MYFoodDiary: An Evening of Wine & Dine with Hunter’s Wines @ Opus Bistro

Written by chuiling on October 11, 2011 in MYFoodBible - No comments

Date: 14 September 2011
Time: 7.00pm
Where: Opus Bistro, Bangkung Row
Why: Wine pairing dinner with Hunter’s Wine

The invitation read: Meet the first lady of New Zealand Wine.

Now, how do you turn down something like that?

The lady in question is Jane Hunter of Hunter’s Wine, New Zealand’s award-winning winery established in Marlborough over 30 years ago. Her profile reads: “If New Zealand had a royal family of wine, Jane Hunter would be queen. Jane is an internationally respecter vintner and recipient of the prestigious UK Women in Wine Award.”

Award-winning wines plus the great tasting food of Opus Bistro. What better way to spend a Wednesday evening? And at RM150++ per head, this dinner was real value for money as usually most wine dinners cost RM200 and up.

If you know of Bangkung Row, you would know of Opus Bistro. A little unpretentious neighbourhood bistro serving good old delicious Italian cuisine.

I walk in and was immediately served a glass of sparkling goodness. The pre-dinner drink of Miru Miru™ Non-vintage Sparkling. An elegant blend of peach and citrus, this is an International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2010 Gold & Best in Class winner. Light and crisp, this was the perfect drink to start the night.

Hunter's Miru Miru™ Non-vintage Sparkling

Before dinner began, the first lady herself, Jane Hunter, welcomed us and explained a bit about the wines we will be enjoying that night.

Welcome by Jane Hunter

Then came the first course. The Opus Caprese Salad with Buffalo Mozzarella cheese, Roma tomatoes & pesto dressing. This refreshing salad paired well with the crispiness of the Miru Miru™ we had earlier.

The Opus Caprese Salad

Next up, the soup course: Toscano Coda di Bue – an Italian fanciful name for Tuscan Oxtail Soup. But oh-so-delicious and full of flavour. Which, when paired with the refreshing Hunter’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 just blows your mind away.

Tuscan Oxtail Soup

The Sauvignon Blanc is another award-winning wine and displays hints of passionfruit, crisp apple, sweet herbs and citrus flavours, leaving a lingering finish on one’s palate. An all-round satisfying course and wine. Yummy.

Hunter's Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Mains were a bit of a surprise. I initially thought that we were to choose between the fish or the steak. But we were told that they would be serving both to each diner. I guess this was to showcase the Riesling as well as the Pinot Noir. So, main no.1 was the Pan-seared Red Snapper with beurre blanc jus & garden vegetables. This was paired with Hunter’s Marlborough Riesling 2010. This youthful wine exhibits fresh lime/citrus characteristics and is surprisingly long on the finish. Its acidity blended well with the butter sauced snapper. Main no.2 was the Pan-seared grain-fed tenderloin with portobello & port wine coulis, which was paired with Hunter’s Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009. The one and only red we had for the evening, the medium-bodied pinot noir presents a subtle earthly complexity which went very well with the juicy medium-rare tenderloin.

Pan-seared Red Snapper with beurre blanc jus & garden vegetables

Pan-seared grain-fed tenderloin with portobello & port wine coulis

Hunter's Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009

Finally to end the night, a chocolate almond zabaglione – a light chocolate custard – with…wait, what? It’s not paired with any wine? Oh alright, coffee will do too.