My wife and I were introduced to Melville Winery by good friends of ours. Since that time, I’ve become an avid fan of their Pinot Noir. When I learned that Dominique’s Kitchen was going to feature them in a winemaker dinner, I made my reservation without even checking with my wife or my calendar.
When I arrived at Dominique’s Kitchen, there was already a long line of people leading up to the front door. I found it odd that there was a lot of electricity in the air and I quickly realized that it was the difference between how millennials have fun and how boomers derive pleasure.
You know you’re at a special place when the owner hugs and warmly greets everyone. Co-owners Liza and Dominique Theval welcomed us and for me, it felt like we were entering their home.
In true French tradition, champagne cocktail, Kir Royale, was poured to begin the evening. A dish of sliced cheese ciabatta was paired with it.
Cindy Eoff from Melville Winery and Brian Harley from Grapevine Wine were present providing the background on each wine that was served. Eoff stated that their Estate Verna 2012 Chardonnay was selected because of its higher acidity and better propensity to pair with food.
The first course was the perfect summer starter, a vichyssoise. The chilled potato and leek soup was refreshing and married nicely with the well balanced chardonnay.
The lobster risotto was served with Melville’s Estate Verna’s Viognier 2013. The risotto was cheesy, creamy and had a generous amount of fresh lobster. The viognier had notes of honey and fresh peach. This wine had a nice long finish and was delightful.
A beautifully plated roasted rack of lamb with dijon mustard and parsley crust was served as the main entree. Sandy’s Pinot Noir 2013 accompanied this dish. I particularly enjoyed the nose of this pinot; the taste was equally satisfying.
One gentleman approached our table carrying a bottle of wine and asked if we’d like to try the Sandy’s Pinot Noir 2011. Even though I didn’t know him, I wasn’t going to turn down this opportunity. He gave me a generous pour of his treasured pinot noir and I agreed that I enjoyed the 2011 vintage a bit more.
A traditional French meal usually ends with a cheese plate. Dominique selected a Petite Basque with dried fruits and nuts. I immensely enjoyed the Estate Verna’s Syrah 2013 that accompanied it. This may seem strange, but this Syrah reminded me of a full bodied Pinot Noir with medium tannins. This ended up pairing nicely with the nutty and creamy Petite Basque.
Our final course was freshly brewed French Roast coffee and macarons. It was a nice way to wind down the evening.
I can’t wait until the next time I return to their home.
- Dominique’s Kitchen
- 522 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277; (424) 247-9054
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dominiquesktchn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DominiquesKitchenLLC
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Bryan, thank you for the nice write up.