Chester Francis Jackson & Chris Reckord, Contributors
Peter Mondavi (left), Chris Reckord (centre) and Robert Mondavi. - Contributed
Well, my daahlings, if y'all missed Kingston's leading oenophiles and budding sommeliers and gourmets, then y'all were looking in the wrong places as Miami's South Beach was the preferred destination, as this was where wine and food lovers, the world over, gathered for the 2007 Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival.
And this year, the title sponsor of the event, The Food Network, tookguests and participants on a rendezvous with the senses, and beyond, as not only did they serve up the best of world vineyards and kitchens, they did so in celebrity style by having a number of their TV personalities in town. The list included renowned chef Emeril Lagasse, and a host of other experts, adding vibe and cachet to the whole affair!
Feast for the soul
Oh honeys, a literal feast for the soul, as - socially, aesthetically, and most definitely - from a culinary standpoint, it was all happening like everybody's business! It was like that and then some as to ensure maximum participation, the traditional big tent was made much bigger. For this year's staging of the event, there were many more big tents, compared to the first time this event was held there on the sands of South Beach, with Ocean Drive buzzing like it was the epicentre of the social world.
And while the big tents were buzzing and overflowing with activity, as thousands enjoyed wonderful wines being poured into their Riedels - wine glasses hung around their necks, for the true oenophiles and or wine snob, the real treats were not to be found under the big tents but rather at the truly historic wine spectator-sponsored seminars, held over three days at the Miami Beach Convention Centre.
And dears, we are talking the 'meet' of the matter here, with the first such sponsored tasting being a classic, billed as it was as: 'A Historical Journey Through Ch?teau Haut-Brion'. It was time for wine royalty; literally, as this session was headed by His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxembourg along with third generation wine maker Jean-Philippe Delmas, who were both introduced by Thomas Matthews, executive editor of Wine Spectator magazine. It proved to be a most delightful Saturday afternoon, as guests were treated and guided through eight vintages of Ch?teau Haut-Brion's famous red wines, in a very rare seminar that celebrated over 20 years of wines, ending with the legendary 1985.
Founded in 1533, Ch?teau Haut-Brion has a long and distinguished history. It was the first wine sold under the name of its vineyard site, as opposed to larger geographical appellations.
Oldest and smallest
The oldest and smallest of the four first growth properties classified in the 1855 classification of the Gironde wines, the Ch?teau Haut-Brion 2001 and 2003 White, proved absolutely delicious, with the 2003 proving phenomenal. We are talking fireworks here, caused by a fabulous blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, a refreshing bouquet of honey, apples that transform into an ever evolving taste beginning with silky, smooth light flavours of pralines developing into a delicious, fresh and lively character with an absolutely delightful finish.
Saturday was highlighted by a seminar presented by the entire Mondovi family led by Napa Valley icons Robert and Peter Mondavi, co-recipients of the 2007 Southern Wine & Spirits Lifetime Achievement Award. They were accompanied by their children Marc, Peter Jr., Tim and Marcia who took guests through some of their better wines, starting with a 1965 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon. This, incidentally was the last wine that the brothers made together before their famous feud.
And then there was the Ancora Una Volta, this is the brothers' most-recent collaborative effort. This 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon celebrates their family bond, unites their individual passions for winemaking and showcases the finest grapes from their respective vineyards.
And with a palate dancing in glee and anticipation, the rest of the day saw more tastings from the Ch?teau Haut-Brion catalogue which included La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion and Ch?teau Bahans. Larry Maguire, president and CEO of Far Niente, led a rare tasting of the Oakville winery's Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, spanning 15 years from the 1990s into the 2000s.
Caymus Vineyards was recently recognised by Wine Spectator for producing the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley since 1990, Winemaker Chuck Wagner led a tasting of the 1994 and 2004 Special Selection Cabernets to absolutely rave reviews!
Wines from the two mythical estates of Bordeaux area brought the day to a close, the delicious wines of Ch?teau Cheval Blanc and Ch?teau d'Yquem were presented by the president of both companies, Pierre Lurton. As we nosed the wines and put the glasses to our mouths, there was no doubt why these wines are among the best to be found anywhere in the world.
On Sunday, while thousands congregated on the beach to see their favourite chefs, duke it out and the wine drinkers were fighting the massive crowds to taste small samples of the hundreds of wines present, back over at the convention centre less than 200 people enjoyed the finest that the world has to offer when the shortlist of oenophiles guesting were treated to a selection of some of the best vintages of the wines of Ch?teau Margaux.
Wonderful weekend
And what a way to end a wonderful weekend by experiencing and totally enjoying the moment, the occasion and the very last drop, taste the most celebrated recent vintages of Cristal, shipped from the family cellars for this unique occasion. Cristal is Champagne at its finest; it is made according to the strictest criteria, based on an exacting process of fruit selection that uses only the most celebrated pinot noir and chardonnay grapes from Louis Roederer's vineyards. This legendary cuvee has been known to melt hearts, make men weak, and even turn 'no' into 'yes'. And yes, this is why Cristal is adjudged the finest champagne in the world,
As, for just who were present, suffice it to say my dears, the world, and his wife including: Martin Maginley, executive chef Grand Lido Negril; the resort's PR manager, the lovely Sheryl McGaw-Douse; Gari and Gillian Ferguson of Rib Cage; Colin Hylton of Guilt Trip; plus a number of other Jamaicans!
