Several of the world's leading wine
experts offer their not-so-humble opinions on their favorite
wine of the moment.
In a world awash in wine, how can a pedestrian imbiber know what's
best to drink at this exact moment? The cacophony of amateur wine
snobs, sommeliers, and sales clerks claiming to "know it all" can
be deafening. We quizzed a select host of respected authorities
about their favorite wine of the moment, what
food to pair it with,
and tips for serving. Put all of these disparate bottles together,
and you'll be an instant authority and the owner of an impressive
little wine collection.
Wolfgang Puck, chef/owner of Spago Beverly Hills, Postrio in
Las Vegas, and many others
Wine: "2000 Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara"
Cost: $28
Serving suggestion: "Chinois squab with sun-dried cherries
and crispy noodles. The Pinot Noir can stand on its own and has a
lot of fruit, yet it has enough acidity to balance it with a rich
berry nose. It matches perfectly with the peppery and slightly
sweet sauce for the squab. I like to drink it at cellar temperature
- slightly on the cool side, not chilled, because it will warm up
in the glass."
Mario Batali, chef/owner of Babbo Ristorante in New York
City and host on the Food Network
Wine: "My favorite wine of the moment is Monpra, which is a
young Cabernet and Nebbiolo mix from Piemonte, Italy."
Cost: $40
Serving suggestion: "It goes well with a simply grilled
rib-eye steak, or a plate of salami and cheeses drizzled with
highest-quality extra-virgin olive oil."
Nancy Silverton, chef/owner Campanile, Los Angeles
Wine: "For me, the '97 Sagrantino from Paulo Bea, a red wine
from Apulia - very rustic, very rich"
Cost: $50