What are you dreaming of for dinner? This is the time of year to gather around the table and savor classic dishes – exceptional ingredients, beautifully prepared, warm and nourishing. Chef Zack Kasmar and Sommelier Lorenzo Rocci of Pelican Grill have compiled three sublime pairings that you can enjoy again and again until the chill is chased from the air by the warm summer sun.
1. Citrus Rosemary Half Chicken and Scarbolo Ramato, Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy
Butternut Squash | Castelvetrano Olive | Coriander Chickpea | Feta | Pickled Tangerine
A true expression of Pelican Hill. This dish combines California winter citrus and rosemary, which grows wild all over the Resort, with the highest quality Jidori chicken for layers of Mediterranean-inspired flavor. Paired with an exceptional Pinot Grigio, this dish is deeply satisfying.
Pairing Notes:
A delicious 100% Pinot Grigio, Scarbolo is a boutique family winery established in 1982. Il Ramato, or “coppery” style, is macerated briefly on its skins at the start of its fermentation, showcasing the rich, layered texture the variety is capable of. Thanks to the bright acidity and light minerality, this wine balances the Citrus Rosemary half chicken perfectly.
2. Osso Buco and Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Creme Fraiche Potato Puree | Black Garlic Gremolata
Reminiscent of winter, this dish is like a home-cooked meal at your Italian grandmother’s house. Osso buco is a classic cold-weather dish with bold, fatty elements that require a full-bodied wine to stand up to and balance it.
Pairing Notes:
As one of Napa Valley’s pioneering wineries, Trefethen Family Vineyards crafts distinctive estate-grown wines that express the spirit of the land, vines, and people. This wine opens with ripe red fruit and black pepper, followed by notes of anise, dried flowers, currants, and blackberries. Thanks to polished tannins and a lengthy finish, this wine is an amazing match for this classic Italian dish.
3. Colorado Rack of Lamb and Soliste Narcisse Pinot Noir 2018, Sonoma Coast
Rosemary Smoked | Creme Fraiche Whipped Potato | Confit Fig
Celebrating the best domestic lamb from Colorado, this dish does not have heavy sauces and is prepared in a very “simplistic” way to let the lamb speak for itself. The same approach was given to this wonderful small-production Pinot Noir that has an earthy aromatic bouquet emanating from the glass with scents of caramelized red cherries, raspberries, and peppery plums.
Pairing Notes:
Soliste Pinot Noir is a match made in heaven with this dish with an elegant, yet concentrated mouthful of raspberry and red cherry compote spiked with exotic spices, Kirsch, and earthy undertones. A unique feature on the Pelican Grill wine list, Soliste is available exclusively for the restaurant market to be savored during a fine dining experience. This pairing creates a wonderful orchestra of flavors that you will be dreaming of until your next visit.
