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Top Pairs
Pairings from Tastings
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Vol.7 |
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 Pairings from South Florida
by Amanda McDougall
January 2008
After tasting our way around South Florida’s top restaurants, four wine pairings stood out from the rest. Whether it was for their off-the-beaten path direction, wine-making heritage, or down-right harmony with the food, each of these Top Pairs deserves a spotlight.
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Restaurant |
Cielo
501 East Camino Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 447-3222
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Who
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Sommelier Roberto Colombi is a bit of a wine boy-wonder. He grew up in Italy where wine was a constant topic of conversation in the family, and his uncle, also a sommelier, started taking him to wine fairs at the age of 13. Just over a decade later, he’s focusing on educating Cielo customers about "how to drink and enjoy wine in a better way." |
| Wine |
Albertus, H. Lun, Gewurztraminer, Alto Adige, 2006 |
| Price
per Bottle |
$100 |
| Dish |
Foie Gras Torchon with Quince Puree and Pumpernickel Wafer |
| Pairing
Notes |
What a joy! What was most delightful about this pairing is that it wasn’t the usual heavy, honey-sweet Sauterne typically paired with foie gras. This wine has a nice acidity that cuts through the foie’s richness. It was light and refreshing. |
Restaurant |
Azul
Mandarin Oriental
500 Brickell Key Drive
Miami, FL 33131
(305) 913-8288
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Who |
Sommelier Cynthia Betancourt started her career in the restaurant business on the culinary side, but soon found her calling in wine. Since joining Azul in 2007, she has been adding to the restaurant’s collection of over 700 wines and is working toward becoming a Master Sommelier. |
Wine |
Adrianna Vineyard, Catena Zapata, Malbec, Mendoza, 2004 |
Price
per Bottle |
Estimated $297 (this wine is not yet distributed in the US) |
Dish |
Yogurt Marinated Swordfish and Brown Butter Lobster Sauce with Toasted Pita and Tomato Salad |
Pairing
Notes |
Soft in tannins and overall flavor, this malbec doesn’t overwhelm the marinated swordfish. The wine is made by a woman and Betancourt believes that a woman’s touch is reflected in the wine. We agreed. The creaminess of the yogurt and buttery lobster sauce are well-matched with the supple body of the wine, while the fruit characteristics compliment the tomatoes. |
Restaurant |
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
900 South Miami Ave.
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 372-8862
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Who |
Originally from Puerto Rico, Sommelier Jorge Morgado has traveled the world and developed an excellent palate. His pairings with the often complicated and spicy flavor profiles from Chef Bernal’s kitchen are a testament to his talent. |
Wine |
Aquilon, Alto Moncayo, Garnacha, Camp de Borja, 2005 |
Price
per Bottle |
$290 |
Dish |
Monkfish Osso Buco-Style with Chanterelles and Lemon Thyme |
Pairing
Notes |
This wine’s big, bold, and chewy profile stands up to Chef Sean Bernal’s rich and flavorful monkfish osso buco. The wine’s heat and dark berry flavor compliment the red wine demi glace and mushrooms in the dish. |
Restaurant |
Emeril's Miami Beach
Loews Miami Beach Hotel
1601 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 695-4550
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Who |
Self-taught and eager to learn everything there is about wine, Sommelier David Mokha made the jump from a small independent restaurant to a multi-unit operation to do just that. His strengths lie in his unusual but wonderful pairings and his easy-going explanations for those matches. |
Wine |
Grosjean, Gamay, Valle d’Aosta, 2005 |
Price
per Bottle |
$19.99 retail |
Dish |
New Orleans Barbeque Shrimp with a Petite Rosemary Biscuit |
Pairing
Notes |
Pairing a northern Italian wine with Lagasse’s rich and aggressively-seasoned barbeque shrimp is thinking outside of the box. And that’s the challenge here—kicking it up a notch (ouch!). The cola and plum flavors played off the spicy and salty components of the dish, while the subtle earthiness complements the dark roux sauce. |
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