Page 16 - Boca Club News - April '24

Page 16, Boca Club News
Grape Expectations:

When it Comes to Wine, How Daring Are You?

By Ed Wolfarth, who moved to Instead of Cabs, Merlots or Pinots try: Instead of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot
South Florida after retiring with his Mourvedre (pronounced more-ved). This fairly high Grigio try:
wife, Vicki, as Professor of Sports tannic wine is also high in alcohol. It is not often made Albarino. This crisp Spanish white is produced most
Sciences & Physical Education at as a single varietal. In Chile, however, it seems to thrive. notably in the Rias Baixas region of northwest Spain; it
both Queens College and Hofstra In France, and in particular the Rhone region, Mourvedre has razor sharp acidity and hints of peach and apricot. It’s a
University. He is a nationally is found as a blended grape in many red wines. Look for terrific accompaniment to a variety of light dishes, including
ranked senior tennis player and GSM wines or Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Look fish. While Albarino is now being produced in Australia and
long-time USPTA Elite Teaching for Paul Jaboulet Rhone wines or Australian producer California I would stick with any producer from the Rias
Professional. Ed has written many Charles Melton and the famous Nine Popes, his take on Baixas region. In particular, seek out Bodegas As Laxas,
educational and tennis articles in the past. Over the past Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These “Rhone Rangers” are famous Marques De Caceres and Martin Codax. All can be found
few years, Ed has turned his hobby of wine collecting for their blended wines. Jaboulet wines are mass produced, for under $20 a bottle, and often appear on wine lists for
into a way of continuing his passion for writing, and has easily found, and often pop up on wine lists. Nine Popes around $30-$40.
written on the subject for publications. As a self-proclaimed may take some hunting and sells for about $40. Torrontes is an Argentinean white wine grape that has
“wine snob,” he has collaborated on many wine lists for Montepulciano D’Abruzzo. This Italian red is made moderate acidity, a smooth mouth feel, and evokes that
private clubs and a few restaurants. Ed can be reached at from the Montepulciano grape and is produced in central same peach and apricot nose that you can find in Viognier,
wolfarthe@msn.com Italy. It is widely exported and is deeply colored and spicy. Gewürztraminer and Albarino. Alamos, Colome, Alta Vista
To many novice wine drinkers, a Chardonnay is a It is often included on wine menus and can also be found in and Trapiche seem to appear on wine menus most frequently,
Chardonnay; same thing for Cabernet and Merlot. For any wine shop at a reasonable price. It is made to be drunk and are all under $15 retail. Remember, on restaurant wine lists
white wines Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio young but can age. Often blended with Sangiovese, which is the prices will be approximately two-and-a-half times retail.
are the default choices. For reds it’s Cabernet, Merlot and the principal grape of Chianti and Brunello, Montepulciano And one last alternative to the “usual suspects”: any
Pinot Noir. Comfortable choices deliver expected results, is a wonderful accompaniment to hearty dishes and carries Italian white or red wine! Italy is making exceptional wines
even though as we know from previous writing all these a low price tag. at affordable prices. They are accessible, affordable and food-
wines are produced in various styles. In order to expand Malbec is more commonly used in Bordeaux blends friendly. Nero d’Avola, Dolcetto d’Alba, Godello, Arneis,
one’s wine knowledge and taste you need to sometimes but has become increasingly popular as a single varietal. Vermentino…I could go on. All one needs to do is take a leap
jump into the deep end of the pool. This leap of faith can Argentinean Malbec has been flooding the U.S. market of faith.
make you soar. Enough with the analogies; it’s only wine in recent years and has found a cult following. Malbec is When dining out I always check a restaurant’s wine
we’re talking about. Allow me to suggest three alternative often found on many wine lists, is inky and full-bodied, menu prior to visiting that establishment. A bit of research
reds and three alternative white wines that often appear on and carries an attractive price tag. Producers to look can go a long way to enjoying a meal and a glass of wine.
wine menus, and which are easily found at your local wine for are: Bodega Catena Zapata, Bodega Colome, and in Unfamiliar wines are often attractively priced to get diners to
merchant that you need to try. particular the more affordable and easily found Bodega try them. Sometimes the unexpected can lead to an exciting
Norton. Norton Reserve Malbec sells for less than $20 and wine discovery. So, try something different and your “grape
consistently scores in the 90s on most wine charts. expectations” will increase exponentially.

Dining Out from page 15 Entrana ($39). Regardless of its name it’s a marinated visited Argentina, Chile, or even Brazil. Many of the same
“prime” skirt steak bursting with flavor. This cut is a meats and fish run along the same borders. But what really
As for Hungry Al and Hungry D, it’s hard for us to long flat muscle with a thick grain and often mislabeled stands out is the effort Narbona places in its execution of
turn away any fresh Burrata ($24) appetizer. Narbona’s 4 as tough. But that all goes away if properly marinated and every dish. Ok...the fish was a little overdone. But that
oz. ball of cheesy delight from mozzarella and cream will quickly cooked on a very hot grill. Please order medium- can happen at any time, anywhere.
not disappoint. The texture, the richness, and the quality rare and experience total excellence. One bite and you’ll This Hungry Squad loved the environment, the energy,
of cheese is just begging to be scooped up with a slice of realize why it’s considered a superior cut of beef by most the European feel of something not American. You know
crunchy Italian bread. It’s accompanied by a quality slice chefs and grill masters. a good restaurant from others that outwardly express
of prosciutto, tomato confit and arugula. From the Dessert Counter: Are you full? I’ll make their views with laughter, satisfied gestures and moans
Straight From the Kitchen: At Norbona they do a this easy for you. Just ask for a couple of scoops of their of tasteful consumption. Everything we negatively judge:
great job successfully achieving a farm-to-table concept. homemade gelato ($10). You’ll have 24 flavors to choose prices, service, portion size and noise level seems to
I would attribute that to the fact that many of the same from (good luck). What I can promise you is, it’s probably evaporate when the food is Great!
quality ingredients utilized in the dishes are also offered the best you’ll find in Boca Raton. Maybe even Palm So, with that said we
up in their retail market counters. Beach County! have no choice but to give
Hungry C ordered their Pappardelle ($38), which is Check Please: I will assume many of you have never Norbona five golden glasses
a simple dish composed of wide pasta, wild mushrooms, been to a Uruguayan restaurant before, unless you have of Uruguayan wine as a toast
heavy cream and a bit of finishing truffle oil. Doesn’t made that journey to this South America country. When for finding their way North to
sound like much? One bite and you’ll be back next week it comes to its cuisine, it’s not much different than if you Boca Raton!
for more. I have had this dish many times before, but
usually without it reaching my expectations. This one
gets the pasta right, the seasoning right and the creamy
consistency right.
As for Hungry D2, she had to repeat another round of
Ahi Tuna ($38) from her last visit. This ample piece of fish
was first coated on both sides with white and black sesame
seeds, then seared lightly on the outside and bathed in a
shallow pool of citrus soy sauce. This delicious dish was
sided with very fresh grilled seasonal vegetables.
Hungry D, always predictable, easily selected the
Branzino ($39). She being a pescatarian, I can confidently
say she knows her “fish.” This preparation was kept
simple with a butterflied Branzino, grilled vegetables and
a rosemary twig to decorate. Sadly, the fish was slightly
overcooked, yielding a dry texture. Fortunately, the Grandpa Buys Cars
excellent waiter was able to accommodate with a lemon
butter sauce to smooth out her disappointment. Automotive Concierge and Estate Appraisals and Sales
Hungry Al, who limits his carnivore desires, wanted serving Boca Raton
a more Uruguayan selection and opted for Narbona’s
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