Fishing... For The Perfect Pairing

Seeking for the FOR THE PERFECT PAIRING...! What is considered a perfect pairing , the wine not to overpower your food and your food not to overpower your wine, harmony, balance between wine and food , salt versus acidity,salt versus sweet or even creating a new flavor by pairing wine and food ,the outcome has to be one, providing a distinct and pleasant element,memory to your overall dining experience.

Yesterday i was invited by my good friend Dimitris for my first Tuna fishing experience on his boat, offshore the coast of Cyprus.

It was one of the best experience in my life, the excitement, the adrenaline.We caught a variety of fish and 3 Tuna around 8 kilos each ,we really had great fun. The Universe favored us even more, i had a call from Neophytos from OENUS Wine Distributors,a friend and wine enthusiast, to give me the New Wine Entries by VLASSIDES Winery to taste them (ALATES 2018 Xinisteri and OROMAN 2017 Yiannoudi & Shiraz ). It was an easy decision TUNA pairing with ALATES 2018 and OROMAN 2017 Yiannoudi & Shiraz.

ALATES 2018 Vlassides winery

Αlates, in Cypriot, means wings.Giving wings to the vision of introducing a fine representative Cypriot white wine to the world at large.

Grape variety: Xinisteri 100%

Ageing: 5 months in large oak barrels (2000 lt )

ABV : 13,5%

Nose: Medium aromatic intensity, citrus, lemon blossom ,white flowers ,a nice approach to xinisteri ,down to earth with a mineral character add by pleasant layers of oak.

Pallet :Dry,expressing beautifully the terroir minerality ,great savory acidity with hints of lime tingling pleasant your pallet.Oak is present offering texture and rising the gastronomical potential of the wine .

FOOD PAIRING

Great pairing with Tuna the wine was complimenting the tuna and the tuna the wine,a wine that needs a fresh ,vibrant element add to any dish to bring everything together.A key wine to blend flavors.

OROMAN 2017 Vlassides winery

Όroman, in Cypriot, means vision, dream.It incorporates Vlassides winery, vision of the Cypriot red wine.

Grape variety: 85% Yiannoudi & 15% Shiraz

Ageing: 10 months in french oak barrels

ABV : 14,5%

Nose: Medium plus aromatic intensity, with balance aromatic complexity,with aromas reach from fresh to jammy during the aeration,blackberries,black cherries, hints of smokiness and oak well blended in , notes of sweet spices and sweet tobacco on the background.Great evolution in glass.

Pallet : Dry, medium (plus) in body, with great balance between fruit and oak, along with tones of cocoa beans and delicate peppery finish.Tannin is velvety, smooth, flavorful , boost by lovely acidity .

FOOD PAIRING

Was a good pairing with Tuna , it gave a nice smoky, spice character to tuna ,the velvety tannin and the acidity helped not to overpower the tuna.The wine was served at 14°C. OROMAN will match well with roasted meats and vegetables.The wine can be decant 30 min before serving but i would personally prefer the evolution in glass it has a lot of going on and not to be missed.

Beautiful Labels on both of the wines

Marios Constantinides Sommelier

Click here to find out about Xynisteri

Click here to find out about Yiannoudi