Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery has produced fine wine in northern California for a quarter of a century. This week Dallas wine lovers had the chance to sample some of the winery’s offerings at a four-course meal at Marquee Grill and Bar in Highland Park Village at which I was an invited guest.
Winemaker, Aaron Piotter talked about the winery’s history and philosophy, and discussed each wine. Highlights for me among the wines were the 2009 Lazy Creek Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California (Lazy Creek is Ferrari-Carano’s Mendocino property). A firmly textured Pinot with dark fruit flavors. Pride of place went to the 2008 Ferrari-Carano Trésor, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California. This wine is a blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon fruit that comes from the vineyard adjacent to the famous Silver Oak Alexander Valley wine. It is grippy but approachable now with complex fruit in the mouth feel and a long dark fruit finish.
Accompanying the wines, Marquee execuchef Tre Wilcox produced a meal drawn from the top shelf of any gourmet’s ingredient list. Wild salmon with the white wine, duck prepared confit with the Pinot (a highly recommended dish if it is a special when you visit) and chops of Colorado lamb that just demanded to be picked up and chewed on (I know, it has never been done in Highland Park before, but I could not resist).
Look for Ferrari-Carano wines in wide distribution in the Dallas area.
