Omaka Springs and Kaiken: Our new Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec!
So, we’re not just beer and sake lovers, but we know we have an obligation to our wine loving crowd as well. These are the first additions to our wine list. We’ve been solicited by so many wine distributors and manufacturers, but almost every time, we’re met with a lackluster tasting, and nothing of significant impression.
This time around was a bit different. Fred, one of our newest wine reps is actually a Level 3 sommelier, so we took his advice, and tried what he pulled out of his little travel tote bag. The standouts amongst the contenders were the Omaka Estates Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and the Kaiken Malbec from Argentina.
The Omaka was an unexpected white. A little fuller than what we’d expect a sauv blanc to be, but thats part of the beauty of it. Easy to drink, but with a bit of complexity which makes each sip that much more enjoyable. This wine is actually not 100% sauv banc, but blended with 6.2% Semillon which is a relatively new grape varietal in the New Zealand wine region, but has long been used by California winemakers to blend into the sauv blancs. Yum!
Onto the Kaiken Malbec, which is an amazingly drinkable yet velvety wine. Strong blackberry notes and not too much acidity. This pairs so well with shabu. We felt very strongly that we should be trying to introduce new and unconventional wines to pair with shabu dining. Wine is such a compliment to food, and can truly elevate the dining experience. Asian food however, are so often overlooked for wine pairings. The Kaiken with the beef, simply delivers!
