Gibbet Hill Grill is one of my favorite restaurants. The grounds are gorgeous, the food is out of this world, they have a fantastic wine collection, and the servers are beyond friendly. Every now and then they hold special wine events. Last night I went to my second of these, the Spring Wine Dinner. This was a smaller event than the Farm to Fork Wine Dinner they held last August, but it was just as enjoyable.  I just love the way they display the wines at these functions.

The evening started out on the deck of the barn where we served the first of the wines, the Basa Blanco.

Telmo Roderiguez Basa, Rueda, Spain 2007

“This blend of Verdejo, Viura and Sauvignon Blanc from Spain is the ultimate introduction to summer. The wine has bright aromas of steely citrus and fresh cut grass and flavors of pear, apple, and orchard fruit. Graceful throughout, Basa finishes clean and refreshing.”

Appetizers passed around included Spring Pea and Tarragon Soup, Pancetta on Brioche, and Deviled Eggs with Tuna Tartare and Chilis. I can’t decide which appetizer was better, the brioche or the deviled eggs. Thank goodness they came around again and again so I’d have a chance to decide! (Not that it helped any!)

We then moved on the the mezzanine level of the restaurant for the remainder of the evening.

The first course was Local Day Boat Scallops with Parisian gnocchi, Meyer lemon, frisée and smoked onion soubise. I love scallops, especially pan-seared as these were. They were served with a Chardonnay.

Alma Rosa Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California 2006

“This wine brings out the best in Chardonnay with expressive flavors of honey, apricots, apples and vanilla. Complemented with notes of almonds and smooth butter, the wine remains rich and fluid while still keeping a fresh structure.”

A “surprise” course was served at this point, but I don’t have a good description of it since it was not on the menu.  It was a pâté infused with black truffle oil and…yum!

On to the second course – Pastrami-Spiced Muscovy Duck en Roulade with napa cabbage, boudin noir, baby turnips and foie gras jus. Out. Of. This. World. This was accompanied by a Pinot Noir.

Alma Rosa Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, California 2005

“This wine brings both the ripe flavors of berries, cherries, and plumbs along with the complexity of spice, smoke, and the rich earthiness that makes Pinot Noir so unique. More powerful than most Pinots, the Alma Rosa balances all that fruit and complexity with a smooth elegance.”

The third course was a Painted Hill Farms Sirloin with spring garlic, glazed carrots, and baby French horn mushrooms. Anything with mushrooms gets a vote from me. The wine for this course was a Shiraz.

Mitolo “Jester” Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia 2007

“Seductive and smoky, this wine has all the dark berries, pepper, licorice, and candied cherries that we love in Shiraz. The upfront fruit gives the Jester a forward personality, which continues on to layers of spice and a smooth, supple finish.”

And finally dessert – Bitter Chocolate Genoise with espress gelèe, candied kumquats, liquid almond sable and fumée de sel. Wow. I’m not much of a cake fan, but since the genoise was so thin and covered with all that delicious chocolate I enjoyed every bite! With dessert we were served a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mitolo “Serpico” Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale, Australia 2007

“You’ve never had a Cabernet like this. Made from partially dried grapes (perfect for dessert), Serpico is full of black currant raspberries, chocolate, blackberries and coffee. This wine is crazy huge in flavor and structure and has been called “one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons to ever emerge from South Australia.”

The folks at GHG are thinking of having another wine event in August, so you know I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed!