Eric Solomon Wines

     Thursday September 20, 2018

Reservations Closed
Course Pairing / Description Wine
Hors D' Oeuvres Basil, Roasted Pepper & Goat Cheese Canape (Candied Pistachio and Micro Basil) Tostone Crusted Shrimp Brochette (Sherry and Charred Lemon-Garlic Aioli)
One only needs to glance briefly through the notes of Jancis Robinson, Robert Parker, Andrew Jefford and David Schildknecht (among many others) to discover their love affair with the Languedoc. It’s a head-over-heels, butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of love. Eric Solomon has had affection for the region since the humble beginnings of Solomon’s European Cellars when their motto was “unknown and unsold” - an affection that remains as exciting to them today as it did 25 years ago. Château Puech-Haut has been on the critic’s radar for some time, which makes sense since the property has employed Michel Rolland, Claude Gros and now Philippe Cambie as consulting enologist. Visionary owner Gérard Bru spares no expense in his quest for excellence. Located quite close to Pic Saint-Loup, in Saint-Drézéry, Château Puech-Haut is near the far western border of the Rhône valley and benefits from both its proximity to the Mediterranean and the rugged, mountainous interior of France. There are slightly over 123 acres planted with Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Carignan Blanc. The wines from Puech-Haut are rich and lush, but also show the earthy and mineral character of the rocky clay-limestone soils of the region. While considerably less than 50% of the blend of the Prestige Rosé, Cinsaut makes its presence felt through the vivacious fruit and perfume of this wine. The remainder is Grenache, a fitting companion as both of these grapes have a long history in the Languedoc and compliment each other quite well. The pale color comes from the gentle pressing of these grapes right after harvest rather than by maceration on the skins. This wine received a rating of 88 points from Robert Parker in 2018. 		Château Puech-Haut Prestige Rosé 2017
Hors D' Oeuvres Basil, Roasted Pepper & Goat Cheese Canape (Candied Pistachio and Micro Basil) Tostone Crusted Shrimp Brochette (Sherry and Charred Lemon-Garlic Aioli)
For well over a decade, Eric Solomon Selections has worked with Jean-Marc Lafage at his estate in the Roussillon and across the border in Spain where he consults on several projects. As good as his wines were, when they first met him, they only get better with each vintage. When Solomon first made his acquaintance in Calatayud, Lafage suggested they visit his estate in the Roussillon and the rest, as they say, is history. Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage farm approximately 395 acres of vines located just south of the capital of French Catalonia, Perpignan. Some of their vineyards are situated a few kilometers from the Mediterranean, while others can be found in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This range of sites allows them to make both refreshing whites as well as concentrated reds and, this being the Roussillon, some fortified wines as well. Benefiting from a warm, dry climate, the estate is farmed organically. They grow primarily Grenache (Blanc, Gris & Noir), Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne and Chardonnay with a significant proportion of the vines well over 50 years old. The soil, as you near the coast is weathered, alluvial gravel while in the higher elevation sites it is predominantly schist. They harvest by hand and the winemaking is surprisingly uncomplicated with stainlesss steel for the fresher whites, but mostly concrete tanks for the rest with a small amount of French oak demi-muids. Named after an old estate located in the heart of Domaine Lafage, Mas Miraflors, the Miraflors Rosé is sourced from old vines of Grenache Gris, nearing 80 years old, planted near the Mediterranean. Added to this is some Mourvedre that Jean-Marc planted here about 15 years ago. This is a direct press Rosé with the color coming from the skins of the pink Grenache Gris berries, and naturally, from the much darker Mourvedre. It is aged in tank for 4 months before bottling. This wine received a rating of 88 points from Robert Parker in 2018. 		Domaine Lafage Miraflors Rosé 2017
Salad Course Speck Ham, Butter Lettuce Wedge & Burnt Onion “Dust” (Buttermilk-Black Pepper Dressing, Tomato Basil Relish and Sweet Balsamic Glaze)
With encyclopedic knowledge of the wines and terroirs of the Rhône, as well as his native Costières de Nîmes, Michel Gassier is a restless and innovative vigneron. Usually inquisitive personalities like Michel start as outsiders, enfants terribles, iconoclasts. Such is not the case with Michel, whose family has owned vineyards in the Costières de Nîmes for four generations. Together with his wife Tina, they are helping to establish a new level of quality for Costières de Nîmes, without forsaking the uniqueness of their terroir. They have achieved this through nurturing their land, farming organically, promoting biodiversity and respecting their employees as much as their vines. They are proponents of indigenous varieties and taking advantage of the diversity of climates to make wines that are dense and pure but elegantly balanced. Cercius is made in partnership with Eric Solomon and Philippe Cambie from several sites throughout the Rhône valley. Nostre Païs is the epitome of the terroir of the Costières de Nîmes while Lou Coucardié represents the aspirations of Michel and Tina through conversation with the land and its history. Cercius is the Latin name for the winds that originate in the mountainous Massif Central to the northwest of the Costières de Nîmes. Combined with the thermal breezes from the Mediterranean, the Cercius moderates the terroirs where Michel Gassier farms his white grape varieties. Cercius Blanc is a blend of Grenache Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc (hence the Vin de France designation), which is fermented in concrete tanks and aged for a few month before release. 		Michel Gassier Cercius Blanc 2016
