Last week we celebrated my dad's 78th birthday at the fabulous Chez Catherine restaurant in Westfield, NJ. I was a bit worried when I heard the plans to go there as my dad is not one to enjoy expensive - French restaurants. Fortunately, he hit it off with the owner and this made for a great evening.

Now, for the wine and food. My husband and I started with the house Champagne- Pol Roger Brut.  Delicious, crisp and refreshing this was the perfect beginning for the night ahead. We followed with a bottle of Domaine Hortala Albertus 2001- Languedoc-Roussilon, France. This isn't a region that is well known which is why you can get some good bargains on a restaurant wine list. After browsing the Burgundy and Bordeaux and even Rhone for a reasonably priced wine, I was happy to come across this one from SW France made from the Carignan grape. While some of these wines can be rather simple and non-descript, this wine had good intensity and body. The flavors were subtle but lasting and it paired well with both the lamb and duck we were eating. Good fruit, a bit of spice and a nice smooth finish made this wine the perfect choice. We finished our meal with a  glass of Paul Jaboulet Muscat de Beaumes de Venise that tasted delicious with my husband's peach melba. Dinner is prix fixe and they also offer a tasting menu of about 6 or 7 courses that you can have paired with 4 different wines. (The entire table must order this.) All in all, this was a fabulous experience that transports you to France for a short while.

Cheers,

The Wining Woman

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