Le Cercle brings the best of Club Gascon’s French cooking to West London at a prime location just off Sloane Square. Set underground, Le Cercle manages to create a surprisingly airy, open plan dinning space that still achieves understated intimacy. The monthly wine pairing menu caught my eye and I had to experience an evening here for myself.
This month, the tasting compares two estates from the Gaillac district in South West France. It was Domaine Rotier vs. Domaine Causse Marines – two producers with contrasting views on winemaking. I’ve been informed that one uses only natural elements in the vineyards to develop and heighten the flavours (whilst the grape is still on the vine) whilst the other experiments in the cellar. It must be said, whatever the technique, both created exceptional vintages.
We commenced the evening with a well blended dirty martini whetting my appetite for the meal to come. The menu at Le Cercle was created to educate guests on Galliac wines meanwhile enjoying brilliantly matched cuisine. We start with a superb crab bisque topped with verbena Chantilly cream; wondrously light, a theme that would run throughout the meal. A slight change of direction on the second course: cured organic salmon, celery sorbet and cress. Undeniably the standout dish of the evening, the fish was as fresh as you can find anywhere in London while the sorbet just captured the celery; the cress was tucked away inside the salmon as not to overwhelm. It was served on a bed of delicate fennel with a dash of beetroot ketchup. The dish was served with my favourite of the two whites, the Domaine Rotier, Renaissance Blanc 2008.
Shredded leg of lamb on a bed of warm aubergine caviar and liquorice for our main course. The lamb was tender and the liquorice subtle, making its presence noted in the sauce, a lamb jus infused with Chinese five-spice. My preference of the reds was served at this point, the Domaine Causse Marines, Les Peyrouzelle 2008. The cheese course showcased a fine slice of Ossau Iraty and the dessert, listed as White Chocolate Delight, was an unimaginably victorious white chocolate foam which evaporated in the mouth. The Delight was accompanied by summer berries and a divine Domaine Causse Marines dessert wine.
My guest and I departed with new found knowledge on the previously unfamiliar Galliac wines, satisfied appetites and approving taste buds. Le Cercle runs a wine tasting dinner service the last Tuesday of the month focusing on a different wine producing region.
Le Cercle
1 Wilbraham Place
London
SW1X 9AE
Tel: 020 7901 9999
Opening Times
Lunch – 12:00 noon until 3.00 pm Tue – Sat
Dinner – 6:00 pm until 11:00 pm, Tue – Sat
