While there is no known wine cellar in the White House, it is nice to have a president in office that respects the ritual of wine on the dining room table or the consumption of wine to commemorate special events. Here is an unofficial report of two wines that have been enjoyed by President Obama thus far:
-Graham Beck Brut NV, Robertson, South Africa - Election Night
Notes: A sparkling blend of pinot noir and chardonnay showing light yeasty aromatics coupled with a creamy texture and fine mousse.
(A difficult find ever since)
-Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, 2007, Napa Valley, California - Inauguration Lunch
Notes: Citrus and lemongrass flavors that show rich on the palate with a round leesy finish.
PS: I think it is worth mentioning here that our Ex-President Bush hasn't enjoyed a glass of wine in over 20 years. (Go figure?!)
Having had the rare opportunity to advise (a pulmonary conscious) former President Clinton towards a good fit for his dover sole at BLT Steak. It was the Domaine Serene pinot noir that won his heart over. In retrospect, I might have paired a pinot noir that has only just hit the market this year by Dr. Revana (Cardiologist) and Lynn Penner-Ash (Winemaker) named "Alexana". Both stunning examples of pinot noir from Oregon showing off place of origin. There is something special about a Cardiologist in the wine business that seems so right!
-Domaine Serene, "Evenstad Reserve", 2004, Willamette Valley, Oregon
-Revana, "Alexana", 2006, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Since Lyndon Johnson decreed that only domestic wines were to be served in The White House, it was of course Tricky Dick that could not let go of his love for French wines. In fact, upon Richard Nixon's resignation dinner. The servers were instructed to wrap a napkin over the 1966 Chateau Margaux that I am sure paired well with the beef tenderloin. However, during President Nixon's Famous trip to Beijing, it was a 1969 Napa Valley sparkler that he toted with for the now famous "Toast to Peace" with Mao Zedong.
-Chateau Margaux, 1966, Bordeaux, France
Notes: Wish I knew first hand.
-Schramsberg, "Blanc de Blancs", 1969, Napa Valley, California
Notes: Its been said to have an amazing amount of life left!?!?
(I will be sure to inquire with my friend Ray Tuppasch who I bet has a bottle of this up his sleeve!)
Incidentally, Schramsberg has been poured for state dinners under every president since!
Probably the biggest oenophile out of the bunch would be Thomas Jefferson whose income was outmatched only by his expenditures on wine! (uh oh, feels way to familiar) While Jefferson did favor the brilliance of Chambertin, his cellar was reported to house a fine collection of fortified Port wines and Madeira's that were all the rage at the time.
-Chambertin, Burgundy, France
Stop whatever it is you are doing and pay attention when this wine presents itself. Unless of course it has something to do with Babette's Feast on your dinner table!
Last but not least, it was the original gangsta George Washington that gave it a good college try at planting his own vineyard in Mount Vernon, Virginia. In addition, after his presidency George went on to become one of the nation's more successful distillers of whiskey. Now, I'm not certain what grapes GW was planting or how good his whiskey's were? I do know, aside from grapes and whiskey, it was his all consuming interest in the hemp plant that I find most curious.
Is that what they were calling it back then?
BF
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