The Gang of Pour

Snapshots From the Road to Gang O’ Pour: Further Conversations With Mr. Ridge

THIRD COURSE: Grilled (barbied) pork cutlets on roasted vegetables, Gorgonzola mashed potatoes and a rosemary & thyme scented jus served with a 1995 Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel.

Pork on a plate

C.Z.: "The main course was, unquestionably, going to have to be Zin friendly. A nice, thickly cut, Ontario pork chop, marinated in fresh rosemary, thyme, and garlic, seemed to fit the bill. It was grilled over mesquite hot enough to char the exterior surface and keep it's interior pink and juicy. Zinchick did the Gorgonzola and garlic mashed potatoes and we served them with a reduction sauce of red wine (zin, of course) and veal stock."

With that, we moved on to the ’95 Ridge Lytton Springs, and what a lovely wine it was! Again, this exhibited all of the big, rich brier and bramble, blackberry-raspberry-blueberry flavors that have become the hallmark of Ridge zins over the years. It seemed to fall about halfway between the style of the ‘94’s and the bigger, richer bottlings of the early ‘90’s, and proved to be a perfect match for the pork cutlets and gorgonzola mashed potatoes. Though gorgeous now, it will be even better in a year or two.

It was at about that time that Mr. Flippy arrived. An engaging Frenchman with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and perhaps the Zinfans’ closest friend, he apparently isn’t too furniture-friendly, and as proof, one has only to notice the arms missing from two of their chairs. Mr. Flippy He’s also been known to go over, rather than around, said furniture, thus his nickname. Nevertheless, he is a delightful fellow, and the festivities livened up considerably with his presence. As he was sampling the glasses that we’d saved for him, we moved on to the ’92 Ridge Lytton Springs. In my notes, I wrote, "This is what it’s all about!" It suffered only in that it still needs a few more years to resolve some tannins, but, what a wine! Again, it showed all of the rich bramble berry aromas and flavors that one associates with great zinfandel, along with creamy dark chocolate, licorice, and red currents and pepper on the finish. Somehow, three of us agreed that it had an element to its nose that was reminiscent of an aquarium!?!

Apparently, the Zinfan had another of his cunning plans in mind, because he went to his kitchen and returned with a loaf of freshly baked bread and a round of pungent Epoisses de Borgougne, undoubtedly the stinkiest cheese this taster has ever encountered!

C.Z.: "What better way to finish a meal than with a some of Burgundy's finest, a wheel of Epoisses. EpoissesThis innocuous-looking pale and creamy example of French cheese mastery, at its peak of perfection, is to cheese, what a 92 Lytton Springs is to Zinfandel. When it oozes onto your plate, its orange rind all sweaty and sticky, with an earthy, ripe, gamey odour permeating from within its pale and creamy centre, you know no ordinary wine will do. It takes a sturdy wine to stand up to Epoisses, and Zinfandel, thank god, is the ideal candidate. It was indeed quite tasty, and married perfectly with Mr. Ridge, providing a lovely ending to a great evening."

EPILOGUE: We woke the next morning to be greeted to C.Z.’s superb cappuccino, and his delightful daughter, Devon. After a couple of cups, we took brunch at an excellent Dim Sum restaurant known as Wok and Roll. After sating ourselves thoroughly, we visited the local outlet of the L.C.B.O. (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). The Zin People wished us to see the conditions for the purchase of wine and alcohol that they were forced to endure, and I must say, they are wretched. Prices are slightly inflated by Michigan standards, and the selection is pathetic. It consisted mostly of bottlings that were of the fighting varietal category; this taster found a 1987 Montecillo Vina Monty Gran Reserva Rioja, for $17 Canadian, that will hopefully prove to be the pleasant exception to an otherwise bland rule. After this sad experience, The Director and I had a much better understanding of why Ontario winelovers make periodic pilgrimages to Detroit and Rochester, N.Y.

With that, we bid our friends goodbye, and began Blue Water Bridgethe two hour journey home, marveling not only at the fabulous food and wine that was enjoyed the previous evening, but even more, the camaraderie that we’d developed with them, after only two encounters. We can’t wait till the next time -- eight days together in Sonoma!

  The Road To
Gang O' Pour

After sating ourselves thoroughly, we visited the local outlet of the L.C.B.O. (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). The Zin People wished us to see the conditions for the purchase of wine and alcohol that they were forced to endure, and I must say, they are wretched. Prices are slightly inflated by Michigan standards, and the selection is pathetic.

IN ATTENDANCE 4-4-97

This Taster

Canadian Zinfan

Zinchick

The Director

Mr. Flippy

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