Another beautiful spring day in Los Angeles took me to Third and Fairfax for a jaunt through the Farmers Market. I wound up a few steps to the north at Maggiano's for lunch. I wasn't all that early. Maybe the economy was to blame for the fact that nobody was in the bar. There was plenty of light coming through the windows and a breeze through the doors, so it felt quite right. I took a seat.
The bartender poured a few tastes for me and I decided to go with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Brancott, from Marlborough.
The nose was predictably grassy and green, perfect for a nice springtime day. There was lemon zest and a tropical aroma making a big play, too. On the palate, the lemon came through in a wash of minerals for a clean and crisp taste. It's not an expensive wine, just $7 per glass.
The plate held talapia topped with lobster and some grilled, marinated veggies on the side. The pairing was very good.
Not very often does a waiter recommend a particular wine to me unsolicited. I suppose I'm fairly decisive when asking for a wine, so they figure they don't need to chip in with their two cents worth. I certainly would not have expected that sort of offering from a waiter at The Daily Grill, but that's exactly what I got at the Studio City location.
Chain restaurants generally have lackluster wine lists to begin with, and the help doesn't usually seem to care too much about your order anyway. So when our waiter hesitated on my request for Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc, and instead suggested a New Zealand brand, he had my attention. It was only $8, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did.
KONO, it turns out, is a New Zealand company that sells both seafood and wine primarily to importers, wholesalers and the hospitality trade. The weather was nice out in Southern California and I was really feeling the springtime. This Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc played its role perfectly.
Giving a greenish-gold glow in the glass, the nose is grassy with a bit of melon rind in the background. There is a scent of citrus, but not overwhelmingly so. On the palate the citrus is a bit stronger. I taste citrus orange zest and again a slight melon rind comes into play. It's not so tart as to make the mouth pucker, yet the acidity makes this wine a natural for a food pairing. I loved it with my BLT sandwich and the cole slaw that came on the side. It's a very smooth quaff, perfect for a nice spring or summer day.
