Team #6: Jia Yi Zou & Kai Yin Lee
Menu Item: Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
Description: Marinated grilled skirt steak served with string beans with toasted almonds, alongside golden fried potato croquettes. Accompanied by a Chimichurri sauce which is an uncooked sauced made up of chopped parsley and cilantro, minced garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, oregano and red wine vinegar providing an herbaceous and citrusy sauce.
Wine pairings: Kendall-Jackson 2012 Avant Red (California)
Domaine de Triennes Méditerranée St.-Auguste 2015 Provence, France
Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
The wine I had chosen to pair with the skirt steak was the Domaine de Triennes Méditerranée St.-Auguste 2015 which contains a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Steak and red wines has always been a classic wine pairing where one of the main reasons that they pair so well together is because the tannins help to soften the fat in the meat to release its flavor where this fat then helps to mellow out the astringencies of the wine and in turn also helps to release the fruitiness of the wine. The Cabernet-Merlot-Syrah blend is known for its full-bodied mouthfeel and tannic style of wine which really help with cleansing the mouth of fat after taking a bite from the juicy steak. This specific wine has a is rich dark purple color with hints of bright ruby. The wine has a strong aroma of blackcurrant, ripe black cherries and plums with hints of vanilla, clove and nutmeg. The wine provides a medium full body and has flavors of riper black cherries, plums as well as hints of leather, coffee and a slight earthy smokiness which does well to accentuate the charred flavors of the grilled skirt steak. The wine is known for its silky tannins and also has a peppery finish with it as well.
The region of Provence is known for its dry and Mediterranean climate as well as its spicy and full-flavored red wines making up about a third of their region’s production. Within Provence is an IGP called Vin de Pays de Méditérranée where IGPs are areas known for geographical origin rather than focusing in style and tradition. Places like Bandol and Les Baux de Provence in Provence are known for their red wine blends especially with the use of Mourvèdre grape varietal.
