Paired with Smoked Duck Ham, pineapple & puree of white beans.
Andre’ — “The two wines in this post come from Summers Estate Wines. The first is the 2008 Chardonnay, “La Nude” a reference to the fact that it is produced without any oak barrel aging. As much as I love a buttery oaky California Chard, many of them are overdone. The La Nude is rich and mouthfilling, well-balanced with bright acidity and a lingering tropical fruit finish.
The second wine 2007 Andriana’s Cuvee’ is a dynamite Cab and at this price I think a great value as well. Nice spice and berry fruits with soft green tannins this is a medium to full-bodied cab that has a lot to offer.
Now the challenge, come up with one dish that pairs well with both wines. I am serving it to a few hundred people at An Evening of Wine and Roses. My first thought as I tasted the chardonnay was to use duck breast as a starting point. The meat wouldn’t overpower the white but it still has enough flavor to stand up to the Cab. As I have said before when you are pairing food and wine the pairing is more about the garnishes than the center of the plate. I decided to turn the duck breast into a smoked duck ham. Add a touch of sweetness and play off the fruit flavors in the La Nude with a pineapple chip, and finish off the plate with a puree of white beans. The smokyness in the duck and earthiness of the beans mirroring some of the flavors in the Adriana’s cuvee’.”
From the winemaker:
“The 2008 Le Nude Chardonnay possesses a pale straw color with tropical fruit aromas, finishing with crisp pear flavors. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Andriana’s Cuvee is a bright red fruit wine with smoky oak aroma that leads to a mouthful bursting with blackberry and spicy tones.”
Rating:
The Le Nude Chardonnay was given a 88 point rating & the Adrianna’s Cuvee Cabernet was given a 89 point rating by Wine Advocate.
Availability:
2008 Le Nude Chardonnay in a 750 ml – Standard Bottle is currently in stock at Byram and Hackettstown for $10.99 a bottle, $59.35 a 1/2 case with a 10% half case discount, and $105.51 a case with a 20% full case discount. SKU#18717
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon in a 750 ml – Standard Bottle is currently in stock at Byram and Hackettstown for $23.99 a bottle, $129.55 a 1/2 case with a 10% half case discount, and $230.31 a case with a 20% full case discount. SKU#15063
About the Chef:
Andre’ de Waal is the owner of Andre’s Restaurant &Wine Boutique in Newton NJ. For more information about Andre’ and his restaurant, visit www.andresrestaurant.com
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