Betsy saw pheasant at Fairway Friday, knowing my fondness for gamebirds she picked up one (like 3.5 lbs, big for pheasant). Sunday she made a recipe from the d'Artagnan game cookbook, pheasant with Jack Daniels (!?!?!). I was worried re wine matching, but it was fine. Cabbage is cooked in a dutch oven, while the pheasant is browned in a skillet. Then pheasant is nestled in cabbage (with pancetta over breast to keep from drying) and roasted. Then (with bird removed) JD is added to cabbage, then cream. It's not as bourbony as it sounds, makes for a rather deep-flavored sauce/side. Sweet potatoes and green beans accompanied.
Normally I think pheasant is a good match for mature Bordeaux, but I was afraid of the sauce with a more delicate wine. So I opened the 1998 Roc de Cambes (Cotes du Bourg), a bottle I had gotten in a trade with the generous Matt Richman recently. Mocha, baby, mocha. Rich chocolate & coffee aromas over a nice base of plush and lush black plum fruit. This could easily pass for a good Pomerol. Spice and smoke add to the mix with time. Medium tannins, there's no hurry on this, but my guess I wouldn't really enjoy it any more with more age. OK match with the food, but this is a wine I'd probably be happiest with just enjoying slowly over an evening. Thanks Matt! A-/B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.