The Oakroom Wine Cellar

This week's wine tasting!

2009-08-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

This week's tasting in The Wine Bar is all about Rosé. Don't believe everything you hear about it (stinky pinky, it's all white zinfandel, it's all sweet, etc...) Rosé's are some of the most complex, delicious, and driest wines out there.
All 5 wines featured, all for $15 per person!

Schramsberg Brut Rosé is flavorful, complex and dry, making it both versatile with food and delicious by itself as an apéritif. The character of the wine is most strongly influenced by bright, flavorful Pinot Noir grown in Carneros, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma and Marin coastal areas. A few small lots of Pinot Noir are fermented in contact with their skins to add depth and subtle color to this unique sparkling wine. Chardonnay gives spice, structure and length on the palate.
Hand picking, careful handling and gentle pressing produce a wine of delicacy, free of skin and seed tannin. Following the fall harvest and base winemaking period, an extensive process of blending trial and refinement is carried out in the spring. The finished blend is aged on the yeast in the bottle for about two years, just enough to achieve refined effervescence and toastiness without diminishing its refreshing, vibrant appeal.
Enjoy this rich, delicious sparkler on almost any occasion: at your favorite restaurant, a special dinner at home, at a beach picnic or a backyard barbecue. A very versatile wine, try it with sushi, salmon, rock shrimp, pizza, roast chicken, BBQ ribs, burgers,chocolate raspberry tarts and creamy cheeses with summer fruits.

Artazuri Garnacha Rose from Navarra, Spain - The tiny village of Artazu is located in the Navarra DO, which lies in northeastern Spain between France and the Pyrenees to the northeast and Rioja and the Ebro river valley to the southwest. Navarra is affected by Atlantic and Mediterranean maritime influences, and in addition the region benefits from the cold winds of the Pyrenees. Long under the shadow of Rioja and its Tempranillo-based wines, Navarra has in recent years shown itself beautifully suited to producing exceptional Garnacha-based wines, and often at fantastically affordable prices.
Artazu, the winery project, was created by Juan Carlos López de la Calle, founder of Rioja’s world-renowned Artadi estate. Juan Carlos’ goal was to create wines with great varietal purity outside of Rioja and Artazu was chosen for its extraordinary old vine Garnacha (Grenache in France) vineyards. The soil consists of limestone with alternating layers of red clay and rainfall in the region is quite moderate. Their “Artazuri” line up is one of the world’s great value lines and offers tremendous bang for the buck. Their 80-100 year old single vineyard “Santa Cruz de Artazu” Garnacha is a top level Garnacha that competes with high-end Garnacha-based wines the world over.
Artazu’s “Artazuri” rosé from is made exclusively from old vine Grenacha and produced using the saignée method of bleeding off juice after minimal contact with red grape skins. Lively, clear pink in color, it boasts loads of strawberry, orange peel and limestone scents that reappear on the palate. The attack is rich with elegant, ripe strawberry fruit and thirst quenching citrus notes that are accompanied by mineral and white pepper nuances that are wonderfully woven to the wine’s vibrant acidity. This medium- to full-bodied rosé is truly impressive. Serve with steamed shrimp with spicy cocktail sauce, steamed crab, grilled fish, roast chicken or char-grilled burgers slathered in barbecue sauce.

Mas de Gourgonnier, Les Baux de Provence, Roquefort Rose – Provence - A deep, extracted blend of nearly equal parts, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Cinsault, this rosé from Les Baux in Provence has wonderfully rich flavors of red berries spiced with herbs and a brilliant almost citrusy acidity. In the wines of Les Baux, I can imagine that I can smell the olive trees that dot the hillsides stretching for miles in every direction and likewise these wines are always natural partners for any dish made with fresh, flavorful EVOO.

Kamen, Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley - The Kamen 2007 Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon is a delightful, refreshing wine that is a brilliant deep ruby in color. Aromas of fresh, well-ripened strawberries and cream with hints of cranberries and just-crushed grapes, the wine has multiple layers of flavors, an enticing minerality with rich, mid-palate and clean, bright finish. The Kamen Rosé is delicious to sip on its own or is a wonderful complement to food. Only 150 cases made each year.

