Calera Wine Dinner @ Cafe Maxx 8/17/11

I don't post about too many wine dinners around town but this one really sounds like a winner to me.  I've enjoyed several of the Calera Pinots and Cafe Maxx is one of the best restaurants in Broward.


Marta Rich from Calera will be on hand.   Dinner is $125 + Tax + Gratuity, for reservations call 954-523-9463.  The featured wines are all available at Wine Watch in Ft. Lauderdale.

www.cafemaxx.com/index.asp

Calera Wine Dinner at Cafe Maxx

Wednesday August 17th

7pm

Reception

Grilled shrimp with banana chutney

Sea scallop ceviche with mango and chayote

B & E chicken and brie philo purses

2009 Calera Central Coast Chardonnay

Price: $18             Sale $15.84          Case $184

The 2009 Central Coast Chardonnay starts with a lively, honeysuckle blossom and peach bouquet, accented by bright pippin apples and pear. On the palate, this wine is rich, smooth, flavorful and mouth filling while retaining a dancing lightness on the mouth. Soft hints of spicy oak, ripe apricot and Meyer lemon zest add personality to the long lingering finish.

First Course

Crispy cornflake fried hog snapper with tropical fruit salsa, orange-basil remoulade and endive slaw



2002 Calera Mount Harlan Chardonnay

Price: $99             Sale $87.12

The 2002 Mt. Harlan Chardonnay is a smooth, rich and beautiful wine with aromas of apple and summer melon.  Fresh flavors of Barlett pear, citrus zest and hints of vanilla fill the palate.  This wine has a soft, silky texture with undertones of toasty oak and a full, creamy finish that displays the signature Mt. Harlan limestone minerality. - Winemaker's Notes

2003 Calera Mount Harlan Chardonnay

Price: $93             Sale $81.84

The 2003 Mt. Harlan Chardonnay possesses a beautiful bouquet of apple blossom, pear and honeydew melon.  A full, creamy texture fills the palate while wowing the taster with restrained yet rich flavors of cherimoya, vanilla and lemon zest, and accented by Ht. Harlan's signature limestone minerality.  - Winemaker's Notes

Second Course

Carpaccio of filet mignon with sundried cherries and shitake mushrooms, opal basil and crostini

2009 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir

Price: $24             Sale $21.12          Case $245

Delightful bright aromas of pomegranate, sandalwood, juicy cherry and bramble waft from this energetic and flavorful 2009 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir. Seven different vineyard sources combine to create lively flavors of cranberry, French prune, briar and expressive red plum with a soft underpinning of oak. Deep flavors, firm tannins, wonderful fruit and a nice tartness make for a rich, lingering finish.

Third Course

Breast of duck with wild mushroom and pearl onion risotto and natural sauce

2007 Calera Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir

Price: $47.75       Sale $42.02          Case $487

(93 Points)  From one of the property’s coolest sites, the 2007 Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard reveals nearly overwhelming notes of sassafras, root vegetables, plums, red currants, and raspberries. It is a spicy, earthy effort with an autumnal-like herbaceousness. Aged 17 months in French oak (30% new), it is a Pinot Noir for those who prefer that varietal’s spicy, stemmy, earthy side. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of fruit in this complex, singular cuvee.  Wine Advocate # 190, Aug 2010

2007 Calera Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir

Price: $51             Sale $44.88          Case $520

(95 Points)  From a 13.1-acre vineyard planted in 1997, the 2007 Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard was cropped at an absurdly low .84 tons of fruit per acre. This beauty offers up notes of forest floor, raspberries, fresh mushrooms, sweet currants, and meat juices. The provocative, riveting aromatics are followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with sweet tannins, dense, chewy, lush fruit, good acidity, and a 40-second finish. Drink this profound Pinot Noir over the next decade or more. Wine Advocate # 190, Aug 2010

2007 Calera Jensen Vineyard Pinot Noir

Price: $75             Sale $66                Case $765

(97 Points)  A true Pinot Noir rock star is the 2007 Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard. From a 13.8-acre vineyard planted in 1975, and cropped at 1.46 tons of fruit per acre, the Jensen cuvee spent 17 months in Francois Freres cooperage, of which 30% was new. One of the bigger production efforts (1,113 cases), it exhibits a deep ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a sweet, explosive nose of ripe raspberries, black cherries, spice box, earth, and chalk. Deep, rich, and full-bodied, it is the sexiest, most seductive wine of all these 2007 Pinots. A round, generous, intense red that cascades over the palate with no hard edges, it is capable of 15-20 years of cellaring. Wine Advocate # 190, Aug 2010

Fourth Course

Blue raspberry glazed Sterling Silver pork tenderloin with roasted fingerling potatoes Baby carrots and cauliflower

1990 Calera Reed Pinot Noir

Price: $111          Sale $97.68          Case $1132

(89 Points) A dense plum/purple color is accompanied by a sweet nose of cola, root beer, earth, and black fruits. This offering avoids the distinctive vegetal/minty characteristics found in other vintages. It possesses fine ripeness and sweetness, medium body, and an earthy, singular style. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. eRobertParker.com # E2003, Apr 2003

2004 Calera Pinot Noir Mills

Price: $61.50       Sale $54.12          Case $627.30

(93 Points)  The 2004 Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard boasts a deep ruby/purple color along with seductive, sweet aromas of black raspberries, black cherries, spring flowers, and spice. It possesses beautiful red and black fruits, good acidity, full body, and more tannin, but less spice than the Reed cuvee. This complex, fruit-driven Pinot Noir will benefit from 1-3 years of cellaring, and should drink well for 10-15 years. Wine Advocate # 172, Aug 2007

Dessert

Crème brulee fruit tart with vanilla and fruit sauces

2009 Calera Viognier (375ml)

Price: $18             Sale $15.84          Case $184

Wine Watch, Inc.
901 Progresso Drive
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
Phone: 954-523-9463


Cafe Maxx
2601 E. Atlantic Blvd.
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
954.782.0606