Darioush Winery Dinner at Michael Mina's Stripsteak in the Fontainebleau Hotel with Special Guest Khaledi

“Someone said drink the water, but I will drink the wine / Someone said take a poor man, the rich don’t have a dime / Go fool yourself, if you will, I just haven’t got the time / I’ll give you back your water, and I will take the wine.”

Frank Sinatra
The Voice

We have an incredible line-up of events for next week and I am even working on Saturday night this January!!   I don't mind when it is drinking wines with Darioush Khaledi the owner of one of our favorite Napa Valley wineries, Darioush. 

This is first event of the year with the Fontainebleau and we have an incredible week leading up to this tasting starting out the week with our Friends from Bodegas Numantia at Quality Meats on Collins in Miami Beach on Tuesday night.

Then, a double header on Wednesday night with a Bordeaux tasting at Café Maxx and Cakebread winery at Eduardo de San Angel.

Thursday night we have master sommelier Matt Lane at Café Maxx with Torbreck winery, one of the top estates from the Barossa Valley.

Friday it’s Chateau Latour back to 1961!!  What an incredible week of wines and then the coo de gra, our good friend Darioush Khaledi at one of the hottest new restaurants in Miami, Michael Mina’s Stripsteak in the Fountainebleau Hotel. 

Darioush Winery Dinner at Michael Mina's Stripsteak in the Fontainebleau Hotel with Special Guest Darioush Khaledi
Saturday, January 23, 2016
8:00 PM

 

The series continues Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Fontainebleau's newest dining destination, StripSteak by Michael Mina, with pairings from Napa, California winery, Darioush. Diners will enjoy a decadent five-course menu prepared by chef de cuisine Derrick Roberts, complemented by the renown winery.  The fee for this tasting is

 

HORS D’OEUVRES

 

SNAPPER CRUDO, BLOOD ORANGE, RADISH, SHISO
ROASTED BEET, HAZELNUT, DRIED CHERRY, GOAT CHEESE
HEIRLOOM TOMATO ARANCINI, BASIL

Darioush Viognier Napa 2014 
Price: $51.75       Sale $45.54          Case $528

Darioush Viognier beautifully expresses the eclectic and exotic character of this varietal. Grown in the cooler locales of the Oak Knoll appellation, with its dense early morning fog and afternoon breezes, enables this rare and finicky variety to ripen slowly yet completely, revealing layers of bright fruit, floral and tropical flavors which define fine Viognier.

 

The 2014 Signature Viognier is plush and vibrant, exhibiting an exotic and tropical flavor profile—guava, passion fruit and papaya blended with bright citrus and stone fruits. A tinge of acidity compliments the wines delicate creamy texture of crème brulee, and reveals hints of jasmine, orange blossom and clove.

Darioush Caravan Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2012
Price: $53.00       Sale $46.64          Case $541

Caravan shares the pedigree of Darioush’s Signature wines, but displays more ripe, saturated fruit with an elegantly textured finish. Caravan Cabernet Sauvignon is comprised of a unique blend with Merlot, Cabernet Franc or Malbec from our estate vineyards— lending more depth and complexity of flavor to the finished wine.

 

FIRST COURSE

CHILLED POACHED LOBSTER, BUTTER LETTUCE,  HEIRLOOM TOMATO
AVOCADO, WILSON FARMS BACON

Darioush Chardonnay Signature Napa 2013
Price: 56.25         Sale $49.50          Case $574

A gentle and idyllic growing season yielded a Chardonnay that eloquently expresses a beautiful balance of fruit, ripeness and refreshing acidity. Vivid and aromatic notes of nectarine, green apple and citrus blossom lead to sleek and refined flavors of stone fruit and guava with a mineral quality in the lingering finish.

