The W2 12-12-12 Dinner at the James Beard House

Last Wednesday, on the twelfth day of the twelfth month of 2012, Lynn and I attended a dinner - "Taste of Walla Walla Wine Country" - at the James Beard Foundation in New York City, which featured a memu prepared by Chef Antionio Campolio of The Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla, accompanied by wines from five Walla Walla Valley wineries. Also present were Chef Dan Theissen of the Walla Walla Community College Culinary Department. The wineries were represented by Marty Clubb (L'Ecole No. 41), Gary Figgins (Leonetti), Holly Turner (Three Rivers), Rick Small (Woodward Canyon) and Doug Roskelley (Tero Estates). The event was sold out, with all 80 available seats taken. It was held at the James Beard House at 167 West 12th Street in lower Manhattan Island. The house is owned by the James Beard Foundation which was established to continue the culinary legacy of James Beard. Here is the menu and wine accompaniments:

For the Reception

With various appetizers prepared by Dan Theissen:

2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Luminescence

2010 Woodward Canyon Estate Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Three Rivers "Svelte" Red

2007 Tero Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

For Dinner

Cape Cod Diver Scallop with butternut squash puree:

2011 Three Rivers Chardonnay, Columbia Valley

Pleasant View Foie Gras with pumpkin scone:

2011 Three Rivers Riesling, Columbia Valley

W2 Roastery Espresso Crusted Saint Ignatius Buffalo Carpaccio:

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley

Upper Dry Creek Ranch Lamb with sweet potato gnocchi:

2009 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve Red, Walla Walla Valley

Dry Aged Double R Ranch New York Strip with Meyer lemon spatzel:

2009 Leonetti Cellar Reserve Red, Walla Walla Valley

Valrhona Dark Chocolate French Silk:

2009 Tero Estates Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley

The event was a tremendous success, and Antonio Campolio, Dan Theissen, the culinary staff, the winemakers and Marcus Whitman owners Kyle and Brenda Mussman all were given a big hand of applause after the dinner. The Walla Walla Valley came to New York City and made a big hit.

For pictures of the event, I have posted a few on the Review of Washington Wines Facebook Page, but more pictures can be found on the Facebook Pages of Tero Estates (taken by Jan Roskelley) and the Marcus Whitman Hotel (courtesy of Kyle and Brenda Mussman).

See the January 2012 issue for the 2007 Tero Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (20/20 points) and the October issue for the 2009 Tero Estates Cabernet Franc (19/20 points). The 2009 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve Red and 2009 Leonetti Reserve Red will be reviewed in the January 2013 issue. There will be a Focus article on Three Rivers and winemaker Holly Turner in the February 2013 issue of the Review of Washington Wines.

Coming up on the Review of Washington Wines:

The listing of the Top Wines of 2012 (those receiving 20/20 and 19.5/20 points) has already been posted on the December 7 Blog (scroll down to see it) along with Top New Wineries of 2012. So the upcoming postings have been revamped as follows:

December 24 - Best Buys: Wines Scoring 19/20 Points Wines for $40 or Less and Wines Scoring 18.5/20 Points for $25 or Less.

December 31 - The January 2013 Issue of the Review of Washington Wines, along with Looking Ahead to 2013 and Wineries to Watch on the Blog.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!