Quintessa Wine Dinner at Capital Grille Fort Lauderdale Wednesday June 10th 7pm

"Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Othello, II. iii. (315)

Quintessa Wine Dinner at Capital Grille Fort Lauderdale

We have been following the handy work of Agustan Huneeus since his early days in his homeland Chile with the mammoth Concha y Toro and have been impressed by every one of his stops along the way turning around landmark Napa wineries like Franciscan Estates and Mount Veeder.  His return to Chile has produced some of the greatest wines that this country has to offer with his Veramonte label.  I visited the Quintessa winery in Napa Valley during my trip there last June and even though I had always been impressed with the wines, the winery and entire property are meticulously run, which again is not a surprise given that they are owned by Agustan Hunneus.  Quntessa really speaks for itself as the property is not only incredibly beautiful but the wines are always among the best coming from Napa every year and we are privelegded to have the winemaker for Quintessa winery here this evening, Charles Thomas.  Chef Marc Gruverman will be preparing a special

Quintessa Wine Dinner at Capital Grille Fort Lauderdale
Wednesday June 10, 2009
7pm
           
1st course

Lobster Tempura with Tarragon Aioli

Illumination Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007
List $42.75       Sale $37.62

On the northwest corner of the Quintessa vineyard, along the river, in Napa’s Rutherford AVA lies a small plot of well-tended Savignon Blanc (with grapes also from neighboring vineyards - this wine is 76% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Semillon), the fruit for which this exceptional wine is made. While, the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, this plot’s micro-climate of cooler air and unique soil produce ideal growing conditions. Combine this with handcrafted winemaking and the result will illuminate your palate.

2nd course

Tandoori Salmon over a Black Bean Salsa with a Fresh Mango Relish

Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
List $57            Sale $50.16

Faust, the wine, celebrates a legend which has inspired many great minds, among them the German poet Goethe, from whose masterpiece we draw our inspiration.  In Goethe’s most famous work, the aging scholar Dr. Faust barters his soul in the afterlife in exchange for another chance at youth. He gets his chance, yet ultimately his soul is saved by love.  Faust, the wine, celebrates a legend which has inspired many great minds, among them the German poet Goethe, from whose masterpiece we draw our inspiration.  In Goethe’s most famous work, the aging scholar Dr. Faust barters his soul in the afterlife in exchange for another chance at youth. He gets his chance, yet ultimately his soul is saved by love.

Intermezzo

Homemade Pear William Sorbet

3rd course

Braised Bone- In Short Rib Over Parmesan Black Truffle Risotto

Vertical Tasting
Quintessa 2003 & Quintessa 2004
Two great vintages from Napa Valley, being able to try a few older releases of Quintessa will give you a perspective on why you want to hold on to these wines in your cellar.

4th course

Sliced Porcini Delmonico 12 year Aged Balsamic Hand Cut Garlic Frittes

Quintessa Rutherford Napa 2005
List $146.50     Sale $128.92

Complex bouquet of black currant cassis berry fruit, dark chocolate, espresso and notes of fresh earth, sage and gravel like mineral aromas.  Elegant and supple-textured, with earthy currant, mineral, sage and ripe plum and berry flavors on the tongue smooth round tannins still a baby and a bit rough at the edges but has all the right stuff just needs a little time in the bottle to really shine. 10,000 cases produced Finish 50+ MOST EXCELLENT +

Dessert

Warm Chocolate Lava Cake

Dinner is $85+ Tax + Gratuity for reservations call (954) 446-2000.

A bit about Charles Thomas:

Charles Thomas joined the Quintessa team as head winemaker in June 2007.   His storied career includes some of the most highly regarded wineries in the industry including Robert Robert Mondavi Winery, Domaine Chandon, Cardinale and Rudd.

Charles embarked on his journey into the world of winemaking, starting literally from the ground up as he was studying at the University of California, Berkeley. His early experiences include installing vineyard irrigation systems throughout Napa and parts of Sonoma, operating presses and tending vineyards for Domaine Chandon, leading tours at Robert Mondavi Winery and buying the wines for the Sonoma Cheese Company.

In 1978, Charles joined Robert Mondavi Winery's production department moving through positions including barrel enologist, senior enologist and assistant winemaker. After gaining a thorough knowledge of every aspect of winemaking he was promoted to head winemaker. He assisted in the creation, execution and evolution of Opus One from 1979 through 1994.

A bit about Agustan Huneeus

Agustin Huneeus, Sr., embarked upon his legendary career as a winemaker over four decades ago. He founded premier wineries both in California and Chile, and guided others to worldwide acclaim. He is perhaps best known for his artistry and innovative techniques resulting in critically acclaimed wines crafted in the Bordeaux tradition. Wines and wineries achieving prominence under Agustin’s hand include Veramonte (Primus) and Concha y Toro of Chile, and Franciscan Oakville Estate, Mount Veeder, Estancia and Quintessa of California. He is considered a trail blazer with his Cuvee Sauvage, Napa Valley’s first wild-yeast fermented Chardonnay, and Magnificat, one of Napa Valley’s first Bordeaux style proprietary blends.

Agustin is recognized both as a philosopher and an artist. He has stamped his imprimatur on a school of thought that has profoundly influenced the California wine industry. To most vintners, a wine is a Chardonnay, perhaps, or a Zinfandel, or a Merlot. To Agustin, a wine is the embodiment of a place. Its heritage, its terrior, - its ‘somewhereness’, in his words - matters most. Meritage wines, those artful blends that pay tribute to the winemaker rather than to the variety, exemplify the Huneeus principle of "attaching wine to a place." Agustin’s famous Quintessa, has become one of the landmark Bordeaux style blends from the Napa Valley, this testifies to the wisdom of his philosophy of allowing the vineyard to express itself.

Agustin served as Chairman of the 1996 Napa Valley Wine Auction, and was awarded the Distinquished Service Award by the Wine Spectator Magazine that same year. He is the former president and current chairman of Franciscan Estates, a winery he brought from obscurity to world limelight. Along with his winery at Long Shadows Vintners, Agustin retains ownership in Veramonte and Quintessa. He resides at Quintessa Estates with his wife, Valeria, who holds a Ph.D., and is a scientist and viticulturist in her own right.