Our biennial treat of a weekend in the Lakes at Commandeur Norman Stoller lovely Lindeth Howe; lived up to its top billing.
Not everyone could make all the exciting activities from an informal supper on Friday, walks and wine tasting on the Saturday and fine dining on Saturday evening but there was something for everyone in this beautiful location and with glorious sunshine too on Sunday morning!
For the tasting we had an interesting selection of old a new, different appellations, styles and levels. Everyone had their favourites from the young and fruity to the mature, well-bred and serious – but enough about the attendees! The wines were as below:
The high point was of course the Saturday dinner made all the more pleasurable by a pleasing return of Commandeurs Meritant Peter Darroch and Keith McCann and the first Commanderie dinner for newly married Commandeurs Don and Karen Hammond. If this was not enough festivities, we were also able to welcome to their first dinners in the lakes: Adrian and Natalie Bennett, John and Joan Alexander and Alastair Sheehan and Sara Osborne.
We gathered in the bar with some very nice champagne and nibbles (kindly provided by our host), before moving into the dining room for the meal.
After a tussle with amuse bouche, the Clos des Lunes “Lune d’Argent” (2012 AOC Bordeaux) showed its flexibility and worked well with both the Parma ham, sage and goats cheese arancini, rocket Caesar and the Smoked trout rillettes compressed watermelon and pickled cucumber salad. A palate cleansing sorbet heralded a tasty locally sourced fillet of beef (cooked in the modern style - sous vide). Thus was accompanied by the trusty Château Haut-Batailley, 2006, 5ème Cru, A.O.C. Pauillac, which did not disappoint.
The local theme of the food continued with a delicious cheese board and our second red Château Montlandrie, 2011, A.O.C. Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux.
The meal was rounded off with a delicious trio of deserts and an excellent Sauternes from Château Guirad (2008).
We then had time for toasts and to thank our hosts before coffee and tea were taken.
A good night’s sleep in a very comfortable bed and to be woken to glorious sunshine and a tasty breakfast rounded off an excellent weekend.