 

SECOND COURSE

 

PAN ROASTED LI DUCK BREAST, CELERY ROOT, BRAISED CELERY
LOLLIPOP KALE, CRUSHED POTATO, HUCKLEBERRY JUS

Darioush Cabernet Franc Signature Napa 2012
Price: $67.50       Sale $59.40          Case $689

There is 5% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend here and this wine spends 22 months in 70% new French Oak from the Darioush estate vineyards in Napa Valley, Oak Knoll and on Mount Veeder.  A good amount of black pepper and tobacco spice to the blackberry and blueberry fruit, cedar and bitter coco notes to the nose.  This wine is massive as Cabernet Franc is with a ton of tannins and although there is an abundance of ripe fruit, this wine still needs a steak or a decade in the bottle, a little monster with lots of sweet fruit.  Finish 50+                Most Excellent

 

THIRD COURSE

WOOD GRILLED WAGYU SKIRT STEAK, BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUREE
ROASTED PARSNIP, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, BORDELAISE

Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Signature Napa 2008
NA

A good bit of bitter coco on the nose, espresso dark earth and black currant berry fruit.  Still a bit tannic on the tongue with nice ripe fruit, nice richness but still needs time but starting to show nicely.  Finish 40+   Excellent +

 

Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Signature Napa 2012
Price: $110.25    Sale $97.02          Case $1125

A smaller version of the Darious II this wine is a much larger production at just under 10,000 cases and the blend is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec.  A Good amount of dark cherry and currant berry fruit,toasty oak spice, toffee, coffee and more as the wine opens up.  This wine has a lovely richness to the palate with ripe round tannins, very drinkable for such a young wine but has excellent structure and a long layered finish, fruity but still balanced and fresh at the end.  finish 45+             Most Excellent

 

DESSERT

SPICED PINEAPPLE, RUM INFUSED SAVARIN
VANILLA-CARDAMOM CREMEUX

Darioush Late Harvest Shahpar

Produced only when nature deems it so, Shahpar is a rarity by definition. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes are harvested late, well into the cool winter months, their fortitude lends deep character, grace and poise. So suited to share its name with Darioush's wife, Shahpar.

 

For Tickets to this event:

https://www.nightpass.co/e/np/0QDRKKESx3

 
A bit about Darioush Winery:

Darioush Khaledi grew up in Shiraz, one of Iran's prominent wine-growing regions. His father was a hobbyist winemaker and as a young boy, Khaledi used to sneak sips from the barrel; as a young adult he became a devoted collector of fine wines.

"The opening of the new winery and visitor center is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting moments in my life. Ever since I was a young man, when I began my passion for great wine, I dreamt of this day."

Trained as a civil engineer and with a career in construction, Darioush left Iran in the late 1970's and emigrated to Southern California where he was faced with the challenge of rebuilding his life. Darioush and his brother-in-law pooled their resources and purchased a failing grocery store in the city of Los Angeles. Now thirty years later, together they operate one of the most successful independently owned grocery businesses in the United States, which alone employs over 1500 people.

As the success of his grocery business grew, his passion for fine wine transformed from collector to producer. No longer was Darioush interested solely in collecting the world's finest wines he was driven to create hand-crafted wines with the highest quality standards.

Darioush sought out one of the most talented winemakers in Napa Valley, Steve Devitt.  Steve was working next door at Signorello Winery so he know the area like the back of his hand and today Steve is both the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager of Darioush.

Steve manages all winemaking and viticulture activities at Darioush. His understanding of microclimates, the local soils and the wines they produce enable him to create Estate wines that best express the character of each individual vineyard.  As a winegrower, he believes that the best winemaking begins in the vineyards.  Steve personally manages the Estate's extensive new vineyard developments and all aspects of the Estate's wine production.

Focused to the limited production of red Bordeaux varietals and small lots of Chardonnay, Viognier, and Shiraz, Darioush employs minimal intervention or 'ancien' winemaking techniques. The Darioush Estate is committed to hand harvesting and handsorting each grape cluster prior to crushing. This is a meticulous and labor-intensive method, but it ensures that only the finest, fully matured grapes are used in our Darioush wines. This approach includes small lot whole cluster pressing, destemming, cold soaking, extended maceration, barrel-to-barrel racking and bottling without filtration.

