La Paulée by Elite Wines at Restaurant 2941 in Northern Virginia: Celebrating 20 Years of Elite Wines with 40 Producers and 4 Chefs, Washington DC, USA

Pictures: La Paulée by Elite Wines at Restaurant 2941 in Northern Virginia: Celebrating 20 Years of Elite Wines with 40 Producers and 4 Chefs

Elite Wines is an importer/distributor of fine wines serving Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. It was founded by Laurent Givry 20 years ago. The event was the 20th Anniversary Party of Elite Wines. The portfolio of Elite Wines totals about 100 producers of which 40 had come to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Elite wines at Restaurant 2941.

There were 4 courses, preceeded by a reception and followed by mignardines. Each of the 4 courses was prepared by a different chef. 2 wines were served with each course. 

There were about 100 people in the room. 40 of them were the winemakers. Another 20 or so were people from the industry, like wine store owners. The rest were consumers. As a result, at our table, for example, there were 4 winemakers, the wife of Chef Bart, 2 other consumers and me.

In addition to the 2 wines that were served with each main course at every table, the producers had brought library wines to the event. The winemakers went from table to table and offered their wines.  

During the evening, a lot of memories came back, because Annette Schiller and I had visited many of the winemakers on ombiasy WineTours in Bordeaux and Bourgogne and/ or had had great winemaker dinners with them in Washington DC. See the end of this posting.

THE WINEMAKERS

Alphonse Mellot Jr,, Domaine Mellot
Xavier Gonet Médeville, Champagne & Châteaux Les Justices / Les Eyrins / Gillette
Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Rossignol
Joël Duffau, Château La Mothe du Barry
Christopher Cannan, Clos Figueras
Stewart Boedecker, Boedecker Cellars
Federica Grasso, Ca' Del Baio
Scott Neal, Coeur de Terre
Armelle and Bernard Rion, Domaine Rion
Laure Berthet, Domaine C Berthet Rayne
Alexandra Berthet, Domaine des Beauchères
Stéphane Robert, Domaine du Tunnel
François Villard, Domaine Villard
Yannick Paquet, Domaine Les Vieux Murs
Frédéric Brouca, Domaine Les Champs Pentus
Bruno Lorenzon, Domaine Lorenzon
Clay Mauritson, Mauritson
Thomas Meadowcroft, Meadowcroft
Caterina Sartarelli, Sartarelli
Paola Rosini, La Mesma
Mathias Mayol, Familia Mayol
Jean-Rémy Rapeneau, Charles Orban
Jérôme Mader, Domaine Mader
Geoffrey Loisel, Billecart Salmon
Gloria Zapatero, CVNE
Dyana Thomas, Colene Clemens
Joe Corsini, Larkmead
Julie Swift, JJ Prum
Brian Scott, Lafollette
Clint Sloan, Valravn
Kim Woodward, Powell & Son
Stu Devine, DeVine Wines
Matthew Green, Vega Sicilia

 

THE CHEFS

 

Chef Bart Vandaele

Chef Gérard Pangaud

Chef Bertrand Chemel

Chef Cédric Maupillier and Chef Marc Courseille 

 

RECEPTION

Canapés

​Duck & Foie Gras Ballotine
Morel Tartlet & Spring Garlic Foam
Flemish Brandade Cigar & Caviar
Poached Quail Egg en Meurette
Billecart Salmon, Brut Réserve, Nabuchodonosor, NV

 

Picture: Laurent Givry, Elite Wines, Owner and President, and Janet Cam

 

Pictures:  Billecart Salmon, Brut Réserve, Nabuchodonosor, NV

 

Pictures: Reception

 

 

Pictures: Canapés 

Picture: With Stéphane Robert, Domaine du Tunnel

 

Picture: With Jérôme Mader, Domaine Mader

 

Picture:  François Villard, Domaine Villard

 

Picture: With Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Rossignol

 

Picture:  With Stéphane Robert, Domaine du Tunnel, and Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Rossignol

 

Pictures: With Armelle and Bernard Rion, Domaine Rion

 

Picture:  With Laurent Givry

 

Picture: With Doug Rosen, Arrowine

 

FIRST COURSE
 
North Sea Gargouillou
Smoked Eel & Maatjes
Chef Bart Vandaele
Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau, "Pursang", 2018
Alphonse Mellot, "Cuvée Edmond",, Sancerre, 2018

 

My Table

 

There were 8 of us at my table.  François Villard, Domaine Villard, was sitting on my left and Alphonse Mellot Jr,, Domaine Mellot, was sitting on my right. Also at my table were Lucia Sutera, ColloSorbo, and Federica Grasso, Ca' Del Baio, as well as the wife of Chef Bart Vandaele.

