The Tasting Panel magazine

October 2013

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Chris Tanghe, Wine Director, Aragona, Seattle O pening just this month, Aragona is Seattle's newest Spanish hotspot, and is designed to pay homage to the medieval Kingdom of Aragon, located in the northwest corner of modern Spain. "We want to expose Seattle to what Spanish food is," explains Chris Tanghe. "It's so much more than tapas," he says, explaining that rice will be a key component of the cuisine at the restaurant. For Tanghe, who began his career as a cook before machining the move to front of the house, this opportunity to educate the guest is paramount: "I have studied and studied in order to be the best that I can be, and I hope to bring something of value to my guests. That's one of the things I love most about hospitality, having the connection with the guest and getting to see the reward for my hard work pay off when a guest is introduced to a wine they love." Chris's Tasting Notes on Murrieta's Well 2012 The Whip, Livermore Valley: "Tropical fruits with pineapple, mango, passion fruit and balanced, bright acidity." Chris Tanghe. Perfectly Paired: "The crispy smelt were a great match for the bright acidity of this wine. In addition, the sweet floral character was a nice complement to the fried crispy texture." Thomas Price, Head Sommelier, The Metropolitan Grill, Seattle A t Seattle's oldest steahouse, it's no surprise that classicism reigns at The Metropolitan Grill: "We are very old school," admits Thomas Price, "and we bring a real New York model to the Pacific Northwest." With 2,000 skus on the wine list, Price is focused on offering traditional favorites with a definite nod to local wines. "California has always been a real strength on our wine list," says Price, "but we've got some wonderful wines coming out of Washington that we have to make sure to feature." Price was also particularly pleased with the way in which the Wente wines showed with the variety of dishes served: "The wines were really delicious," says Price. "One of the things that stood out to me was the texture of the wines. Karl spoke to the pH and its relation to texture, and I was impressed at his intuition. The wines showed beautifully." Thomas's Tasting Notes on Wente Vineyards 2010 Sandstone Merlot, Livermore Valley: "Firm tannins with black plum, fig compote and good, grippy length." Thomas Price. Perfectly Paired: This would be a natural with our 36 ounce longbone ribeye, served medium-to-well, and with a side of twice-stuffed baked potato." 100  /  the tasting panel  /  october 2013 TP1013_066-107.indd 100 9/23/13 10:37 PM

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