Cabernets and Chocolates

We have been so very lucky this week. We have attended two fantastic Wine Dinner/Tastings and both have been fantastic!

Last night, February 9 (Happy Birthday, Ivy!), we were at the Treasure Valley Wine Society Cabernets and Chocolates. The chocolates were from Preece Designer Chocolates in Meridian, Idaho. There is a hot link to their web page in the sidebar.


The Treasure Valley Wine Society send a huge Thank-You to Marji and Rick Preece for supplying the designer chocolates, especially the Blue Velvet =coffee, caramel and bleu cheese, and sharing their knowledge and talents with us. I would be terribly remiss if I did not also thank Chef James Grimes for another gourmet food pairing, featuring Beef Bourgignon. Kudos to Kathy Johnson and Gail McClellan Parker for finding the chocolate and wine sources, matching them by hard trial preparational tasting and acting as emcees for the evening.


Here we have a cheese plate that Chef James arranged. The wines we tasted are listed here:

2008 Fraser Cabernet Sauvignon Idaho - Has the aroma of oak, dark fruit and on the palate chocolate and smooth tannins with a long finish. $26.99 The 2007 is sold out; it garnered a Double Gold Award in the Wines NW recent Idaho competition.

2008 B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon 86 % (Silver Label) Sonoma, California -$17.49 Rich flavors of berry, cassis, black cherry with hints of vanilla. Good complexity and depth.


2006 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon (The Cigar) - Coonawarre, Australia. $24.99 Inviting nose of chocolate, leather, cassis and jujube fruit (tiny red date). Flavors of dark cherries and blackberries having velvety tannins and a lingering finish.

2005 Château La Rose Trintaudon France - Medoc, Bordeaux style 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot- $25.99. Aromas of ripe raspberries and black currents. Velvet tannins and a full round mouthfeel and long lasting finish.

2007 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla, Washington - 20 year old vines produce this wine. Aged 2 years in new oak. $24.99 The nose carries dark fruit, cassis, leather and mushrooms. Flavors of bittersweet chocolate and black berry with a big spicy finish.

2007 Ste. Chapelle Sunnyslope Snake River AVA Ice Riesling Idaho 1/2 bottles $19.95 - Bouquet of pineapple and apricot with flavors carrying through. Sweet enjoyable dessert.

So there you have the list of wines that we had with our chocolates from Preece Designer Chocolates and a B?uf Bourguignon, also known as Boeuf à la Bourguignonne, from Chef James Grimes. The last photo shows the plated dinner with cheese, B?uf Bourguignon. oven roasted potatoes and a wonderful vegetable medley. The March tasting for the TVWS will be on March 9 and we will be tasting Wines of Bordeaux. Hope to see you there. You can also find more information on the TVWS and their schedule of Wine Dinners on their Webpage. Cheers!