Sommelier
Pick
Sommeliers are some of
our favorite people. The good ones can make
a good meal great. The great ones can open
your eyes to wine choices that you didn't
even know existed. They awe us with their
dedication; they inspire us with their imagination.
In each issue, the Wine Skinny will spotlight
one Sommelier who we think is doing a tremendous
job.
We
recently touched base with Paula Costa,
sommelier at Miami's Novecento, to check
in on the wine list and the new "Malbec
Room" that features more than 20
wines by the glass, including a slew of
Malbecs. Here's the skinny from Paula:
90
26
64
$26 Postales, Fin del Mundo, Merlot
$155 Achaval Ferrer Finca Altamira, Malbec
$40
5%
95% (wines of the world)
Mendoza makes up 60% of
the list
I love the
Picada Criolla (Tasting platter of grilled
skirt steak, chicken, chorizo, sweet bread,
beef empanada, chimichurri sauce) with one
of our nice Malbecs with a fruity and robust
body.
Everyone loves the Reserva Especial de Bodegas
del Fin del Mundo and the favorite Vineyard
is Achaval Ferrer.
Some of the great wines
of Argentina, whose ancestors respected
the land, and have learned to express them
through the wine, are ENDLESS! But for example
Achaval Ferrer with their single vineyard,
Roberto de la Mota with his elegant Mendel
Unus 2004, Hector and Pablo with the wine
that carries their name are just a few of
my favorites.
My favorite
wine by the glass at the moment is Diego
Reserva Syrah de Catamarca. I would say
the best wine for the best price without
a doubt. Equally we always offer a large
selection of wine by the glass at our Malbec
Room for those who want to explore more
about the world of Argentine Wine.
Most definitely overlooked regions would
be Malbec and Mendoza. There are so many
incredible things in my country that do
not get the credit they deserve. From the
Patagonia with their ancient vineyards in
Rio Negro that produce unique wines, the
freshness and elegance makes them incomparable.
From the rustic wine of Salta, in the north
tip of Argentina, wines that are opulent
and earthy, yet stable. La Bonarda is a
grape that is developing in a particular
way in Argentina and slowly making a name
in the market.
Argentine wine is always a smart
buy, and there is always a wide selection
of affordable bottles. I recommend the Kaiken
Malbec de Aurelio Montes (which also produce
an "ultra" Reserve line) and the
Cabernet Sauvignon de Bodega Tapiz is another
wine that is delicious and affordable.
I would like people
to understand that wine is not only the
grape, but also the land where it's grown
and how it is handled.
The last wine I opened was
a blend that was sent to me from Argentina,
"Preludio" - I had tasted the
2003 and it became one of my favorites.
Recently they sent me the 2004, it is the
vineyards' top wine, which has not been
placed in the market, and it is spectacular
and will be very affordable. In this 2004
you can taste the quality of grape that
they used and how delicately it was handled.
From Argentina I am trying
to find the Tradío de Lagarde that
to me is one of the best that Argentina
produces, "Henry" is somewhat
like a Muscat, with a small percentage of
Viognier, a varietal that the vineyard produces
very well. Rutini is also very interesting
to me, which is not expensive and is very
different. The vineyard Etchart has a late
Torrontes with a grand personality, great
taste, and very good price.
I
plan to launch a new wine list with more
of a selection of wine by the glass that
will demonstrate the different regions of
Argentina.
Novecento
1414 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
tel: 305-403-0900
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MOST
UNJUSTLY OVERLOOKED WINE/WINE REGION: