Uncorked Contest at Morton's Back Bay Boston

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Each month Morton's The Steakhouse Back Bay offers an "Uncorked Tasting Series" where you try five wines paired with five signature hors d'oeuvres.  The next event is coming up August 30th from 6:30p-8:30p but there's a twist: The theme is "You Tell Us".  E-mail cm.mbo@mortons.com by August 26th, 2010 (no limit on the number of entries) and the winner and three guests will receive complimentary tickets to the event.

I attended the June edition of this event as their guest and I wanted to share some notes in hopes that it might give you some ideas for submitting ideas.  My first thoughts were "Killer B's: Brunello, Barolo and Barbaresco" or "First Growth Bordeaux Through the Ages" or "Napa Showdown: Screaming Eagle vs. Harlan (and other value plays)" but I don't know if the price points of those wines fit the bill. :)

The theme in June was "Southern Hemisphere/New World".  It started off with a stand-up walk around tasting of the 2009 Susan Balbo Crios Torrontes from Argentina.  Such a great wine.  You might remember it from my list of Five Freaking Delicious Wines (that wine geeks won't make fun of you for drinking).

Once we got a chance to mingle and chat, we sat down for the rest of the evening.  Each wine was thoughtfully described by a representative from Ruby Wines.  We'd try the wine, enjoy the food it was paired with, and reconvene every 15 minutes or so to discuss the wine and learn about the next pairing.

The first wine was a 2009 Lobster Reef Pinot Noir from New Zealand.  Paired really well with a taste of lobster- kind of reminded me of an Oyster Bay Pinot Noir- light and elegant.  I'm really intrigued by Pinot Noir from New Zealand- great source of affordable Pinot.  Next, a single vineyard La Posta Malbec (Argentina) offered nice spice with deep red fruit.  The Malbec was described as "somewhere between Merlot and Cabernet in tannic structure".  I thought it was a nice wine- didn't get too raisiny or pruney like some Malbecs can.

Then a Hugh Hamilton "The Rascal" Shiraz from Australia.  I was expecting a typical Aussie fruit bomb but I found it earthy on the nose.  It paired beautifully with lamb.  Finally a Graham Beck Pinotage (pronounced: pinno-tahj) from South Africa.  Pinotage can be funky and smoky (or worse, smell like a pet shop) but this one was more approachable.  To me it presented like a Bordeaux blend would with Pinotage characteristics in the background.

I hope that gives you an idea of the way the event works.  I thought they did a good job of exploring wines and regions that aren't the most familiar while still offering wines that tasted good.  I'll look forward to seeing what the theme is for the August event- sure to come from a clever WWP reader.

PS Like the photo above?  It's their Crab Cake BLT trio- a new addition as part of their new Bar Bites menu available from 5p-11p at their Back Bay location featuring "signature appetizers" from $6.00.

The cost of the event is $40.  If you'd like to attend call 617-266-5858 to reserve a spot.

Check 'em out:
Morton's Back Bay
699 Boylston at Exeter
Boston, MA 02116
617-266-5858

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