This minimalist approach preserves and expresses the true varietal character of Darioush Signature wines. The main focus at Darioush is to grow a classic red Bordeaux blend that displays the finest qualities of the Estate's unique soils and microclimate.

Darioush welcomes guests to its new visitor center and winery beginning August 16, 2004.  The new architectural building comes after five years in the making, and combines materials, castings, and furnishings from distant lands and exotic locations. The 22,000 square foot winery, the first in America to combine architecture, design and Persian culture, provides a unique and exhilarating experience in California’s most renowned wine destination. Reminiscent of the great noble architecture that once existed, the imagery of the Darioush building evokes Persepolis, the illustrious capital of ancient Persia.

The Khaledi's Persian heritage is the inspiration and vision for the winery, designed by architects Ardeshir and Roshan Nozari, incorporating clean, contemporary lines with historical references to Persia’s ancient capital city. One of the most important aspects of the Persian culture is hospitality, and the winery is designed to create a welcoming, enjoyable as well as a rich and intriguing environment for guests. Visitors will receive unparalleled service and a sensational experience.

“The juxtaposition of modern clean lines and historical references represent the philosophy of our office,” states Ardeshir Nozari, who incorporated many intriguing architectural elements throughout the building. Among the design features of interest are the 16 monumental 18’ freestanding columns with capital bulls, which act as stone trees at the entrance of the winery, elevating visitor expectations. Richly textured travertine-stone cladding surrounds the entire building. This yellow stone was quarried near the region of Persepolis and exported to Turkey and Italy for cutting and tumbling before it reached the Silverado Trail in Napa. Additional design features include pre-cast moldings, furniture, fireplaces, ironwork, lighting, cellars, and an amphitheatre for performances and events.

The Visitor Center boasts a state of the art facility offering a unique one-on-one experience to taste the complete line of signature wines with options for indoor and outdoor seating. Six outdoor water features with fountains and one indoor rolling wall of water comprise some of the sights and sounds of the guest experience. Lush and varied landscaping creates a sequence of continuous gardens, which lead the visitors to the winery.

Darioush is the culmination of the worldwide search for the ultimate vineyard estate. The Darioush Estate's ninety-five acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Viognier. Darioush is the culmination of this search. Inspired by the complexity and style of Bordeaux’s cooler-climate wines, Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon exemplifies how meticulous farming in southern Napa Valley’s fog-influenced districts and hillsides results in powerful, personality-driven Cabernet Sauvignons with extraordinary character, depth and poise.

Darioush's cooler climate, southern Napa Valley vineyards produce wines with extraordinary depth and character. Now in their 15th vintage, these mature estate vines are producing fruit with splendid concentration and balance.

 

Other wines available from Darioush Winery:

2011 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Napa MAGNUM
Price: $209.25    Sale $184.14
Quantity in Stock: 4

(91 Points) Initially hard-edged, with herb, dill and cedar notes joining the dark berry, espresso and cigar box flavors. Broad-shouldered, yet with a measure of grace and finesse, ending clean, pure and focused. Drink now through 2024. 7,811 cases made. –JL Wine Spectator Issue: Oct 15, 2014

2012 Darioush Darius II Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
Price: $263.25    Sale $231.66      
Quantity in Stock: 4

The Crown Jewel of the Darioush estate, Darius II captures the diverse and exquisite beauty within each vintage. With an uncompromising commitment to crafting a wine with complexity, composure and refi nement, Darius II is the hallmark of the Darioush style.

The 2012 vintage was exceptionally consistent and warm, enabling higher-elevation, maritime-influenced vineyards such as our Mount Veeder estate to fully express their utmost in complexity, power and seamlessness. At 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2012 Darius II exhibits brilliant varietal aromatics of wild blueberry, black cherry and ground espresso, offering up dense and persistent layers of saturated dark fruits with savory notes of sage, bitter cocoa and anise. A cellar-worthy treasure.