Pork Course Crispy Sweet & Spicy Pork Belly (Melted Sweet Onion Jam, Star Anise-Red Wine and Brown Sugar Reduction, Soft White Cheddar Hominy with Baby French Green Beans)
Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage farm approximately 395 acres of vines located just south of the capital of French Catalonia, Perpignan. Some of their vineyards are situated a few kilometers from the Mediterranean while others can be found in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This range of sites allows them to make both refreshing whites as well as concentrated reds and, this being the Roussillon, some fortified wines as well. Benefiting from a warm, dry climate, the estate is farmed organically. They grow primarily Grenache (Blanc, Gris & Noir), Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne and Chardonnay with a significant proportion of the vines well over 50 years old. The soil, as you near the coast is weathered, alluvial gravel while in the higher elevation sites it is predominantly schist. They harvest by hand and the winemaking is surprisingly uncomplicated with stainless steel for the fresher whites but mostly concrete tanks for the rest with a small amount of French oak demi-muids. A custom cuvée for Eric Solomon’s European Cellars and a joint project between Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage, Bastide Miraflors is a cuvée created from Grenache grown on rocky, alluvial clay soils resembling those of the Rhône Valley combined with Syrah grown on schist in the village of Maury. After a long maceration of six weeks, the wine ages for 12 months in concrete (Grenache) and 600L French oak demi-muids (Syrah). This wine received a rating of 94 points from Robert Parker in 2017. 		Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors 2015
Beef Course Black Garlic Braised Beef Cheek & Brussels Sprouts (Crème Fraiche and Basil Whipped Potatoes, Natural Beef Jus and Crispy Fried Brussels Sprout Leaves)
Château Puech-Haut has been on the critic’s radar for some time, which makes sense since the property has employed Michel Rolland, Claude Gros and now Philippe Cambie as consulting enologist. Visionary owner Gérard Bru spares no expense in his quest for excellence. Located quite close to Pic Saint-Loup, in Saint-Drézéry, Château Puech-Haut is near the far western border of the Rhône valley and benefits from both its proximity to the Mediterranean and the rugged, mountainous interior of France. There are slightly over 123 acres planted with Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Carignan Blanc. The wines from Puech-Haut are rich and lush, but also show the earthy and mineral character of the rocky clay-limestone soils of the region. Owner Gerard Bru, consultant Philippe Cambie and Eric Solomon have collaborated on the Prestige Rouge since the 2009 vintage capitalizing on the amazing limestone-rich terroir of Saint-Drézèry in the eastern Languedoc. Combining 65-80 year old Grenache with 45 year old Syrah then fermented and aged concrete, they have crafted a dense and powerful wine capturing the warm climate of the Mediterranean with all its floral aromatics of dark fruit, spice, cracked pepper and garrigue. This wine received a rating of 93 points from Robert Parker in 2017. 		Château Puech-Haut Prestige Rouge 2015
Dessert Course Dark Cherry, Raspberry & Red Wine Caramel Cobbler (Buttery Oat Streusel, Vanilla Bean Gelato and Sweet Heat Pecans with Dark Chocolate Shavings)
Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage farm approximately 395 acres of vines located just south of the capital of French Catalonia, Perpignan. Some of their vineyards are situated a few kilometers from the Mediterranean while others can be found in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This range of sites allows them to make both refreshing whites as well as concentrated reds and, this being the Roussillon, some fortified wines as well. Benefiting from a warm, dry climate, the estate is farmed organically. They grow primarily Grenache (Blanc, Gris & Noir), Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne and Chardonnay with a significant proportion of the vines well over 50 years old. The soil, as you near the coast is weathered, alluvial gravel while in the higher elevation sites it is predominantly schist. They harvest by hand and the winemaking is surprisingly uncomplicated with stainlesss steel for the fresher whites but mostly concrete tanks for the rest with a small amount of French oak demi-muids. Cuvée Nicolas is named after Jean-Marc and Eliane’s son and comes from Grenache grown in the schist soils of the foothills of the Pyrenees in Aspres. These low yielding vines are around 65 years old and are planted on terraces with southern and southeastern exposure. This wine received a rating of 92 points from Robert Parker in 2017. 		Domaine Lafage Cuvée Nicolas Vieilles Vignes 2015