Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Friday, 9 November 2012

#EWBC Dinner with Frankie: 7.11.12

 2011 Pinot Noir, Chamlija with design by Irem Chamlija

The #EWBC 2012 Welcome Dinner
This was held at Frankie's fashionable rooftop restaurant with some spectacular views over Istanbul. The survivors from the Pre-Conference Trip to Thrace were joined by a number of reinforcements including André Ribeirinho, Tim Lemke and Robyn Bancroft and our putative train companion - Andrew Barrow - see separate post on our adventurous journey to Izmir


Frankie is undoubtedly a buzzy and lively restaurant. The food was good, although perhaps we had one course too many.


 

We started with a glass of fizz - the Kayra/Cameo Doro, which appears to have quite a high dosage but it was good to have a fizz to celebrate Obama's re-election. The Cameo is a blend of Bornova Misketi, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Amuse bouche
Chardonnay vine leaves soup, rice dolma, yoghurt mousse
Served With
Chamlija Viognier 2011 from Strandja, Thrace.
Attractive Viognier, which although quite high in alc it does not show. Carole found this a little overoaked. 50% went into oak, 50% stainless. Chamlija is a new project with 90 hectares planted with a current production of just 18,000 bottles but that will increase very significantly once the 90 hectares are in full production.


Chamlija has wonderful labels designed by Irem Camlica, the daughter of Mustafa the owner of Chamlija. Mustafa has promised to launch a range of shirts based her marvellous designs. I have already placed a provisional order.


Cheese soufflé 

'Kes' (cd) Cheese soufflé, prosciutto, mixed greens, fig balsamic sauce
Served with
Kayra/Terra Kalecik Karasi Rose 2011. From Denizili, Aegean.
Easy drinking rosé with some freshness in finish.

2011 Kalecik Karasi Roze


Homemade cannelloni, spinach, mushrooms, cheese
Served with:
Vinkara/Mahzen Narince 2010
Quite rich and full some apricot - a little reminiscent of Viognier. Good freshness in the finish. From what little I have tasted Narince seems to be an interesting grape variety.   

2011 Pinot Noir, Chamlija


Duck breast, crispy 'yufka', pumpkin and ginger mille-feuilles, pear-orange sauce
Served with:
Chamlija/Pinot Noir 2011
Pleasant, mid weight but not typical Pinot Noir, lacks some zip in finish.

2010 Vinkara/Mahzen Kalecik Karasi 2010

Vinkara/Mahzen Kalecik Karasi 2010
Black fruits and spice, some concentration, well rounded tannins, well balanced. Has ageing potential?

The evening was rounded off by a taxi ride back to the Armada Hotel through streets awash with water from the very heavy storm. The return of Noah perhaps?

2010 Vinkara/Mahzen Kalecik Karasi 2010

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