votes.
The wine pairings included a Domaine Blain Gag nard Chassagne Montrachet 2005 and a Ramey Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros 2005, paired with crab salad with goat cheese fritters, which we all found to be a perfect escort to both wines.
The Syrah flight featured Domaine Remizieres Cuvee Emilie Hermitage 2005 and a Ramey Rodgers Creek Syrah 1006. They were beautifully paired with grilled veal medallions with warm sausage and spinach salad.
Succulent braised beef short ribs with Gorgonzola and rosemary scented polenta accompanied the Cabernet flight of Chateau Pichon Longueville, Pauillac 1990 and Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 1990. A second Cabernet flight pitted a Chateau Ducru Beacaullou, St Julien 1998 against a Delectus Cuvee Julia, Napa Valley 1999.
The evening was enormous fun with members and their guests making their way through the wines at a leisurely pace and enjoying each of the tasting experiences.
At the end of the evening, we finally began sharing our reactions to the different flights with one another; the comments were fascinating. After coffee and a decadent bitter chocolate cake, Staikos identified each of the wines served and talked about the qualities of each one and its price points. He announced the judgments, which turned out to be inconclusive. None of us consistently picked the old or new world flights. “This emphasizes the evening’s theme, old world producers making wines in a new world style and vice versa,” said Staikos. The results in terms of taste and quality were somewhat similar.
Chambellan Provincial/ Bailli Robin Jacobs thanked Staikos and his family for their very generous hospitality and kindness; she also thanked Lahey for the excellent food pairings. Our enthusiastic applause echoed through the darkness of the Hunterdon Hills. As we made our way to our cars, we held plans to visit our local wine shops to add many of the evening’s wines to our cellars.
