Dinner @ Area 34, The Epic, Miami with Roberta & David Ehrenreich

We chose to bring 1 White, and 2 Pinots, due to Ellen's red preference, to the piscine oriented recently openedArea 34.
We had 3 glasses each, so we were able to compare the wines.

• 2001 Kongsgaard Chardonnay 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  David & Roberta's white. Perfect temp, approx 55F. Excellent balance of acidity and minerality with the depth of age. Very good on its own, better with the food, an excelllent fritto misto delicately fried, and the disappointing dry Red Drum. To me the WOTN, re bouquet, complexity, and finish. Nanda's notes of 10/16/08 are spot on!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1998 Louis Latour Bonnes Mares 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  David & Roberta's Grand Cru red, that no one at CT or professionally seems to know. David decanted for an hour before travelling. Even then it was reticent at first., but gained aromastically through our 3 hour dinner. Very good, but didn't show secondary development, or delicacy. A mid weight burg that seemd to grow throughout the meal.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Windsor Gardens Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  The more aromatic, complex, and richer vs the 98 Louis Latour Bonnes Mares. Based on recent experience only double decanted in am to preserve the initial bouquet. Continues to drink very well, just shy of exceptional. Has yet to develop fully its secondary flavors, and is unlikely to have tertiarty development.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

To me the Kongsgaard Chardonnay was exceptional, and truly the WOTN. The Pinots were very good, but lacked the complexity and brilliance of the Konsgaard.
Area 34 is a very attractive moderately priced restaurant for a *** Hotel. The corkage fee was moderate, and the glassware excellent. Mica, the local Sommelier(from Carmel) who apparently trained at the CIA was very accomodating, and appreciated tasting our wines, and accurately described the wines.
The music was too loud, so we requested a quiet table. They fortunately put us in an ample rectangular table for six that seemed to be in a small corner alcove. The appetizers were all excellent. The heralded plain fish, however was disappointing. My Red Drum was not moist. Ellen's Swordfish was cut too thick. The Ginger Mousse with Dark Chocolate Granache was excellent.
They seemed to have too many hostesses, and too few servers.