Cadence Kitchen DG for great food-wine in trendy casual setting
For a casual midweek dinner we dined at Cadence Kitchen in nearby downtown Downers Grove, (IL). Our kids have been there and gave it high marks so we wanted to check it out. Cadence sits in a delightful park like promenade setting in the block-long condo building immediately opposite the DG Metra train stop.
Cadence Kitchen is bustling with commuters, local foodies and casual diners and offers a well thought out menu of small plates, sandwiches, salads, sides and 'mains' with a respectable appropriate wine list that also includes WBTG - Wines By The Glass, for each food selection. Its trendy bright and airy with sections by the fireplaces that can be cozy and warm.
We started with their signature Crab Beignets, old bay, jumbo lump crab, and for a main course, the Red Wine Braised Short Rib with smoked gouda polenta and roasted root vegetables. We also ordered a side of their creamed spinach. All were delicious and ideally accentuated by our WBTG accompaniments.
While the wine list was limited, it offers an appropriate selection of varietals, regions and price points. The full bottles tended to be 'restaurant' pricing (2+ times retail price), but the lower more value priced WBTG were carefully selected so as to provide great QPR - Quality Price Ratio offerings.
Indeed, my red wine Santa Julia Reserva Malbec from Argentina was a fabulous pairing with the Short Rib entree at a great value, such that if I could find it a local merchant I would run out and buy several bottles for every day casual sipping.
Linda's selection of the Alsatian Pinot Blanc was an ideal pairing with the Crab and the spinach. I write often in these pages about the merit and importance of effectively pairing the right wine with food thereby amplifying the enjoyment of both.
Santa Julia Reserva Valle de Uco Mendoza Malbec 2019
Santa Julia Reserva Malbec 2019 is from Santa Julia estate vineyards in
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, Argentina. Valle de Uco is a viticultural region southwest
of Mendoza, in Argentina situated along the Tunuyán River and is considered one of the top wine regions in Mendoza, and
all of Argentina.
Their vineyards sit at 1000 to 1400
meters above sea level with deep sandy loam soils and a cool temperate
micro-climate, and in stony soils on the banks of the Tunuyan river.
The combination of cool climate, heterogeneous soils, and altitudes as high as 1400 meters above sea level, and a rich tradition of grape cultivation, make this region a unique and ideal place with distinguishable terroir for producing wines born at the foot of the Andes Mountains.
The ideal climate and altitude, along with great sun
exposure and low temperatures allowing for ideal long growing season produces grapes with that introduce great concentration of flavor, freshness and marked
texture in the
wines.
“Who is Santa Julia?” This is one of the very first wines made by the Zuccardi family is named after Julia Zuccardi. Julia is the only daughter of José
Zuccardi, current director of Familia Zuccardi. The family has been making wines since her grandfather planted his first vineyards in Mendoza more than 50 years ago. Ever since, Zuccardi have strived to
produce wines that express the uniqueness of their place in the region using practices that show respect
for the environment.
Santa Julia Malbec Reserva 2019 was aged in older French Oak barrels
over 3 periods of 10 months before final blend.
This Santa Julia Malbec Reserva 2019 was rated 93 by James Suckling, 90 by Wine Advocate and Vinous gave it 89 points.
Winemaker's notes: "Dark violet and
brilliant purple color. Good complexity in the nose with typical Malbec
aromas of ripe fruits such as figs, plums, blackberries and marmaledes.
Notes of vanilla, tobacco, coffee and chocolate. Full bodied red wine
with sweet tannins, good structure and a long finish." Some complexity in a very approachable style, with bright fruit and a
tender texture. 800,000 bottles produced.
Dark garnet inky purple colored, medium-to full-bodied, bright expressive plum and red currant fruits with a notes of floral on a layer of moderate chalk and sprites of tangy spice and hints of oak with fine tannins on the moderate lingering finish.
RM 90 points.
@SantaJuliaARG
Dopff & Irion La cuvée Rene Dopff Alsace Pinot Blanc
A perfect pairing with the Crab Biegnet was this 100% Pinot Blanc from the historic Alsace region in eastern France near the German border. The producer, the Dopff and Irion families and their estate vineyards can be traced back to the 16th century. The vineyard and Chateau de Riquewihr were constructed in 1549 and were originally owned by the Princes of Wurtemberg, who ruled over the city and its region for five centuries. Today, the village of Riquewihr is dubbed “the pearl of Alsace”.
Dopff & Irion cultivate 140 acres of vines at Riquewihr, which is a
large estate relative to the fragmented structure of the vineyards in Alsace with some 60% of producers farming less than one hectare (2.5 acres).
The
area around Riquewihr benefits from natural conditions ideally suited for wine grape vines with climate that allows perfectly to
slow ripening of the grapes. The
diversity of the geological formations makes Alsace one of the
most complex wine growing regions in the world. The Vosges mountains to the west minimize
the oceanic influence while the famous Schoenenbourg ridge to the north offers protection from the cold north winds.
Riquewihr’s vineyards
sit on one of the principal geological fractures in Alsace. A broad
diversity of soils and subsoils (marl, limestone, gypsum, clay, sandstone) allows for multiple expressions of terroir for producing wines. The
experience gained over generations of winegrowers with the vines has resulted in optimally matching the best possible grape variety to the site and its terroir - that expression of place - soil, climate, topology - all elements that manifest in the wine.
The result is that Château de Riquewihr produces five A.O.C.
Alsace wines, each one made from a specific grape variety sourced from grapes best suited to represent their site of origin.
René Dopff took over Dopff & Irion in 1945. He broke away from the traditional winemaking techniques and turned his focus to the
terroir rather than to the grape variety. He divided the vineyard at Château de Riquewihr into four estates, which he
re-christened with typically French names: Les Murailles, Les Sorcières,
Les Maquisards and Les Amandiers.
He simplified the branding with clearer labeling,
abandoning gothic lettering in favor of simpler more contemporary script. He produced wines, made solely from the four noble grape varieties of Alsace, expressing the
terroir that was the soul of the estate with each estate was dedicated to one particular variety.
René Dopff then promoted his
wines to the best tables in France and beyond, gaining representation at the Palais de l’Elysée, the French President’s residence, and
for the launch of the luxury liner, “France”.
The Dopff & Irion brand has grown and continues to build on its legacy and historic traditions producing wines from the vines that best exemplify the region.
Cuvée René Dopff is produced
with the grapes sourced from 200 selected vine-growers and is comprised of 100% Pinot Blanc varietal grape.
This was pale yellow-gold colored, light medium bodied, round, soft, nicely balanced with fresh
notes of fruity citrus, pear, hints of pineapple and white pepper with a moderate spicy acidic finish.
RM 88 points
