Aleza Freeman
Nearly 400 wine enthusiasts poured into Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas earlier this month. They were the lucky guests at a wine reception at Aureole Las Vegas, featuring a selection of highly sought-after, limited-edition wines.
“The guests loved it,” said Carbery of the evening’s ambiance. “The music was a hit as well as the wine and food of course!”
Selected from the 2016 Top 100 wines list of Wine Spectator magazine by Harley Carbery, Mandalay Bay’s director of wine, the choices ranged from emerging labels to traditional estates. Carbery shared a few of his favorite selections with Old Liquors Magazine.
His first choice among the 43 he selected came in at No. 2 on the Wine Spectator list: a limited-production 2014 Domaine Serene Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills Evenstad Reserve. Carbery described the vintage as focused, expressive, and well-balanced.
His second choice, a 2014 Orin Swift Machete from California, came in at No. 6. Carbery called it a powerful wine that’s “generous and expressive, big and brawny.”
Coming in at lucky No. 7 was Carbery’s third favorite. He described the 2012 Ridge Monte Bello from the Santa Cruz Mountains as a beautifully structured wine with “wonderful aging potential.”
Wines uncorked for the evening’s festivities were paired with a variety of menu items from the progressive Aureole menu, developed by Chef Charlie Palmer and Aureole Executive Chef Johnny Church. The five tasting stations included signature dishes such as Lion Fish Ceviche Tacos, Whole Roasted Sturgeon Wellington served with caviar, and Cheesecake Three Ways (made with brie, blue, and cheddar cheeses).
Given a souvenir glass and a guide to the evening’s wines and cuisine, guests mingled with Palmer, Carbery, and Church as well as renowned winemakers from Oregon, Washington, and California. Las Vegas crooner TJ Tyler entertained the crowd.
“The guests loved it,” said Carbery of the evening’s ambiance. “The music was a hit as well as the wine and food of course!”
Known for its glass-enclosed, four-story tower of wines, Aureole has been recognized with Wine Spectator’s Grand Award every year since 2000.
Silver-clad staff—wine angels—ascend the restaurant’s 3,000-bottle tower, like soaring acrobats to retrieve patrons’ selections.
Originally opened in 1999, Aureole unveiled a new wine-inspired design and a new tasting-style menu earlier in 2017.
“The new Aureole offers a modern dining experience that stays true to the core elements that have made it a beloved Las Vegas staple,” said Palmer in a press release. “The menu takes a ‘less is more approach’ in which quality ingredients are used in exciting preparation methods that don’t over complicate the dish presentation or flavor profile.”
The restaurant now features three distinct dining spaces, including a bar and lounge, main dining room, and fine dining fountain terrace.
In addition to the reimagined interior and menu, Carbery takes the guesswork out of wine pairing with a new, rotating by-the-glass list of 48 wines, featuring two suggested pairings for each of the restaurant’s 24 dishes.
Aureole is located at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The main dining room is open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. The lounge opens at 5 p.m.
Originally posted 2017-04-12 14:43:21.
