-
Pages
-
Categories
-
Archives
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- November 2023
- May 2023
- January 2023
- October 2022
- July 2022
- May 2022
- February 2022
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
Our Journey to Lisbon, First Leg Dulles to Amsterdam
Champagne in the lounge and on the KLM flight
This year marks the third trip we took with Washington State University Enology and Viticulture Department. Previous treks included New Zealand and France. This time our journey is to Portugal. We are anxious to capture the wine essence of this country that is famous for its Port and Madeira. We are hoping to discover that Portugal is more than Port.
After spending some reflection on packing our luggage, we finally started the allotted one-hour drive to the airport. En route, my Garmin GPS placed a dreaded window on the right of the screen. “Delay ahead 5 minutes.” Past experience has taught me to not believe the time mentioned. It was bound to get worse. And worse it did get. Our hour-drive turned into a 90 minute excursion as drivers weaved in an out of lanes to gain a car’s length at a time. Traffic on the Washington Beltway was at a snail’s pace in both directions. Interestingly, there were no accidents or road work. The traffic was just simply too many vehicles for too few lanes. We talked about how traffic designers need to think “outside of the box” to help with this major of congestion.
We made it to our pre-arranged parking facility and took their shuttle bus to the airport. During the 15-minute drive we passed through a snow shower. The last I looked, the temperature was forty degrees. At that temperature the snow was more fanciful than challenging.
Our flight to Lisbon was on KLM. We flew KLM perhaps 15 years ago. I am interested to see how business class now feels. Dropping off luggage was simple. We were able to walk to our gate rather than take a bus ride to the terminal. It was a long walk but felt good. Our first stop was the Air France/KLM lounge. If Air France is connected with the lounge, there must be champagne.
Champagnes Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve
This champagne was served in the lounge as well as on the flight to Amsterdam prior to departure. The champagne had a yellow color with gold hue. The champagne had multiple columns of tiny bubbles forming a center mousse. Apple and freshly baked bread were noticed on the aroma. The taste was quite apple-like with a lively mouthfeel and crisp finish. After a hectic drive to the airport on interstates that were not designed to accommodate the snail pace or too many vehicles, the champagne was a welcome aperitif.
2016 Blanc de Lys by Thierry Delaunay
Once we reached cruising altitude it was time for dinner. For an aperitif, I had the 2016 Blanc de Lys by Thierry Delaunay. This Sauvignon Blanc from the Val de Loire, France was a light yellow color with a light green hue. The wine had tropical fruit notes on the aroma reminding me of pineapple, melon, kiwi and citrus. The finish was crisp and fruity with an undertone of lemon grass. The wine had mineral on the aftertaste. The wine was paired with a small delft bowl of mixed nuts. I liked the saltiness of the nuts and the mineral presence of the wine’s finish.
2017 Simonsig Chenin Blanc with Salmon Tartare
2017 Simonsig Chenin Blanc
The 2017 Simonsig Chenin Blanc was a light yellow color with citrus on the aroma. The taste was reminiscent of citrus and tropical fruits although less intensive than the Sauvignon Blanc. The finish was crisp. The first course was a salmon tartare with chunky tomato salsa, mixed greens and sour cream. The salmon tartare was very flavorful and overpowered the Chenin Blanc. The wine faired better with the salad green that had a lemon and olive oil Dressing. The wine and salad matched with the citrus flavor.
Ramón Roqueta Tempranillo 2016
The Tempranillo was a dark ruby color. The wine offered blueberries and blackberries on the aroma while the taste also had blueberries and blackberries with the addition of leather and licorice. The wine had a medium/full body and medium tannins. There was a perceived sweetness on the finish which was fruit yielding to baking spices. The second course was rigatoni pasta with roasted pepper sauce, artichoke heart, sautéed spinach, black olives and Parmesan cheese. This course also had a slight sweetness. The perceived sweetness of the wine matched the sweetness of the entree.
For dessert I had the Cantal and Camembert cheese plate along with Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2012. The port had an opaque dark ruby to black color. The aroma was jammy fruits. The taste included raisins and orange blossoms. It paired nicely with the cheese especially with the dried fruit on the dish. The fortified wine really shined when paired with a piece of dark chocolate. The faint hint of orange blossom in the wine and the chocolate was memorable.
So far, on the first leg of our journey to Portugal we ended with a Portuguese wine. What will the final leg of the journey to Lisbon deliver.
Cheers,
Terry