Saturday, February 7, 2015

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

Champagne, France is home to some of the finest sparkling wines on earth.  With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there's no better way to celebrate your special someone than by treating them to dinner at Joe’s, complemented, of course, by a delicious glass of bubbles from one of these world class Champagne producers:
As a long-standing member of our glass pour program, the NV Louis Roederer, Brut Premier, Reims, France ($25 per glass) continually delivers precision and excellence every year. A traditional blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, the wine offers inviting aromas of citrus and brioche, followed by ripe yet fresh fruit on the palate. This is my ideal way to kick off any meal, partnered with an order of oysters on the half shell.
Another pristine example of elegance in a glass is the NV Ayala, Brut Majeur, Aÿ, France ($85 per bottle). Made with a low dosage (a sugar and wine mix that determines of overall sweetness level of a Champagne), the Brut Majeur consistently delivers racy notes of lemon followed with hints of stone fruit. Light and crisp on the palate, this wine presents a suitable match for Joe’s Famous Stone Crab.
I am never one to turn down the opportunity to sample a new or interesting wine, so when I first heard about this Champagne made entirely from Pinot Meunier, I couldn’t wait to try it! The NV Egly- Ouriet, Les Vignes de Vrigny, Ambonnay, France ($165 per bottle) exceeded my expectations, with rich and earthy notes on the nose, and exceptionally clean and perfectly ripe fruit on the palate. This is a crowd-pleaser designed to pair with an array of dishes, including Dover Sole with Brown Butter Sauce.
Wine Tip: Some key words to keep in mind when shopping for Champagne: Zero Dosage and Brut indicate a dry style of wine, Sec and Demi-Sec indicate wine with higher amounts of residual sugar.

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

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