This just in ... for Sip, Savor & Support!

Updated Menu and Wine Auction List

On Friday, March 18, from 5:00 – 8:30 p.m., the public is invited to support the University Club Foundation and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at a benefit titled “Sip, Savor & Support.”

Beginning with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar at 5:00 p.m., participants will have the opportunity to bid on premium wine and fabulous art during a silent auction. At 8:15, bidding will begin in an exciting live auction, featuring bottles to enjoy now to as well as collectable vintages to hold for years to come.

The Club's outstanding "Prime Rib & More Buffet" is included with your $35 ticket! Call 518-463-1151 to make a reservation!

• Mixed Green Salad
• Soup Du Jour
• Balsamic Bluefish with tomatoes
• Chef-carved Prime Rib
• Roast Pork with Stuffing & Sauteed Apples
• Gourmet Macaroni & Cheese with Crabmeat
• Au Gratin Potatoes
• Sauteed Zucchini and Eggplant
• Peach Trifle
• Fresh Fruit
  

The following wines were donated by a private collector who wishes to remain anonymous, and will be offered in both silent and live auction format. Do you feel lucky?

Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
est. auction value $90-120
Deep dark garnet color with no rust as of yet, showing somewhat earthy black currant and tobacco in both flavor and aroma.

1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia
est. auction value $180-$200
Easily the most hedonistic of the Insignias tasted, this one wore its lush, slightly more reddish fruits on its sleeve. The nose hits you right away with that fruit, framed by vanillin oak. The overall effect is pleasing. Palate is what you'd expect from the nose- seductive fruit and creamy oak. The higher sweetness in the overall profile feels like a style change compared to the 90-92 bottlings.

1987 Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant
est. auction value $85-110
38.5% Mourvedre, 35.8% Grenache, 25.7% Syrah 2400 cases
A big upswing in Contra Costa County Mourvedre supported the 50% jump in production. This wine has more oomph … but still has elegant raspberry fruit. In fact, it smelled like Grenache: bright and lively. Rating 94

1987 Chateauneuf-du-pape Domaine du Vieuf Telegraph
est. auction value $50-70
A blend of 40% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc and 15% Roussane. A member of the classic school of white Châteauneuf-du-Pape: more floral than fruity aromas, and characterized by balance and freshness. "Focused, with a range of apple, lime, pear, floral and mineral notes that stretch out on the bright, stony finish. This has concentration in reserve. Drink now through 2012." 93 Points, Wine Spectator

1986 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Napa Valley-CabernetSauvignon
est. auction value $130-150
The 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill exhibits a deeper, darker ruby color, tough tannin, but much more of a mid-palate with sweet fruit, as well as fine glycerin giving it a nicely-textured, ripe, generous feel in the mouth. Although the tannin is high, the wine remains intact, with excellent fruit, medium to full body, and the potential to evolve for another 10-12 years.

1987 Ravenswood Merlot
est. auction value $35-50
Merlot has gotten a bad rap as of late but there is no denying this wine's appeal. Packed with deep, dark berry fruit and nuanced hints of cocoa, herb and earth with a soft structure. Its velvety texture makes this bottle instantly appealing and an obvious alternative to similar, more tannic Bordeaux varieties.

And don't forget to enter the raffle for a bottle of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Cask 23 (1987). Tickets are $2 each, 3 for $5, or 7 for $10. With a Robert Parker 91 rating, this bottle has an estimated auction price of $360-$400!