Category Archives: Wine

Bouchaine wine Dinner

Posted on by

My first experience at Bouchaine Vineyard and Winery

By: Scott Callais

Many years ago, upon one of my first visits to the California wine country, I decided to take a journey into the back roads of Carneros just south of Napa Valley. After a few miles off of the main highway, I drove on to Bushli Station Road towards an historic railway station and stumbled upon a small barn-like winery named Bouchaine Vineyards. This was back in the mid-eighties when the California wine industry was still experimenting with how to produce quality pinot noir. It was my first experience with a commendable pinot noir made in this region. Since then Bouchaine Vineyards & Winery has updated their winemaking facility with new technology and refurbished their buildings that has garnered awards from historic and architectural organizations. Their vineyard team has updated both farming and winemaking to bring the wines to a new standard of excellence. Being a Burgundy lover, I find Bouchaine’s chardonnays and pinot noirs to be some of the best wines in the Carneros, Napa and Sonoma regions. They are made in the Burgundian style which allows the grapes and their terriors to speak for themselves. Wine Spectator has described these wines as “brilliant, bracing minerality, silky, delicate, and vibrant acidity bracing generous fruit.” On top of that, they are great values that are affordable and accessible.

On October 17, Rebecca Savu, a dear friend and national sales manager for Bouchaine Vineyards & Winery will be Juban’s special guest for a six-course wine dinner. Chef Jaime will be complementing Bouchaine’s wines (including pinot blanc, chardonnay, late harvest chardonnay, syrah and two pinot noirs) with the great foods of South Louisiana.

View Bouchaine Wine Dinner Menu

Please join us and call early for reservations 225-346-8422.
It will be a great evening to kick off the Louisiana fall season. Also, these wines will be available for purchase at special discounts through Matherne’s and Calandro’s Supermarkets for this special evening only!

In Vino Veritas

Scott Callais

Juban’s Receives Prestigious Wine Spectator Award

Posted on by

Juban’s Creole Restaurant & Caterer has recently been bestowed the Best of Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine for having one of the elite wine lists in Louisiana and the United States.  This is the ninth consecutive year that Juban’s has received this award.  The Best of Award of Excellence gives special recognition to restaurants with wine lists that display vintage depth with vertical offerings of several top producers from major regions, and excellent breadth across world regions.  Only 878 restaurants in the world have been given this two-glass award level.  Juban’s is the only restaurant in Baton Rouge and one of only 10 restaurants in Louisiana to have received this recognition by Wine Spectator for 2012, in company with the likes of Emeril’s Delmonico, Stella, Brennan’s, and Clancy’s of New Orleans. Only Emeril’s New Orleans and Commander’s Palace have received the three-glass Grand Award in Louisiana.

“Although this has been Juban’s ninth year to receive this special award, I believe that the past two years have been our best effort by delving more into European and South American countries and their varietals, and by expanding our vintage selection of premium wines.  Angela Lowther-Walker, our Director of Wine & Spirits, has really excelled in this endeavor.  We now have over 750 selections on our list” stated Scott Callais, General Manager of Juban’s.  “The main concern with such a list is making sure that our suppliers keep these wine selections in stock year round,” Mr. Callais remarked.  Juban’s has also recently received the honor of being voted Best Fine Dining Restaurant of 2012 by 225 Magazine and its readers.

Juban’s Restaurant Napa Bound

Posted on by

After a wonderful Markham Vineyards wine dinner at Juban’s Restaurant on May 22, Bryan Del Bondio, Markham Vineyards president, invited Juban’s Chef Jaime Hernandez to Napa Valley to prepare the same menu for his wine club summer dinner on Saturday, July 7th.  All ingredients for the courses were produced by Louisiana artisan farmers and local fishermen including Iverstine Family Farms, Glazers Farm, “Papa Tom” Bonnecaze Farms, Mon Jardin Farm, Plantation Pecan, Inglewood Farms, and Morrow.

Juban’s general manager, Scott Callais, stated, ‘This is a great honor for Chef Jaime, Juban’s, and Louisiana.  This is the second year that Bryan and Juban’s hold a Markham Vineyards dinner during NOWFE weekend. I think that he totally fell in love with Chef Jaime’s Louisiana Seafood Gumbo and his Iverstine Family Farms Pork Three Ways entrée.  We will be bringing all Louisiana products with us.  And I understand the dinner was sold out a week after it was posted on Markham’s web site.”

Juban's Restaurant Prepares to Visit Markham Vineyards

Juban’s Featured Wine for February

Posted on by

BABCOCK WHITE SYRAH
“IDENTITY CRISIS”

This is a dry white wine made from red grapes (Rose) resulting in an elegant wine that is very versistal. Buttery tones and perplexing fruits suggests a cross between nectarines and cinnamon. Dry Rose’s match well with white meats, fish soups and seafood appetizers. Try this wine with Chef Jaime’s seafood bisque, or with Juban’s Shrimp Remoulade.

Juban’s Featured Wine for September

Posted on by

HAHN ESTATES ‘GSM’

Hahn Estates ‘GSM’ is the perfect compliment to our Provincial Braised Lamb Shank. From the Central Coast of California, this Southern Rhone-inspired blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre brings a beautiful collage of flavors to your palate. Grenache brings berry and spice notes to the mix, while Syrah provides color and tannins, and Mouvedre adds acidity and Structure. This deep-hued wine opens with intense aromas of dark fruit and berries, vanilla and clove. You will be greeted by flavors of black cherry, fig and pepper supported by fresh acidity and well-framed tannins. When this bold food and wine pairing meet, it will be a symphony to your senses.  - ”Scott Callais”

2011 Markham Vineyards Wine Dinner Announced – Vineyard President to Attend

Posted on by

We are pleased to announce an upcoming wine dinner with Markham Vineyards of  Napa Valley.  We will also host special guest Bryan Del Bondio, President of Markham Vineyards.  The date of the event is set for  Tuesday, May 24, 2011.  Details are as follows:

Reception 6:15 p.m. Dinner 7:15 p.m.
$85 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity

AMUSE

Smoked Salmon Canapé
Vermont Cheddar & Apple Tart
Marinated Beef Tenderloin Souvflaki
Black Truffled Tuna Tartare

2009 Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Merlot

DINNER

Oyster and Artichoke Soup
with chili oil

2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Crab Avery
Louisiana lump crab tossed in Avery dressing,
capers, blue cheese, shaved red onion, Heirloom tomatoes

2009 Chardonnay

Fire Roasted Prime Rib
center-cut Sterling Silver rib roast au jus, homemade Worchester cream,
truffled mashed potatoes, haricots verts

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Louisiana Artisan Cheeses
A selction of Chef John Folse’s Bittersweet Plantation Dairy cheeses
With green tomato & ginger jam

2006 ‘The Philanthropist” Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Bananas Foster Strudel
Cane syrup, ice cream, amaretto chantilly

2008 Muscat Blanc