I’m not a Dallas native. I don’t have a nostalgic story about Reunion Tower and driving 30 miles to see the view. When I did move here, scores of people told me the restaurant was not worth the trip. Unless you just want the view. After sampling some of the food and wine Puck is serving up at Five Sixty this afternoon, I am sure it will become one of the first restaurant Dallasites will want to show off and recommend to out-of-towners. CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY WITH PICS OF PUCK, THE CHEFS, FOOD, VIEW, AND AMBIANCE. Stacey gave you an awesome overview of the foodie details, so I’m going to focus on wine. Sommelier D’Lynn Proctor (pictured with Wolfgang Puck) has put together a wine list that is packed with wines you know and wines you might not know, but will love once you pop the cork. Follow the jump for Puck’s thoughts about California wine and a well-balanced wine list.
As Puck made his way around the room, he stopped at our table for a glass of wine – a 2006 Las Brisas Pinot Noir. To create a balanced wine list, he said of course it must have the standard California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, but that’s not typically what he’d recommend. “I like wine that works with our food,” he said. Big Cabs are often high in alcohol and packed with ripe fruit flavors. He asked the server to bring out a bottle from his native Austria that is an example of a good food-style wine. The Nigl Gruner Veltliner ($42 a bottle) is very pale, light, and crisp with green apple notes, hints of freshly mown grass, and slight minerality. He’s right in suggesting it. It is not over-powering and paired nicely with the sea bass (see the photo gallery for more foodie notes).
The sommelier, you know him from Wine’tastic, has spent the last two months building an impressive wine list. He keeps 3200 in the cellar and has access to about 3200 bottles on the floor. A few highlights from the 20-page list include a surprising selection of whites, reds, sparklings, and even sake by the glass. If you’ve never tried the sparkling wine from New Mexico’s Gruet, you can splurge for $11 a glass. Another gem on the list is the Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina from Campania, Italy ($35 a bottle). This is an ancient Italian varietal that is fresh, citrusy, bright, and structured enough to handle a bit of spicy food without fading into the background. The exansive list includes a handful of powerful Barolos, Rhones, Tempranillos. Take your time to browse the list before ordering, and be sure to ask D’Lynn or your server for suggestions. It would be a shame to experience this food experience with a bottle of wine you usually drink on your couch. Try something new.