Derived from a 14th C. AD painted tile, the art adorning 2012 Darius II highlights the evolution of ancient decorative art and architecture. Its infinite shapes and lively color are reminiscent of the ornament of the First Persian Empire, where elaborate palaces throughout the city of Persepolis were decorated in prominent blues, reds, blacks and yellows on glazed tiles. The pyramidal pattern pays further homage to the grand Ziggurats of the 3rd millennium BC, which housed intricate temples for kings and deities. Over the passage of time these design elements flourished, influencing great works from the geometric limestone tomb of Cyrus the Great to Moorish architecture of the Alhambra. Exuding vibrancy and texture, this work fittingly represents 2012 Darius II, a wine deeply rooted in both culture and craft..

2012 Darioush Cabernet Franc Napa
Price: $67.50       Sale $59.40
Quantity in Stock: 2

A powerful wine from a classic vintage, this Cabernet Franc leads with notes of blueberry and plum joined by spiced notes of garam masala, black tea and pencil lead. Concentrated blackberry flavors dominate a firm and muscular palate, revealing the wines mountain-grown roots.

Darioush Cabernet Franc gains additional varietal complexity and sophistication in the glass, finishing with a profile of bittersweet cocoa, cedar and mocha. This vintage truly demonstrates the remarkable varietal potential of Cabernet Franc.

90% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Aged 22 months in 70% new French oak
Appellation:  Darioush Estate Vineyards in Napa Valley, Oak Knoll and Mount Veeder
Availability - 1416 cases

2012 Darioush Merlot Napa
Price: $69.75       Sale $61.38

Rated 92 | Wine Spectator Magazine "Impressive for the plush texture and complex, well-focused structure. Aromas of red currant, mocha and spice combine with rich flavors of black cherry, orange zest and bay leaf. Ripe tannins firm up the finish. –TF" (09/2015)

The wine is packed with juicy dark fruit and aromatic notes of chai tea, cinnamon, fennel and bittersweet cocoa. The broad and generous palate features sweet black plum, dried blueberry, anise and intriguing woodsy notes of fresh tobacco, smoke and spice. A rather atypical Merlot showcasing impressive concentration, structure and persistence of flavors. Ages gracefully for a decade.

90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Aged 20 months in 75% new French and Hungarian François Frères French oak barrels
Appellation:  Darioush Estate Vineyard in Napa Valley, Oak Knoll and Mount Veeder
Availability - 2,540 cases

2012 Darioush Shiraz Napa
Price: $87.75       Sale $77.2

Crafted to balance the fruit complexity, structure and age-worthiness of this ancient varietal, Darioush Signature Shiraz continues to demonstrate the remarkable potential of our cool vineyard site in Southern Napa Valley.

 

What I Drank Yesterday:  Anne Parent Tasting

The Parent family has been in the wine business since the 17th century.  They can trace their roots back to Etienne Parent, who in 1787 became Thomas Jefferson's wine advisor for Burgundy.  Anne and Catherine are the 6th generation and their brother Francois is working with his wife at their Domaine Anne Francoise Gros. Like most families of Burgundy Francois was supposed to take over the family business but he got a better offer and decided to move north to the Cotes De Nuits with his new wife.  Anne got some money and bought some vineyards but her brother did not want to take over, so it was devastating the only son would not take over he took some money and vineyards and left.  Anne and her sister decided to take over the business in 1998.  The two sisters took the ball and ran with it. 

Domaine parent has 2/3 of their vineyards based in Pommard but they have holdings in 40 different appellations and have been certified organic since 2013.  Everything is done by hand here; picking, strict sorting,  three different selections along with vibrating sorting tables to get out dried grapes, leaves, spiders, etc.  They usually destemmed but sometimes they do use the stems, only when they are well matured.  Anne says you have to adapt according to the vintage with 2002, 2005 and 2010 being near perfect vintages.  This region has seen hard times recently as over the last 5 vintages they lost 50% of their crop in Pommard!  