Pictures: My Table

 

Presenting the Winemakers

Pictures: Presentation of the Winemakers 

 

North Sea Gargouillou with Smoked Eel & Maatjes by Chef Bart Vandaele

 

The recipe is originally from Michel Bras. 

Pictures: Laurent Lala and Chef Bart Vandaele

 

SECOND COURSE

 

Poached Lobster Sauternes
ginger & lime
Chef Gérard Pangaud
Nicolas Rossignol, "Les Narvaux", Meursault, 2018
Francois Villard, Condrieu "Les Terrasses du Palat", Condrieu, 2017

 

François Villard, Domaine Villard, and his Wines

 

Pictures: François Villard, Domaine Villard, and his Wines

 

Pictures: Visitors at the Table: Chef Bart Vandaele and Stéphane Robert, Domaine du Tunnel

 

Poached Lobster Sauternes, ginger & lime, Chef Gérard Pangaud

 

Chef Gérard Pangaud explained that when the G7 met in 1982 in Versailles, President Mitterand had asked him to cook for them and, among other things he had prepared these poached Lobster Sauternes.

  

Pictures: Laurent Lala and Chef Gérard Pangaud

 

THIRD COURSE

 

Roasted Californian Squab
basil pomme purée, baby carrot, pea shoot, morel jus
2941 Restaurant
Vega Sicilia, "Valbuena", Ribera del Duero 2014
Bernard & Armelle Rion, "Clos de Vougeot", Grand Cru, Vougeot, 2016

 

The Wines of Lucia Sutera, ColloSorbo, and Federica Grasso, Ca' Del Baio

 

Pictures: The Wines of Lucia Sutera, ColloSorbo, and Federica Grasso, Ca' Del Baio 

 

Visitor from Rioja 

 

Picture: Visitor from Rioja

 

Special Guest at the Table: Laurent Givry 

 

Pictures: Special Visitor at the Table - Laurent Givry 

 

Alphonse Maillot: Special Wines

 

Pictures: Alphonse Maillot - Special Wines 

 

Armelle and Bernard Rion, Domaine Rion - Clos deVougeot Grand Cru

 

Pictures:  Armelle and Bernard Rion, Domaine Rion - Clos deVougeot Grand Cru

 

Roasted Californian Squab, basil pomme purée, baby carrot, pea shoot, morel jus, Chef Bertrand Chemel
 

Pictures: Laurent Lala and Chef Bertrand Chemel

 

FOURTH COURSE

 

Baba au Rhum
roasted pineapple & vanilla quenelle
Chef Cédric Maupillier & Marc Courseille
Joh. Jos. Prum, Graacher Himmelreich Riesling, Auslese Gold Cap, Mosel 2019
Château Les Justices, Sauternes, 2018

 

Special Wines: Laure Berthet, Domaine C Berthet Rayne

 

Pictures: Special Wines: Laure Berthet, Domaine C Berthet Rayne

 

Special Wine: Stéphane Robert, Domaine du Tunnel

 

Pictures: Special Wine: Stéphane Robert, Domaine du Tunnel  

 

Special Wines:  Armelle and Bernard Rion, Domaine Rion

 

Pictures: Special Wines: Armelle and Bernard Rion, Domaine Rion 

 

Chefs: Chef Bart Vandaele and Chef Bertrand Chemel

 

Pictures: Chefs: Chef Bart Vandaele and Chef Bertrand Chemel 

 

Special Wines: Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Rossignol, and François Villard, Domaine Villard

 

Pictures: Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Rossignol, and François Villard, Domaine Villard

 

Baba au Rhum, roasted pineapple & vanilla quenelle, Chef Cédric Maupillier & Marc Courseille

 

Pictures: Baba au Rhum, roasted pineapple & vanilla quenelle, Chef Cédric Maupillier & Marc Courseille

 

MIGNARDISES

 

Mignardises

2941 Restaurant
Francis Darroze, "Domaine de Paguy", 2002, Bas Armagnac

 

Mignardises

 

Picture: Mignardises 

 

Burgundy Moments: La La Song 

 

Pictures: Burgundy Moments: La La Song 

 

Jérôme Mader, Domaine Mader

 

Pictures: Jérôme Mader, Domaine Mader 

 

GOOD NIGHT 

 

Pictures: Good Night 

 

PREVIOUS VISITS OF ELITE WINEMAKERS AT THEIR ESTATES WITH OMBIASY WINETIURS AND WINEMAKER DINNERS IN WASHINGON DC

 

During the evening, a lot of memories came back, because Annette Schiller and I had visited many of the winemakers on ombiasy WineTours in Bordeaux and Bourgogne and/ or had great winemaker dinners with them in Washington DC.

 

Picture: ombiasy WineTours 

 

Touring the Vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France 

 

 

Picture: Touring the Vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

 

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion in Vosne ­Romanée, Côte de Nuits - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours

 

 

Picture: Armelle, Bernard and Alice Rion. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion in Vosne ­Romanée, Côte de Nuits - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours 

Winemaker Dinner with Alice Rion and Louis Hamman, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion, Vosne ­Romanée, Bourgogne, at the French Embassy/ Restaurant Le Café Descartes in Washington DC, USA/ France 

 

 

Picture: Winemaker Dinner with Alice Rion and Louis Hamman, Domaine Rion, Vosne ­Romanée, Bourgogne, at the French Embassy/ Restaurant Le Café Descartes in Washington DC

 

Wine Pairing Lunch, Cellar Visit, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean­ Marc Brocard in Préhy, Chablis – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France 

 

 

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Jean­-Marc Brocard at Domaine Brocard in Préhy

Chef Bart M. Vandaele Celebrated the 2 Year Anniversary of his B Too Restaurant with the Wines of Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard from Chablis, USA/France 

 

 

Picture: Fuad Issa, Annette Schiller, ombiasyPR and WineTours, Bart M. Vandaele, Christian Schiller, Laurant Lala, Elite Wines, Etienne Verdier, Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard and Greet De Keyser, Bart M. Vandaele's Partner 

 

Winemaker Dinner with Nicolas Rossignol, Bourgogne, at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia 

 

Picture: Nicolas Rossignol, Annette Schiller and Laurant Lala of Elite Wines at Evo Bistro 

Tasting at Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair in Nuits-­Saint­-George, from Barrel and from Bottle, with Thibault Liger-­Belair - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours 

 

 

Picture: Tasting at Domaine Thibault Liger-­Belair in Nuits-­Saint­-George, from Barrel and from Bottle, with Thibault Liger-­Belair 

 

Tasting with Joël and Sandrine Duffau at Château La Mothe du Barry and Château Les Arromans in the Heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers Region - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

 

 

Picture: Denman Zirkle (Weingut Richard Böcking, Mosel, Germany), Joël Duffau and Annette Schiller at Château La Mothe du Barry 

Entre-Deux-Mers Wines and Alsatian Cuisine: Lunch at L‘Auberge Chez Francois with Winemaker Joel Duffau and Chef Jacques Haeringer, USA/ France

 

 

Picture: Chef Jacques Haeringer and Bordeaux winemaker Joel Duffau at L’Auberge Chez Francois

 

Tour and Tasting at Château Mondésir Gazin, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Pasquet - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France 

 

 

Picture: Tour and Tasting at Château Mondésir Gazin in Plassac, next to Blaye, Bordeaux Right Bank, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Pasquet 

Bordeaux Winemaker and Owner Marc Pasquet - Château Mondésir-Gazin - at Del Ray Café in Alexandria, Virginia, USA 

 

 

Picture:  Marc and Laurence Pasquet, Christian G.E. and Annette Schiller, and Other Guests  

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Les Bruyères in Beaumont-Monteux, Northern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker David Reynaud - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France 

 

 

Picture: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Les Bruyères in Beaumont-Monteux, Northern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker David Reynaud - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France 

 

Winemaker Dinner with David Reynaud, Domaine les Bruyeres, Crozes-Hermitage in the Rhône Valley, at Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC, USA/ France 

 

 

Picture: Winemaker David Reynaud, Domaine les Bruyeres, Crozes-Hermitage in the Rhône Valley, and Chef Dieter Samyn, BToo, Washington DC 

Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

 

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling 

JJ Prüm Winemaker Dinner at BToo in Washington DC/ USA, with Wilhelm Steifensand ("Herr Prüm") and Chef Bart Vandaele 

 

 

Picture: Wilhelm Steifensand ("Herr Prüm") and Owner/ Chef Bart Vandaele at BToo in Washington DC/ USA 

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