Walk into the Newton Vineyard wine dinner at BOKX 109 on Friday night and they'll hand you a glass (or two, if you ask nicely) of the 2008 Red Label Chardonnay.
Retail price: $20/bottle.
While you're getting settled, catch a server (or two, or three, it won't be hard) and indulge in the passed apps of poached oyster shooters, lobster & ricotta cavatelli, and wing confit.
Once you're seated, they'll place your first unfiltered wine of the night in front of you -- the 2007 Chardonnay -- to pair with the seared Petrale sole with spring peas and morel cream.
Retail price for the wine: $45/bottle.
Then comes the second course with another unfiltered wine -- this time it's the 2005 Merlot -- along with BBQ'd pork belly with Boston baked beans and sweet corn nage.
Retail price for the wine: $45/bottle.
Next up is Newton Vineyard's iconic Bordeaux blend, called The Puzzle (2005) at $78/bottle retail. It's matched up with Long Island duck served two ways -- smoked breast and confit thigh -- with melted leeks & lentil fondue in a red wine and shallot jus.
For dessert you'll drift back to the unfiltered wines with the 2006 Cab and a dark chocolate tart with drunken berries and toasted meringue.
Retail price for the wine: $40/bottle.
Is a $95 five-course wine dinner worth the price?
Here's what you'd pay otherwise, course by course (and this doesn't even include the food):
$20
$45
$45
$78
$40
You do the math.
Then pick up the phone and make your reservations.
WHAT: Newton Vineyard Wine Dinner, hosted by Dr. Su Hua Newton
WHERE: BOKX 109 American Prime, inside Hotel Indigo, 399 Grove Street, Newton
WHEN: Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $95/person + tax and gratuity
DAILY TIDBIT:
"The 2005 The Puzzle plays it closer to the vest than the 2004. It is a beautifully textured, pure wine, but obviously needs time. It won't be bottled for at least another year. The wine has a deep ruby/purple color and notes of subtle smoke intermixed with underbrush, black currant, cherry, licorice, and lavender. It is medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, and prominent tannins. Based on the way the wine was tasting when I was at Newton, this wine will need 4-5 years of bottle age [WHICH BRINGS US TO RIGHT NOW] and should drink well for at least two-plus decades."
-- Robert Parker
$78
$40
You do the math.
Then pick up the phone and make your reservations.
WHAT: Newton Vineyard Wine Dinner, hosted by Dr. Su Hua Newton
WHERE: BOKX 109 American Prime, inside Hotel Indigo, 399 Grove Street, Newton
WHEN: Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $95/person + tax and gratuity
DAILY TIDBIT:
"The 2005 The Puzzle plays it closer to the vest than the 2004. It is a beautifully textured, pure wine, but obviously needs time. It won't be bottled for at least another year. The wine has a deep ruby/purple color and notes of subtle smoke intermixed with underbrush, black currant, cherry, licorice, and lavender. It is medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, and prominent tannins. Based on the way the wine was tasting when I was at Newton, this wine will need 4-5 years of bottle age [WHICH BRINGS US TO RIGHT NOW] and should drink well for at least two-plus decades."
-- Robert Parker
