Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Sips & Tips for Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

As reluctant as we are to bid summer adieu, it is always refreshing to breathe in the crisp autumn air and usher in the cooler months. Fall brings a change in scenery and a change in fare, which beckons the Rhone Valley of France for some of the most rustic yet elegant styles of wine to accompany the season. I encourage you to stop by Joe’s to try one of these spectacular selections from this world-class wine region.
We are thrilled to be able to offer you the 2011 Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone, France ($19 per glass). Affectionately referred to as “baby Beaucastel," the signature wine from the iconic estate of Chateau Beaucastel, this spectacular cuvée of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault offers subtle yet inviting aromatics packed with notes of bright raspberry, cocoa and kirsch. On the palate the wine is brimming with a bounty of scorched earth, followed by hints of wild game, black pepper and thyme. Match this beautiful glass pour with Herb Roasted Chicken.

If Syrah is the prevalent variety in the northern Rhone, Grenache is its equal in the south. Similar to the neighboring region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas is famous for its intense northern 'Mistral' winds, vineyards covered by large 'galet' stones, and limestone-rich soil. The 2011 Domaine Raspail-Ay, Gigondas, France ($75 per bottle) offers amazing quality at this price. With complex layers of cherries and red fruits partnered with lavender and black pepper, this luscious and juicy offering is a favorite pairing for our Double-Cut Colorado Lamb Chops.

Tucked away in one of the most northern regions of the Rhone valley is the tiny appellation of Condrieu, a wine-growing region known entirely for the production of Viognier. This grape variety is known for its beautiful aromatics of white flower and peach, with additional notes of stone fruit. The 2011 Domaine Faury, Condrieu, France ($110 per bottle) is a delicious expression of the potential of the northern Rhone, with complex aromas of apricots intermingled with violet, followed by a rich and robust mouth-feel achieved from sur lee ageing. This wine is a sure-fire match with our Dover Sole.


Follow me on twitter @invitisveritas. Tell me what’s in your glass, #wiyg.

Kevin Bratt
Concept Wine Director
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

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