South Florida Lifestyle Guide - Holiday Gift Guide Volume III Wellness, Balance & Peace | Page 36

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Loveblock Pinot Noir by Kim Crawford (Sustainable, Organic, Biodynamic)

Using not only the holistic approaches of Biodynamic, Loveblock has achieved accreditations in both the New Zealand Organic Certification standards and Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand. Within the Loveblock acreage, the vineyards are viewed as a whole, with each canopy and hectare linking itself to the other. Ensuring a biodynamic and sustainable practice means maintaining an intimate relationship with the land, and as a result, the raw and naked “terroir” shows through fully and honestly in each and every one of the Loveblock wines. The 2012 Pinot Noir, produced in the “Someone’s Darling’ vineyard located above the snow capped mountains of Central Otago, showcases the result of rising above the hustle and bustle of an active valley floor and planting in the sky, where unique terroir and cool, calm climate merge together to produce spectacular, premium Pinot Noir. Pair this lovely Pinot with cream and mushroom based sauces accompanied by chicken, lamp or pork. The earthy mushroom notes will complement a tangy mushroom dish, resulting in a harmonious and ethereal experience.

Faust by Quintessa (Organic)

The organic little sister of Quintessa, this wine boasts Napa power, Rutherford elegance and approachability in youth. One of my favorite domestic wines for its affordability and quality. Some fruit is purchased for this label but everything is done on Quintessa’s Estate, which boasts one of the most modern wineries in the USA. Cabernet dominant and harvested only from selected plots in Coombsville, Rutherford, Atlas Peak, Yountville, and Mount Veeder. This is an awesome stand-alone wine, with great consistency year after year. Pairs with full flavored foods such as beef, lamb and risotto, seasoned with mint, basil, garlic, parsley, goat cheese, even unsweetened chocolate would complement nicely. Avoid too much heat, as it will clash with Faust’s medium-plus alcohol levels.

Pinord ‘Clos de Mas’ Priorat (Organic)

Priorat is known for low yields and high alcohol, due to its harsh terrain and the Garnacha varietal; which offers one of its best expressions here. An organic wine with a very affordable price, Clos de Mas offers a juicy expression of the Priorat style with an in-control alcohol level. I love how this wine has an almost dried fruit aspect to it while remaining so plush and juicy. A great wine for the Napa Cab drinker to cross over into the old-world style. An awesome value as well; buy a case from a great season and sit on it for a year or two. Pairs with medium bodied dishes with flavor and seasoning. Try it with pork chops, lamb rack or smoked duck with a red wine reduction sauce.

Our sommeliers this month are the dynamic duo from The Dutch at the W South Beach, Phil Fuentes and Nicole Linares. When we sat down with The Dutch's resident wine experts we spoke at length about sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines and the numerous choices offered on the The Dutch's wine list; not because it's trending or the cutting edge thing to do but because the wines are quality wines without compromise, appealing to consumers seeking wines in various styles and price ranges. These wines of pedigree didn't just happen onto the wine list at The Dutch but rather by tasting due diligence by the somm-team of Fuentes and Linares. Both Fuentes and Linares have marked time studying, understanding, tasting and working with wine; they both have made wine and all of its nuances their professional lifes' goal; which in turn makes any wine list they cultivate pretty dynamic.

Phil Fuentes C.S. Holds two Sommelier certifications along with a decade of restaurant experience as well as firsthand experience in the vineyards of California and has explored the wine markets in China, Canada and France. Phil currently manages the beverage program at The Dutch Miami in the W hotel.