Essex County Wine Society

THE WINE PRESS

                                          ESSEX COUNTY WINE SOCIETY

April 9, 2008  

Dear Friends and Fellow Wine Lovers:

“ANY ESSEX COUNTY N.J. RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN FORMING A WINE SOCIETY PLEASE CONTACT HERBERT NEW 77 MOUNTAINVIEW DRIVE, CEDAR GROVE, N.J. 07009”.  This ad appeared in the now defunct VINTAGE magazine in July, 1972.  The Essex County Wine Society was formed when eighteen dedicated enophiles responded enthusiastically to the ad.  The first dinner of the society was held on May 20, 1973 and we will now celebrate our 35^th anniversary with a special dinner on May 4, 2008.

The restaurant we have chosen is Copeland in the Westin Governor Morris Hotel in Morristown, N.J.  Ratings of this restaurant have been exemplary: “outstanding . . . truly distinguished “(Zagats NJ Restaurants 2007/2008); and “Brilliant chefs make Copeland extraordinary. . . New American food doesn’t get any better than this”. (Cody Kendall Star Ledger 4/15/07).  The executive chef is Thomas Ciszak and the pastry chef is Michael Zebrowski.  Thomas Ciszak trained in Germany and was chef at two Michelin stared hotel restaurants, The Residence and Benedikt.  The pastry chef,  Michael Zebrowski, worked in New York at Bouley, Daniel, and Montrachet.  The two chefs met when they both worked at the Manor. The chefs prepare a seasonal menu so that the exact format will not be available until closer to the dinner. 

The wines chosen for this dinner are also special.  The hors d’oeuves (crab cakes, skirt steak, spring rolls) will be accompanied by a Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne rated 93 by the Wine Spectator and described as “Highly recommended . . . richness, peach . . . after- taste of honey and brioche”.

 The first course will be a mousse of foie gras and, following the French custom, we will serve the 1989 Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes from our cellar.  Robert Parker calls this the “favorite wine of millionaires”.  He describes it as “massively rich” rating it at 97!

The 1996 A. Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru will accompany the next course (rack of lamb) We had enjoyed this wine previously at a society dinner..

After considerable discussion as to the mechanics of serving the 1990 first growth Bordeaux from our cellar since we have only four bottles of each wine, we have planned to ask members to share with two wines for each two individuals.  The 1990 Margaux and 1990 Cheval Blanc will be paired and the 1990 Lafite Rothschild and 1990 Latour will also be paired.  As you remember the 1990 vintage was a great one.  Auction prices of each of the wines are in the mid three figure range except for the Cheval Blanc which reaches four figures per bottle.  Descriptions of the wines follow.  Parker calls the 1990 Margaux a “quintessential

example of the Chateau” and rates it 100!!.  The Cheval Blanc only receives a 98 rating and is described as “profound”.  The Lafite and the Latour have considerable tannin and the Lafite is called a 40-50 year wine.  Latour is “a beauty . . . fleshy seductive” (rating 96). The wines will accompany a special preparation of short ribs.

Our dessert wine is the 1994 Dow vintage Port.  Parker says it is “classic, majestic . . . one of the stars of the vintage” and it will be served with a Valrhona chocolate tart

The dinner will clearly be memorable.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE PREFERENCE AND THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES.

Place: Copeland Restaurant

           Westin Governor Morris Hotel

           2 Whippany Road (Lyndsey Drive)

           Morristown, New Jersey

           973 451 2619

Time:  5:00 pm aperitif

           6:00 pm dinner

Dress: Cocktail Attire/Jacket and Tie

Cost:  $130 for members $145 for first guest of the member and $155 for additional  guest

PLEASE REPLY BY FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2008

In vino veritas and a votre sante

Bob and Howard       

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