Ever felt naughty at dinner time? We did, and it wasn’t our fault. When we got a Nauti Buoy white blend, sushi pairing with Washington wine was hardly on our mind.
We pictured having it on the yacht, or possibly on a picnic by the Rome Colleseum, or on a sunny afternoon in our Japanese garden. But on planet Earth, we really thought it would be nice to enjoy it on a summer weekend on our backyard patio.
Oh, well! In the end, when we were in the mood for sushi at a local joint, Nauti Buoy caught our eye when we look through our cellar for a bottle.
While Takahashi is one of the best places in Portland to have authentic Japanese sushi made from the finest fish, it’s not known for its wine list. As a matter of fact, unless you eat at Morimoto or other high-end Japanese restaurants, wine lovers out of luck. We are limited to an array of unremarkable wines at our local sushi places. Our best bet is a decent quality’s sake, hopefully.
Anyhow, we knew we could count on Takahashi for enjoyable sushi, and we only needed a bottle that would pair well with it. As we looked through our collection, we came across the 2017 Nauti Buoy – a white wine that we got on our trip to Lake Chelan region of Washington state. This might be n adventurous pairing, we thought.
Sushi Pairing with Washington Wine Tasting Notes
Nauti Buoy is an aromatic blend of Riesling and Orange Muscat made by Hard Row To Hoe winery. The aromas of orange blossom, baked apple, and cotton candy create a playful contrast with earthy scents of nigiri, soy sauce, and tempura.
The acidity of Nauti Buoy cuts through fatty toro and salmon. The flavors of lemon drops and apples balance the metallic notes of tuna and mackerel.
Nauti Buoy is not a complex wine requiring a Ph.D. to describe it. It’s enjoyable on its own and, if paired with the right food, can leave a lasting impression. As we found out, it goes well with sushi.
The fruity profile of the wine and savory umami flavors of Japanese cuisine played a naughty wineswinging game with our taste buds. It turned our somewhat expected sushi dinner into an epicurean experience we wanted to share with you.
Have you had a remarkable wine pairing experience? What’s your go-to sushi wine?
