U.S. vs France Pinot Noir Wine Dinner at Bistro du Midi (Boston, MA)

Bistro du Midi is an old-school French restaurant in Boston's Back Bay and about once a month they hold a special wine dinner for a small group in their private room, curated by head sommelier Ray Osborne. I attended their last wine dinner on November 29, which was a U.S. vs France Pinot Noir dinner. Ray explained each wine and pairing, as well as other tidbits about wines and pinot noirs. He told us that dark, less opaque colored wine is the mark of cooler climate wines.

We started the dinner with Beet-cured salmon, caper, creme fraiche

This was paired with a 2014 WillaKenzie "Giselle" from Willamette Valley, Oregon.

WillaKenzie Estate is a big name in Willamette Valley, started by Burgundian Bernard Lacroute. The name WillaKenzie refers to the soil, which is near Willamette River and MacKenzie River.
This was a great pairing, the wine tasted much smoother with the fatty salmon and sweet, earthy beet puree.

Spanish octopus, sunchoke, golden delicious, smoked almonds

Paired with 2016 Louis Latour from Gevrey-Chambertin
Burgundy is particularly sensitive to vintages, and 2016 is a classic vintage. Louis Latour is an 11th generation winemaker since 18th century. Wines from Gevrey-Chambertin is known to be irony, earthy, mineral.


Oxtail tortellini, broccoli spigarello, salsify

Paired with 2013 Domaine Rion, 1er Cru Nuits-St-Georges Aux Vignerones
This winery started in 1955, in the same area of Burgundy, south of Gevrey-Chambertin. This is a traditional style pinot noir. The tannins balanced the richness of the oxtail.

Duck breast, celery root, candy cane beet, dates, juniper jus

Paired 2013 Patz & Hall, Sonoma coast.
The Patz & Hall biggest wine of the night. Aged in over 50% new oak, it was rich and fruity. Patz & Hall does not grow their own grapes but buys the best grapes from various vineyards.

Chocolate ganache, cassic cremeux, lavender ice cream.

This was not paired with, but a wine cocktail called Petite Kir (white wine and creme de cassis) which pairs with the cassis cremeux in the dessert.


The winer dinner at Bistro du Midi costs $135 per person. Watch the special events page for announcements of future wine dinners starting in January.

Bistro du Midi
272 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 426-7878