Banfi, Rosa Regale – Dolce Sparkling Rose - Rosa Regale is a unique red sparkling wine. Aromatic with a hint of rose petals and raspberries, Rosa Regale is delightfully vivacious and festive.
While it is appreciated as one of the few wines in the world that truly marries well with chocolate, especially dark or bittersweet, its charms extend across a palette of occasions and food pairings, from savory to sweet.
On its own Rosa Regale is an elegant aperitif. Its fruity character beguiles the heat of spicy Asian and Latino fare, and its gentle acidity is an ideal foil to the piquant richness of goat cheese, especially in a spring mix salad with almonds and cranberries. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, chocolate truffles and hazelnut tortes are all elevated by this frothy wine.
In 1979, John and Harry Mariani, family proprietors of Banfi Vintners, acquired a mid-18th century winery, known as Bruzzone, revitalized it and renamed the facility Vigne Regali. Here, with the same detailed care as a century ago, our skilled winemakers produce "Rosa Regale" Brachetto d'Acqui D.O.C.G., from the La Rosa single vineyard. This rare Brachetto, a semi-dry, red sparkling wine cherished by the Courts of Europe two centuries ago, owes its reincarnation to Banfi.

Quintessa Wine Tasting!

2009-07-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Thursday July 30th, 5pm -?

What you get:

2 oz of four vintages (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004)
Plenty of artisan cheeses and charcuterie
One $35 gift card to The Oakroom to use at your leisure (reminder The Oakroom brunch is $29 per person, so you'll be covered if you choose that route).
Complimentary Valet Parking!

What it costs:

$50 per person. We realize that doesn't seem like the right price considering Quintessa can run you $125-$175 a bottle. We really just want you to come in and see what we've done with the place. Comfy couches, warm lighting, and a sommelier (me) that loves to come over and talk to you about wine.

I hope to see you there!

A great article in The Courier Journal

2009-07-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

July is a 'wine' time to visit The Oakroom
Two notable wine-centered events will take place at The Oakroom at the Seelbach Hilton (500 S. Fourth St.) in July. One is a dinner Friday based on wines from France's Rhone Valley, while the other is a Quintessa wine tasting at a steal of a price.
Oakroom director and sommelier Ashley McClane and chef de cuisine Bobby Benjamin have matched an American menu with terrific French vintages dating back more than a dozen years. McClane said not only are the wines she's chosen peaking in flavor now, but "wines from the Rhone are just so friendly and approachable."
Among her choices are a 1996 Crozes Hermitage (Paul Jaboulet Aine, Domaine de Thalabert), a 1997 Crozes Hermitage (Paul Jaboulet Aine, Domaine Raymond Roure) and a 1996 Saint Joseph Reserve.
"The 1996 Muscat Beaumes de Venise (Paul Jaboulet) we're having for dessert will knock your socks off," she added.
The menu includes a course of Saint Marcellin cheese, another of Copper River sockeye salmon with beets and summer truffles, an entree of Kentucky bison steak with fingerling potatoes, saffron aioli and smoked shallots, and a dessert of white chocolate cake with honeycomb, black walnut tomato jam and basil ice cream.
Price is $100 (tax and tip included). Want to stay the night? The Seelbach is offering a room rate of $79 for those who attend the dinner.
The Quintessa tasting will be July 30 in the hotel's new Wine Bar. Participants will receive four 2-ounce tastings for the bargain rate of $50. Bottles of Quintessa commonly cost $130 or more at wine shops and double that in restaurants.
"A single glass of this normally costs $60," McClane said. "We want to bring people down to see our new Wine Bar, and I felt this would be a good way to do that. It starts at 5 p.m., and we'll go as long as people like."
To make reservations for the Rhone dinner, call 807-3463.

A special thanks to Steve Coomes.

Menu for Oakroom Wine Bar

2009-07-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

Take a look at our menu for the wine bar. These cheeses are phenomenal and everything on the menu has gone over really well so far.

Cheese Selections:

Sheep Blends

La Tur
Old Chatham Camembert
Spanish Manchego
House Cured Feta
Pecorino Toscano
Epoisse de Barthaut

Cow

Carr Valley 8 Year Aged Cheddar
Maytag Blue
Dubliner Irish White Cheddar
Brillat Savarin

Reypenaer 2 yr Gouda
Bayley Hazel Blue

Goat

Capriole Farms O’Bannon
Bermuda Triangle
Holly Springs Raw
Capriole Farms Old Kentucky Tomme
Hubbardstown Blue Goat
Coach Farm Triple Cream

A la Carte = $4

Four Cheese Selection = $15

Six Cheese Selection = $22

All served with appropriate complements

Pecan Pie Salad $9
red oak greens, Woodford Reserve pecans
maytag blue cheese ice cream
pear praline

“Not so Hot Brown” $8
tango, frisse, newsom’s country ham
wild turkey gastrique, mornay dressing

Marinated Tomato & Olives $5
candied orange, fried capers

Charcuterie $5
farmani salame nostrano
columbus Italian dry aged salami
benton’s country ham

Fried Green Tomatoes $6
sweet pepper relish, quail egg
frissee, green goddess dressing

~
Dessert

Go Fish $8
Capriole Farms Formage e Trois
bourbon, chocolate, raisins

Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding $6
smoked banana ice cream, woodford sesame crumble

spiced orange cream

Bobby Benjamin – Chef de Cuisine

Ethan Ray - Pastry Chef
Ashley McClane - Sommelier

Opening The Oakroom Cellar...

