Balaban’s Wine Cellar

Wine Tasting

Saturday May May 19

1-3 p.m.

2010 Domaine De La Mordoree Tavel Rose La Dame Rousse

Bright orange-pink. Pungent aromas of dried red fruits, wild herbs and rose, plus a hint of blood orange.  Deeply pitched red fruit flavors are complicated by dusty herbal and floral nuances.  Poerful but well-balanced and dry, with lively red fruit and spice notes on the finish..

Retail $30.99

Brewer-Clifton Mount Carmel Chardonnay 2009

Intense and deep, layers of expressive tropical fruit fill out the wine’s broad shouldered frame nicely. 

90 points

Wine Advocate

Retail $56.99

2010 Brewer-Clifton 3-D Santa Rits Hills Pinot Noir

Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass.  Bright aromas of dark pie berries and plum, spice, slate and oak char.  Medium bodied essence of darker Pinot fruits including black plums and black raspberries with a hint of cherry and Asian 5-spice.  Complex and layered rather than simply fruity.

$44.99

Maipe Bonarda 2008

The purple-colored 2008 Bonarda offers an enticing bouquet of smoke, mineral, and blueberry.  Round and ripe on the palate, it has surprising depth and length for its humble price.

Retail $10.99

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The staff at Balaban’s really enjoys finding great wines deals for you. Today’s newsletter presents an opportunity to purchase two exiting Southern Rhone values.  The Grand Venuer is the first of our red finds from the amazing 2010 vintage from the Rhone Valley.

91 Wine Advocate 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve, $13.50

The 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) expresses the great vintage with loads of big ripe fruit flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone. This is one of the bargains that continue to emerge from the Cote du Rhone region.

I also have a killer 2009 Olivier Hillaire that is drinking great. Both wines are in stock and sale priced at Balaban’s.

2009 OLIVIER HILLAIRE Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes $14

Big, a combination of a soft mouth feel of delicious Rhone fruit and a syrah like fruit create a slight spice and a soft, smooth finish. A little mild barnyard on the nose keeps it interesting.  I highly recommend this one, it just keeps on delivering.

The French brought them Malbec. The Italians brought them Bonarda.  And today, Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world.  Taste and learn about this wonderful region of wine with the Wines of Argentina Wine Class.  Wednesday, May 23^rd at 7:00 pm.

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Silver Oak Wine Dinner

Sunday May 20th

6:30 PM

Silver Oak Cellars 

Enjoy a 5 course dinner paired with one of the most famous cellars in California

Reservations Required.  $95 per person Plus Tax and Gratuity

636.449.6700 for Reservations

1^st Course

Salmon gravlox with Diver scallop ceviche and clam vinaigrette

Twomey  Sauvignon Blanc

2^nd Course

Pork Duo, braised fennel, pancetta, sundried cherry gastrique

Twomey Pinot Noir

3^rd Course

Roast Quail, morel mushrooms and figs, Merlot reduction sauce

Twomey Merlot

4^th Course

Red Tail Venison, spring vegetables, herb risotto, Silver Oak demi-glace

Silver Oak ‘Napa’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert

Chocolate Cake with ganache, blood orange creme anglaise, chocolate tuile

Meyer’s Family Port Wine

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Chef Ben McAurther has added some new menu items to our Balaban's Lunch and Dinner menus!

Dinner

Spring radicchio salad-pearl mozzarella, radicchio, mango, micro basil, port vinaigrette

Gulf Shrimp Spring Rolls, julienne vegetables, gulf shrimp, fresh herbs, citrus-soy sauce

Panzanella Salad- baby tomatoes, feta, ciabatta, cucumber, quince vinaigrette, red onion

Spring Vegatable Bruschetta-tomato pesto, grilled zucchini, goats cheese, micro basil

Berkshire Pork Chop-bone-in, broccoli rabe, pee-wee fingerlings, baby onion, apricot gastrique

Seared Black Grouper- chervil-meyer lemon vin, white asparagus, basil-pancetta risotto

Mediterranean Flatbread-lamb sausage, tomato pesto, kalamata olives, feta, mint

Lunch

Bibb and Radicchio Salad-green goddess dressing, parm crisp, hard poached quail egg, micros

Grilled Salmon Salad-spinach, pea shoots, avocado, onion, peanuts, carrot-miso vinagrette

Shrimp Po' Boy-red pepper remoulade, arugula, tomato, onion tasted hoaggie and frites

Petite Filet-fried tobacco onions, seasonal vegetables, pee-wee fingerling potatoes, garlic oil

Crique Monsieur-farm smoked ham, whole grain mustard, gruyere, ciabatta

Mediterranean Flatbread-lamb sausage, tomato pesto, kalamata olives, feta, mint

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