Waygu Beef and Mendoza Cab Franc at Entourage Lunch
After watching grandson Miles play youth basketball, we diner for Saturday lunch at Entourage Restaurant DG (Downers Grove, IL), which is fast becoming our favorite local restaurant.
With somewhat limited seating, and growing popularity, it’s becoming a tough seat for dinner so mid-afternoon is a smart time to visit Entourage for easier access seating, such as was the case today, in the dining room and at the bar.
I ordered from the Day’s Specials menu the Waygu Beef Stroganoff. Like their Signature Waygu meatloaf entree, this could easily become my favorite go-to dish - delicious in all respects.
PS note - we dined there again the following Saturday and this was no longer offered, but we were told it was hugely popular and got rave reviews, such that they were considering bringing it back, if not for an encore, perhaps as a permanent feature.
For my Waygu Beef, I ordered from the WBTG selections this Bordeaux varietal Cabernet Franc from Argentina.
This is from the prolific producer Achaval Ferrar, considered one of the finest wineries of Argentina. They have established an international reputation for Bordeaux-style reds, which include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and this Cabernet Franc.
This is from the Mendoza province of Argentina, by far the largest and best-known winemaking province, it is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. It lies in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains where the climate is dry and continental, which has proven ideal for viticulture.
This 100% Cabernet Franc comes from high-altitude vineyards in Tupungato, which offer excellent sun exposure and cool mountain breezes. These attributes allow the grapes to ripen under ideal conditions.
Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, which has emerged as the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
While Mendoza is known primarily for Malbec, the most widely grown grape varietal, but all the Bordeaux varietals are commonly grown here. The Bordelaise varietals were brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, where they found success due to the ideal climate and consistent growing seasons. Besides Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc as well as Syrah and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here.
While Mendoza is known primarily for Malbec, the most widely grown grape varietal, but all the Bordeaux varietals are commonly grown here. The Bordelaise varietals were brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, where they found success due to the ideal climate and consistent growing seasons. Besides Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc as well as Syrah and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here.
Cabernet Franc has found the height of Valle de Uco as an ideal place to develop fully. The great exposure to the sun and the cold mountain breeze give it harmony and structure, resulting in a wine with a wide range of aromas and flavors. It delivers herbal and spicy notes, from black fruits to the freshness of tomato leaves and rosemary, with a strong presence of peppers and menthols.
This 100% Cabernet Franc comes from high-altitude vineyards in Tupungato, which offer excellent sun exposure and cool mountain breezes. These attributes allow the grapes to ripen under ideal conditions.
This was aged for 13 months in new French oak barrels.
It was awarded 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast and 90 points by James Suckling
This was a nice complement to the Waygu Beef and mushrooms and a nice value, available BTG - By The Glass.
Dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, rich, dense, savory ripe black berry fruits with accents of tobacco leaf, cassis and spices with approachable moderate tannins on the finish.
RM 90 points.
https://entouragerestaurant.com/downers-grove/