2009-07-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

Tour de Rhone

July 24, 2009

Saint Marcellin Cheese
butterscotch, marcona almond
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2007

Copper River Sockeye Salmon
selection of beets, fava beans
alba mushrooms, summer truffles

Crozes Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet, Domaine de Thalabert 1996
Crozes Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet, Domaine de Thalabert 1997

Blueberry Sorbet
lemon confit

Saint-Joseph, Paul Jaboulet Aine, Reserve Personnelle 1996

Kentucky Bison
fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, brussels
saffron aioli, oyster mushrooms
smoked shallots, blackberry jus

Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet, La Pied La Cote 1997
Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet La Chapelle 2003

White Chocolate Cake
honeycomb, black walnut, white peach
tomato jam, basil ice cream

Muscat de Beaumes De Venise, Paul Jaboulet, 1996

$100 per person (includes tax and gratuity).

The Seelbach Hotel is offering a special room rate of $79 for wine dinner patrons.

Complimentary Valet Parking.

This Week's Tasting:

2009-07-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

As promised, this week is all about "oaked vs. unoaked."
This is a tasting that I recommend you do blindly, so you can decide for yourself if you prefer a wine that has been in contact with oak, or those clean, stainless steel wines.
I challenge you to come in and taste for yourself.

Today through Saturday from 5pm - 7pm.

As always, only $15...but this time, we're tasting six wines!

Tastings

2009-07-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who came out this week for our wine tastings from 5-7! I believe all involved had a fantastic time. I love seeing the same faces over and over and learning exactly what your palate is like so I can customize your tasting for you. For those of you who missed this past week:
Chateau de Roquefort, Cotes de Provence, Corail, Rose 2007
Joseph Drouhin St. Verain, 2006
Domaine de Chesnay Cotes du Rhone, 2006
Chateau Larose Trintaudon, Bordeaux, 2004.
Next week I am considering doing "Oaked vs Unoaked" whites AND reds! We'll probably do 6 wines this time, still for $15 per person!
I'll see you all again soon!
Cheers,

Ashley

Many Congrats!!!!

2009-07-08T17:23:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Scott Harper and Bret Davis for becoming Louisville's first two Master Sommelier's! Way to go guys, you deserve it!

Rhone Wine Dinner July 24th @ The Oakroom

2009-07-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been dying to go to a wine function in Louisville that leaves a lasting impression on me, and will offer people something to gawk about for months to come. I have some amazing resources at my fingertips, so I've decided to host a wine event that will be sure to change your life. If you haven't had much experience with the Rhone Valley of France, please come to this dinner. You will never be the same.

The Oakroom will be hosting a rare wine dinner on the evening of July 24th.

We will begin with a reception at 6:30 and sip on some Pascal Jolivet Sancerre.

The next stop on our journey will be at the table, where Chef de Cuisine Bobby Benjamin will introduce his amuse bouche for the evening. Saint Marcellin anyone?

I won't give you all of the details just yet, but know the wines will consist of:

1997 Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet Aine, Le Pied la Cote

1996 Crozes Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet Aine, Domaine de Thalabert

1997 Crozes Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet Aine, Domaine Raymond Roure

1996 Saint Joseph Reserve!

and for Dessert...(drum roll please) 1996 Muscat des Beaumes de Venise, Paul Jaboulet!

This one shouldn't be missed! The Seelbach will also be offering a discounted room rate of $79 for the night if you would like to take the elevator home.

The price of dinner is $100 per person (includes tax and gratuity).

1/2 Price Wine???!!!

2009-07-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

In order to shave off some inventory...I've decided to discount about 500 selections of my 1500 selection list. I know, it's hard to believe, but it's the right thing to do right now. We're in a recession, and the general public are not able to go spend $250 on a bottle of wine right now. So, come into the Oakroom and spend $125 on that bottle you love. Meanwhile, our Chef, Bobby Benjamin, has created a menu that is much gentler on the pocketbook, but exceeds the expectations of a AAA Five Diamond rated establishment. Kudos to Chef Bobby.

We are doing 3 courses for $39 and $45, as well as a la carte. Our five course Chef's tasting is only $85!

I'm very proud of what we are doing here at The Oakroom and I hope Louisville will take advantage of this gem and all it has to offer.