Reported by Natale Lofaro

First, a huge thank you to Mark Norris and Karen Richardson-Norris who organized the annual Méchoui from 1993 to 2005.

The Méchoui is the Guild’s annual pilgrimage to St. Sixte, Quebec in the bucolic Gatineau hills where we visit La Ferme Cavalier to indulge in locallly grown lamb spit roasted in the Morroccan way by Marc and Gertie Cavalier.

Pre dinner flight:

• 2001 Sumac Ridge, Stellar’s ”J” Sparkling wine, Okanagan Valley, $19.95
• 2001 Jackson-Triggs Sparkling wine, Niagara Peninsula, $24.95
• 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Bourgeois, Loire Valley, $14.95
• 2004 Chardonnay, Marques de Casa Concha, Maipo Valley, $17.95
• 2003 Riesling, Graf-Hardegg, Austria, $19.95
• 2003 Riesling Kabinett, Balthasar-Ress, Rheingau, $15.95
• 2004 La Segreta Bianco, La Planeta, Sicily, $15.95
• 2004 Campillo, Rioja Blanco, $14.95

Group favourites were both Canadian sparkling wines. Both sparklers had crisp acidity, balanced by rich citrus and yeasty notes—Sumac Ridge’s Stellar “J” was the slight favourite. The Petit Bourgeois and La Segreta Bianco were the favourites in the still white category. The Petit Bourgeois, produced by Henri Bourgeois, is a crisp, lightly grassy, Loire Sauvignon blanc. La Segreta Bianco, made by one of Sicily’s best producers, La Planeta, was the fullest/most luscious white of the afternoon. An eclectic blend of Chardonnay, Viogner, Fiano, and Greco (two indigenous southern Italian varieties).

After quenching our thirst, we sat down for dinner. First up, a variety of salads (Morroccan and vegetable) along with a lamb/cognac pate and (what I look forward to most each year) lamb briouates with a tomato coulis. The main course is a Morroccan spiced lamb cooked over maple hardwood coupled with potato dauphinoise.

Main course reds:

• 2002 Sonoma County Zinfandel, Sebastiani, $19.95
• 2003 Margaret River Shiraz, Cape Mentelle, $29.95
• 2000 IGT Toscana Cabernet Sauvignon, Moresco $21.95
• 2001 Pagodes des Cos, Cos d’Estournel, St. Estephe, $29.95

The Sebastiani Zinfandel was a classically styled Zin with loads of ripe blackberry and spices. The Cape Mentelle Shiraz was the biggest wine of the night showing off ripe berry, cedar, chocolate, and spice notes. From Tuscany we had a 100% Cabernet showing pure cassis and cedar notes. Finally, the second wine from Cos d’Estournel. The 2001 Pagodes des Cos was elegant, medium bodied, with earthy, leathery, and spicy notes.

The evening concluded with a variety of cakes baked by Gertie Cavalier (an excellent pastry chef) matched to the 2005 Moscato d’Asti by Airone, $18.95. A beautiful, aromatic, grapey, lightly fizzy dessert wine.

Our thanks to Marc and Gertie Cavalier for a fabulous feast.

The Meat!

James Bertrand and Natale Lofaro and the empties!