Uncorked

Dine peacefully on the river in a restaurant that floats in McCuddy’s Marina, in Scappoose. This charming, laid-back, cozy little nook is a great place to relax and enjoy savory food, the great outdoors, and stunning wine. The menu is both “globally and domestically influenced” and offers a variety flavor.

I recently sat down to a spectacular meal with Brook Steele, the manager and wine hustler over at Mark’s on the Channel. Our evening began at a table outside on the dock, where the sun was warm and setting below a tranquil sky. A light breeze gently rippled the water, as docked boats bopped up and down along the shore. It was beautiful.

Brook started us off with a bottle of Argyle Brut sparkling 2002 which was a perfect palate cleanser, boasting notes of toasted marshmallow, bursting out of playful little bubbles. My palate was revived. We slowly sipped our sparkling wine and chatted under a melting sun about all things beautiful. This was my first lesson at Mark’s – it is laid back, and that is definitely part of its charm.

Although the wine list is superb, and the food is unique and creative, it is not a five star, snobby, uptight food establishment by any means – in fact, most guests were sitting on the dock in sandals, sipping beer and watching the sun smear across a velvet evening sky. The atmosphere was so relaxed on the deck, I almost forgot we were there to eat, in fact, I almost forgot I was there at all.

Eventually, at our leisure, we decided to move on to some appetizers. We started with fresh, meaty crab cakes, and an order of Saganaki (fried cheese) with fresh assorted fruit. Our Caesar salad was made with in house Blue and a wedge of wonderfully pungent blue cheese on the side.

Everything paired beautifully with the Agyle Brut, which we quickly diminished. Finally, we moved onto the bold Saffron Risotto, graciously opened with a bottle of 2004 Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru Bourgone that I happened to bring along for the evening. The rich, muscular flavors in the food and sparkling wine seemed to reawaken my taste buds, and I was ready for the good stuff.

Grand Cru Bourgone proved to be an excellent choice for the succulent swordfish drizzling with a citrus reduction. Even the Cornish Game hen held it’s own. Everything was great – it was the perfect dance between wine and food, lover and beloved, seducer, and the seduced.

The evening ended as the sun slipped beyond the horizon, and an assortment of savory desserts were paraded out and paired with the Dr. L Riesling. It was extremely playful.

If you haven’t had a chance to experience the pleasure of Mark’s on the Channel, you are definitely missing something magical, laid-back, but bold. It is an experience to be remembered.

Be sure to check out their website to find out all that Mark’s has to offer (including live music and dancing) at www.marksonthechannel.com.

Until then, CHEERS, and see you at the shop!

Amanda

We love finding wines under $12 that blow us away. Unfortunately, these finds are rare indeed, but the Vila Tinto Fundacion out of Mendoza, definitely fits the profile. A blend of Argentina’s distinguished varietals – Bonarda, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon, this tender beauty is young and vivacious – a perfect summer red that pairs harmoniously with most meat dishes, and even stands up to grilled veggies and salmon. And the best part is, it’s only $7.85 a bottle! Try it today, you won’t be disappointed.

Last week when the weather warmed the air with spices for one glorious day, I decided to celebrate the elusive sun by treating myself to a bottle of Clos des Papes blanc and fresh grilled catfish. Yes, I know this was a bit of a splurge, but the rain had been wearing me down, and I needed a little pick me up.

There are rare moments in life where beauty unfolds itself in such a way that the clouds open up and the “Alajuela” chorus booms from above - this definitely was one of those moments. As the wine touched my palate, a teasingly soft, pear-like texture gently melted into my mouth, lingering on my senses. The wine was fleshy, ripe and alive. Medium bodied and luscious, this gem parades a line up of citrus summer fruits, infused with intoxicating honeysuckle and orange peel. I was in heaven.

Clos des Papes is arguably one of the most superb producers of Chateauneuf du Pape. This dazzling white is truly a work of art, composed by none other than the famed Paul Avril, who has been crafting wines from Clos des Papes for several decades. My palate was drenched in this sinfully delicious masterpiece for one glorious afternoon, as I explored her beauty, and feasted on the “richest of fairs”. It was everything I never knew, I always wanted.

Now that is what I call an afternoon in the sun. I highly recommend it.

3/27/08

The shop seems to get busier every night! We are pleased that many of you have made Renaissance your evening hang out, and we are grateful for the relationships we are making along the way.

As the wine bar portion of the business grows, we are continually searching for top-notch, interesting, and affordable wines to make your wine experience here more pleasurable.

Recently, a group of regulars opened up a bottle of the 2006 Pascual Toso Malbec to enjoy at the shop. We were all amazed at the bold beauty brought forth through flavors of smoky plumb, boysenberry, and spiced clove. This wine seemed to be the perfect compliment to the Hercules pizza from Garlic Jim’s, and the friendly game of Cribbage enjoyed by everyone hanging around the shop (we do occasionally keep it simple).

At only $12.25 a bottle, we understand why Wine Enthusiasts named this Malbec the #1 Best Buy of 2007! In fact, we liked the wine so much that we decided to feature it in this week’s tasting of South American terrior. Thank you to everyone who made the night such a memorable one. And for all of you who were not here, be reminded of how much fun you miss when you’re away!