Besides the enjoyment of a fine lunch the reason for this function was the presentation to the restaurant of a citation recognizing last year’s fine effort. We did rather fall in – a restaurant of this standing visited a year later, and being seasonal and all that, is very likely to offer substantially the same menu. And so it proved.
There is little gained in reworking the review of last year’s meal but for the record the menu was:
On Arrival
NV Louis Bouillot Nuit- Saint-George
Entrée
Tortellini of goat’s ricotta, confit dates and earl grey with
brown butter almonds
Mount Michael Pinot Gris 2011
Mains
Day boat fish with mussel and courgette fritters and celery
or
Roasted wild red deer with tomato fondue, fromage blanc
and sausage roll
Trinity Hill Chardonnay Gimblett Gravels 2012
Bajondillo (Toledo) Garnacha 2011
Dessert
Japanese melon, passionfruit and crème fraiche soufflé,
brown sugar and lime
ARIA Pegasus Bay Late Pick Riesling 2009
The wines however were different and the Louis Bouillot didn’t arrive in time so was substituted with Jansz Methode Traditionelle from Tasmania. The approval of some was balanced by the disappointment of others which mainly centred on the somewhat carbonated feel in the mouth. The pinot gris and the chardonnay, very pleasant wines in their own right, didn’t achieve quite the same match with their dish as the previous year although the Mount Michael was a fine wine in its own right. The garnacha also had a mixed result – a good match for some, others would have preferred something with more weight and roundness.
The dessert was a wonderful mix of bright and fruity flavours and it was well matched by the reisling which was probably the standout wine of the afternoon.
Please view the invitation here.