All of the village level the wines are aged for 12 months in barrel, the premier cru wines are aged for 18 months and the grand cru could be even longer depending on the vintage.  They are all blended in stainless tanks and left for a year before bottling.  They use all French oak barrels some wines get 100% new barrels and they are medium and medium + toast levels.  Both the alcohol and Malolactic fermentation happen in barrel. 

In a good vintage 65,000 bottles can be produced at the Domaine.  They do but some grapes from other family members they also buy must from family friends for the entry level wines Bourgogne chardonnay and Bourgogne Pinot Noir.  The last 6 years have been very bad in terms of yields in Burgundy and Pommard has been one of the worst hit appellations, they had 3000 acres destroyed in 2013 alone!  Overall in Burgundy producers like Domaine Parent have lost the equivalent of 2 harvests the last 6 years.  They do have insurance for these losses but they only pay for the cost of the grapes not the money they would have made of the sale of the wines.

Domaine Parent makes wines from 40 different appellations and we brought back a number of these to Wine Watch in South Florida and the Les Argillieres, was among our favorite Premier Crus, this wine is very long and precise, a bit shy but has wonderful balance and length.  A lot of clay here thus the name of the premier cru.  Anne describes this wine as having finesse at the beginning, comparing it to an Aston Martin or a golf player. 

Anne likes to compare grapes to cars as she commented on the last two releases: “you can't turn a VW into a Porsche, so comparing vintages like 2012 to 2013 can be like comparing these two vehicles.  The 2013 whites are amazing nice tension and acidity with long and fresh finish while the 2012’s are fatter and more voluptuous, needing more time in the cellar.”

Anne Parent Pommard 2010
Price: $67.50

Perfumed violets plum and cherry fruit A big and somewhat rustic has some tannins big and chewy this wine needs time.  Tannins still a bit rough around the edges but has lots of fruit.  Excellent

Domaine Parent Beaune Les Epenottes 1er Cru 2010
Price: $67.50

More of a gravelly crushed rock like minerality, silly smooth raspberry cherry fruit, pretty exotic spice and good structure here wow. The wine has more pop and minerality.  Excellent+

Anne Parent Pommard 1er Cru Chanlins 2013
Price: $96.00

Red hots cinnamon spice, pretty floral notes very forward and seductive but has excellent structure.  Excellent +

Anne Parent Pomnard 1er Cru Chanlins 2010
Price: $93

A similar nose but a bit lighter raspberry truffle earthy notes very complex a bit more chalky tannins but similar.  Excellent +

Anne Parent Pommard 1er Cru Les Argilliers 2013
Price: $96.00

Has a bit of earthy minty a bit of a vegetal note mustard seed spice wow a very sexy wine with silky velvety tannins.  Excellent +

Anne Parent Pommard  1er Cru Les Argilliers 2010
Price: $93.00

Still a bit tightly wound but gas that exotic spice.  Very big but still quite elegant but needs time.  Most Excellent

Anne Parent Pommard Chaponnieres 1er Cru 2013
Price: $112.50

Brown spices very exotic with a big and bold fruit very spiced with a long layered finish very spiced with a long finish lots of minerality.  Excellent

Anne Parent Pommard Chaponnieres 1er Cru 2010
Price: $100.50

A bigger version of the 2013 very exotic and layered.   Fine tannins very elegant nice structure big but elegant.   Most Excellent

Anne Parent Corton Renards Grand Cru 2013
Price: $162.00

A big and chewy wine with a smooth velvety texture lots of structure.  Big but still elegant exotic spices.  Cranberry fruit tart cherry very firm structure and a lot of exotic spice and a long mineral laced finish.  Wild strawberry, fresh flowers and more very exotic long finish.  Most Excellent