Five hundred wines and too little time: That pretty well sums up this year’s Park City Food & Wine Classic. I mean, sure, the event is spaced out over three days. But still, break it down and that means you’re attempting to taste approximately 166 wines per day. It can’t be done. But, I tried. I gave it my best shot. And when all the wine glasses were finally put away, there were a few sips that lingered in my memory, both good and bad. I won’t burden you with the bad wines, but here are some memorable ones (plus a spirit surprise).
But, back to
Champagne: Charles
de Fere Blanc de
Blancs Brut technically
isn’t Champagne,
since it’s not made in
Champagne. But you
won’t be able to tell
from the taste. This
bargain French bubbly
($12) is brimming with
yeasty aromas of tropical
fruit and some nice
spiciness (nutmeg and
cinnamon) and butter
flavors going on in the mouth. As for actual
Champagne from Champagne, it’s hard to
beat Taittinger Brut La Francaise NV
($47). This Champagne is a very elegant,
pure example of what Champagne can (and
should) be: crisp and rich, with pretty
apple and pear notes, toasty and with
great acidity for pairing with foods.
Champagne: It’s not just for breakfast
anymore!
I sort of got bogged down at the
Southern Wine & Spirits booth, where
Southern’s Jeff Carter was pouring
some of my favorites from wineries
like Rosenblum, Trimbach,
Domaine Chandon and Banfi,
along with some new stuff I’d
not previously encountered. For
starters, there was a surprising
Cabernet from, of all places,
Tuscany: Castello di Monsanto
Nemo ($45). Who knew? From
the New World, I really enjoyed
sipping Terrazas de los Andes
Malbec Afincado ($44.44), from
Argentina. This deep, dark, inky
purplish-black Malbec is bold,
smoky and complex—a lot of wine
for under $50. It’s a heavyweight,
like Ali, and as big and brash as
Tyson. When you’re ready to get
in the ring with the big boys, this
is the wine for you.
Finally, from Chile comes a beautifully
dry, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc called
Amaral ($18.38). My wife has expensive
white-wine tastes and this was her favorite,
which makes it a bargain.
The biggest surprise at the PC Food &
Wine Classic? Gin. Specifically, cheap gin:
New Amsterdam Gin, on sale this month
for $10.99. Crafted with botanicals, New
Amsterdam has typical hints of juniper,
along with not-so-typical orange-peel notes.
Now, I’m no gin aficionado, but this gin tasted
wonderful chilled and served straight. I’m
going to be sipping a lot of New Amsterdam
Gin on the patio this summer.
