Last night I attended a business event at Le Bernardin in NYC, with approximately 50 people in attendance. I thought the wine poured for that type of event at a restaurant of that repute (and featuring a world-class wine program) might be of interest. The white was a 2008 de Laudoucette Pouilly Fume, a sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley, and the red was a 2002 Rioja Vina Bosconia from Lopez de Heredia. Given the setting I was not able to take formal tasting notes.
The meal was three courses: First was a choice between warm lobster carpaccio with hearts of palms, served under a terrific orange vinaigrette sauce, or a salad. Second course was a choice between bread crusted red snapper served with a saffron “fideos” under a chorizo-smoked sweet paprika sauce, or a filet mignon. Dessert was either a dark chocolate ganache or a slow-roasted apple confit. The vast majority of the folks at the dinner opted for the fish dishes, and they were fantastic. The de Laudoucette paired extremely well with both the lobster and the snapper, and the rioja complemented the chocolate nicely.
Nice night.