Join us for a very special evening with Suzette Hebert and Winemaker Paul Warson of Moraga Vineyards of Bel Air. We'll be going through a special treat of their vintage whites and reds going back decades, accompanied by tray-passed delicacies from Chef David Llauger Meiselman.
Tastings to be poured:
2013 Moraga White
2019 Moraga White
1992 Moraga Red
2007 Moraga Red
2014 Moraga Red
Menu - Tray Passed
Veggie Charcuterie
Chicken & Asparagus Skewers
Pork Belly & Plantain Skewers
Filet Mignon & Duck Fat Fried Mini Potato Skewers Risotto Truffle Balls
Charcuterie & Dessert
$50 per person - Limit 50 people!
ABOUT CHEF DAVID LLAUGER MEISELMAN
David is a private and classically trained chef. His comprehensive knowledge of the culinary arts ranges from classic French & Italian cuisine to Asian & American home style cooking. He has more than 40 years of experience... and has cooked for Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and the late George H. W. Bush as well as Foreign Dignitaries, Celebrities and Captains of Industry. He has cooked extensively all over the United States, Europe, and Mexico. He prefers the blend of Latin -Italian -Asian fusion with a finish of decadent American desserts! His style is unique, wholesome, and classical... another words... you won’t leave dissatisfied or famished.
ABOUT MORAGA
The canyon locale of the Moraga estate vineyard has ancient marine soils and a
distinct microclimate that clearly differentiates the property from other
California appellations. The steep vineyard, planted at elevations up to 900 feet,
is recognized as an exceptional site for creating wines with a sense of place. The
character of the vineyard is strongly reflected in the wines; in the Moraga Red,
the calcareous soils connect each vintage with a common thread. There is a
unique and identifiable Moraga signature of rich tannins; supple texture, pure
Cabernet black fruit, currant and tobacco. Grapes from the vineyard’s many
different exposures allow us to build complexity from a careful blend of
vineyard blocks making up the vineyard.
The overriding objective of grape growing practices at Moraga Vineyards is to
produce the best possible fruit in a sustainable manner. Most of the vineyard is
closely spaced on sloping hillsides that are inaccessible to tractors and other
equipment. As a result, all of the vineyard work, from pruning to picking, is
done by hand by a year-round crew of eight people. There are 7 planted acres
on the 14-acre property: four acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, two acres of Merlot,
one tenth of an acre of Petite Verdot, one tenth of an acre of Cabernet Franc
and slightly over 1 acre of Sauvignon Blanc.
Rootstocks were chosen to match the unique characteristics of the site.
Rootstock 3309 is selected for its non-vigorous nature on the less calcareous
soils. The rootstock 101-14 is matched with Sauvignon Blanc on the gravel-
underlain soils of the canyon floor. The Cabernet Sauvignon clones 337 and 04,
and Merlot clone 181 were selected for their long track record of producing
high-quality fruit low-yields. The cuttings for our Petite Verdot and the
Cabernet Franc plantings were hand- selected from one of David Abreu’s
world-class vineyards in Napa Valley. The Sauvignon Blanc is all Clone 1, the
result of years of trial and error.
The vineyard’s unique microclimate differs from the surrounding area. Records
from the last 45 years indicate the average rainfall in the canyon is 24 inches,
compared to local averages of 15 inches. These records also show that although
the average daytime temperature is somewhat cooler than that of other parts of
Los Angeles, nighttime temperatures are considerably cooler, by about six to
eight degrees. The cold winter nights cause the vines to become dormant from
the beginning of December until the end of March.
The Moraga vineyard is viewed as a total ecosystem, rather than a grape
monoculture. Areas of native vegetation and the extensive gardens serve as
insectaries for beneficial insects. A permanent cover crop of native grasses and
wildflowers is maintained in order to prevent erosion and improve overall soil
health. Surrounding the vineyard, a handcrafted stone wall enhances the sense
of place. |