Mira Winery dinner at Cafe Maxx with Winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez and President Jim "Bear" Dyke Jr.

“The Best Wines are the ones we drink with friends”

The next few weeks we have an incredible line-up of events with winery personalities and of course some of the hottest new wines available in South Florida like this new label Mira from Napa Valley.

Gustavo Gonzalez worked at Mondavi for 17 years 2003-2012 made the red wines, also worked at Ornellaia and helped make their first (100 Point) wine the 2001 Masseto.  The name Mira, refers to the root of the word miracle in Latin and there are winemakers that go a lifetime without achieving this accomplishment so you can call it a miracle of sorts.

Through the contacts Gustavo made at Robert Mondavi Winery they have acquired some great fruit and you have a chance to get in on the ground floor of this venture as the Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 is the first vintage for this new venture!

Join us as we sample through all of the new release from Mira winery with both of its founders Winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez and President Jim "Bear" Dyke Jr.  along with a special five course tasting menu prepared by Chef Oliver Saucy.  The fee for this tasting is $95 + tax + gratuity, for reservations call 954-782-0606.

Mira Winery dinner at Cafe Maxx with Winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez and President Jim "Bear" Dyke Jr.Tuesday, April 29th7pm

Line-up of wines

ReceptionPistachio fried oysters with tropical fruit salsaGrilled Florida grouper fingers with mango-ginger glazeMini chicken philo purses with strawberry-papaya sauce

Mira Rose of Carneros Pinot Noir Napa Valley 2012                        

Price: $31.50       Sale $27.72          Case $322

Golden pink color. Rose petals, lily and wild strawberry on the nose. Finely detailed texture and a crystalline frame reveal notes of dried currant, wild strawberry and cumquats harmonizing in a subtle and graceful finish. 100% Rosé of Pinot Noir, 100% Napa Valley, 100% barrel fermented and aged in 100% French oak barrels.

Mira Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2011                               

Price: $27.00       Sale $23.76          Case $276                 5% of this juice goes in cigar shaped barrels from Burgundy and the rest if stainless, the fruit is from Oakville, has a musky onion skin note to the melon and green fig fruit, lemon citrus.  The symbol is German for rune, which stands for completion of a cycle/good harvest.  Has a good amount of melon and fig fruit with zesty citrus fruit and a fresh clean finish notes of tongue tingly minerality on the finish.  Finish 40+              Excellent

First course

Hazelnut dusted snapper with citrus-kiwi salad, lemon butter and fried potatoes

2011 Mira Chardonnay Napa Valley                        

Price: $31.50       Sale $27.72          Case $322

A delicate expression of Oak Knoll District Chardonnay. Subtle and reserved, honeysuckle, lime, apricot nose. Concentrated, full-bodied, mango and tropical flavors. hazelnut, creamy, savory finish. 100% stainless steel barrel aged on the lees for 12 months. No malolactic fermentation. 100% Chardonnay, 100% Napa Valley.

Second course

Lamb Carpaccio, savarin brillant, shiitake mushroom, pinot noir syrup and walnut raisin crostini

2011 Mira Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch Carneros, Napa Valley                            

Price: $48.00       Sale $42.24          Case $490

Only 600 cases of this 2009 Pinot Noir were produced, two clones from the Stanley ranch, 75% new French oak here and 4-6 day cold soak, whole clusters, open top fermentors punch down.  A good amount of exotic spices to the black and red berry fruit, raspberry and cherry with a touch of mint.  A zesty wine on the tongue with exotic spices and pretty floral notes, silky smooth tannins and a fresh zesty finish.  Finish 40+  Excellent

Third course

Grilled venison filet mignon, creamy fennel and pearled couscous risotto, Sambucca glaze and baby vegetables

2010 Mira Syrah Hyde Vineyard Napa Valley                     

Price: $48.00       Sale $42.24          Case $490

Our Hyde Vineyard gem reveals espresso, charcoal and violets followed by waves of salty caramel, boysenberry and licorice. Youthful restraint surrenders to graphite, roasted and sanguine meats, while hints of white pepper accompany the palate through a long and winding finish. 100% Syrah, 100% Hyde Vineyard, 100% Napa Valley. Aged 20 months in 100% French oak barrels (5% new, 95% 10 years old.)

Fourth course

Braised short rib of beef, blue-raspberry glaze, new potato gratin, foie gras and Cuban pearled onions

2009 Mira Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley       

Price: $51.00       Sale $44.88          Case $521                 Has 5% of the Cabernet Franc in the blend this is from Hyde Vineyard and the rest is from Rutherford Bench fruit, 18 months in 65% new French oak, the grapes go through a 4 day cold soak, has a good amount of currant and cassis berry fruit on the nose with dark currant, dark cherry fruit notes of sweet tobacco spice and some dark chocolate, a fairly complex bouquet.  A big and chewy wine on the tongue but fresh and balanced with a good amount currant berry fruit with notes of fine herbs and cigar box spice, nice freshness on the finish a big wine but lovely balance.  Finish 45+                Excellent +

Dessert

Red wine chocolate truffle timbale with macerated fruit

Dinner is $95 + tax + gratuity, for reservations call 954-782-0606.

About Mira Winery

Mira Winery produces a limited amount of single vineyard wines from well known Napa Valley AVA Districts Stags Leap, Los Carneros and Rutherford.  With over 20 years of wine making experience, Winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez is a craftsman whose critically acclaimed wines are of exceptional character and complexity, delighting the palates of wine drinkers today and for years to come.  Our well established and long term relationships with some of the most elite and oldest growers in Napa Valley allows us to manage the process from bud to bottle, vinifying the grapes to maintain the characteristics of these exceptional geographies and produce a portfolio of uniquely luxurious wines.

Mira was formed in 2009 as a partnership between Gustavo Gonzalez, whose 20-year winemaking career started in a winery lab and led him to be head red Winemaker for Robert Mondavi Winery, and Jim “Bear” Dyke, Jr. whose 20-year political career started with parking cars in the Senate Parking lot and led him to the White House.  Gustavo has made wine in five countries and was responsible for the 2001 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Masseto which Wine Spectator gave a 100 point rating and described as “possibly the best Tuscan red ever.”  Dyke served as Communications Director for the Republican party, and served in the administration of George W. Bush.

The Napa Valley Register recently described Mira Winery as “a WOW wine…a dreamy blend…a velvety mouthfeel…brand to watch.”