Not our usual Porn

Us MNSC boys aren't known for being organized, and when our new convenor is someone who doesn't live in this town... things get a little sloppy.  Which is why we finally took it upon ourselves to set some dates for our gatherings - with the Ox hosting our first dinner of the year at The Porn Pawn.

Marinated scallop with apple, tarragon and young turnip - the diced raw scallops were fairly sweet, and came with the acidity of green apple discs, the sweetness of green pea purée, the fragrance of tarragon, and the crunch of turnip.  A nice dish to kick off the meal with.

Duck breast carpaccio, fennel - simple yet delicious.  Very thin slices of smoky duck breast, sprinkled with what seemed like bacon bits (or deep-fried lard) and chives, then served with mango coulis and fennel.

Roasted pork belly, choucroute and smoked sausage - how does one not like this dish?  Big cubes of roasted French pork belly with caramelized exterior.  So.Fucking.Good.  That layer of fat.  That not-entirely-crispy-but-still-damn-good crackling.  Perfect for the trio of big and powerful Aussie wines.  And I love choucroute for their acidity, which helps balance out the richness of the pork.  The smoked sausage?  Very delish, too.

Extra fine beans - it's good to have some greens while enjoying big chunks of meat, and they always do a good job with these beans here.

Smoked chocolate ganache, whiskey - very chocolatey, rich and slightly bitter.  Inhaled but I was a little drunk by this point...

Our host generously prepared a lineup of wines which were meant to take us outside of our usual comfort zone of Bordeaux and Burgundy... and I think he succeeded.  The wines were simply fantastic!

Jacques Selosse Substance, dégorgée le 7 Decembre 2011 - nice and very toasty, a little straw, lovely nose.  Acidity was a little higher than expected, even though the palate was a little ripe.

First flight: decanted 2 hours prior to serving.

1998 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon - very savory nose with lots of soy sauce notes.  A little sharp alcohol, with burnt rubber, ripe and cooked fruit.  After 2½ hours, nose improved and showed a little sweet vanilla, smokiness, and sweetness on the palate.  93 points.

1999 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon - cooler and more minty.  A little earthy, and definitely a little sweeter.  94 points.

Second flight: decanted 1 hour prior to serving.

1998 Henri Bonneau Cuvée Marie Beurrier - really sweet and fruity, but also a little farmy and medicinal.  A little light on the body.  94 points.

1998 Henri Bonneau Réserve des Célestins - a little more muted on the nose at first, but after opening up it was really sweet, almost a little jammy, with leather notes.  97 points.

Third flight: decanted for nearly 5 hours prior to serving.

1998 Greenock Creek Shiraz Roennfeldt Road - soooo jammy with tons of coconut butter.  Classic Aussie shiraz. 98 points.

2001 Greenock Creek Shiraz Roennfeldt Road - jammy with a little burnt rubber, sharp alcohol, and a little coffee.  98 points.

1996 Greenock Creek Shiraz Roennfeldt Road - lots of coconut, a little more metallic.  Really lovely and rich.  98 points.