When I went to discuss the setting of stage for the evening tasting at Agni and deliver the different cheeses and German wines to Chef Gaurav Bajaj at the park Hotel, he was very impressed by a couple of them. 'We have only read about them in books only, but never had a chance to taste them. So, it would be wonderful to taste these wines in the evening,' he said excitedly.
Wonderful it sure was! Not only because the cheese and wines were hand carried from Germany by Nils Ehle of Primegrape Germany, and his Bengali wife, Tina (who could not make it to the event, since she had made the cardinal mistake of drinking lassi where the source of water was suspect) and directly into my wine cooler from where they were car carried to the hotel and thus were extremely fresh, but also as some of them were very interesting personalities.
Nils presented both cheese and wines with élan. The order of presentation was classic, temperatures almost correct and the service by the Park staff near perfect, all adding to a great experience. Rieslings were really dry, even the Spaetlese varieties, Rivaner was simple but very crisp, Sauvignon Blanc was very pleasant and Chardonnay was also pure and unoaked, with citric flavour.
The Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), drinking well was no threat to Burgundy . Germany seems to have made it a national goal to make German Pinot Noir (at 11% of total production) compete with Burgundy , Oregon or Marlborough .
Regent felt too dry and powerful in the mouth, with the spicy, medicinal flavours to the fore. The Pinot, Dornfelder, and ? Cuvee was an interesting blend, with a distinct personality of its own; powerful, high alcohol, tannic but balancing fruit with mineral nuances that would make a wonderful companion with a steak, and with Sikandari Raan (lamb).
Some of the cheeses were excellent and different than what is usually available here. Manchego from La Mancha would be my favourite. Spanish producers should make a note of this cheese and the possible popularity it can gain, once we become a cheese munching nation. Red wine cheese (finished by dipping in red wine) and the English Beer cheese were a treat, both with and without the wine. My favourite was the smoky and spicy cheese that would go great guns with Shiraz or Spanish Tempranillo Reserva.
The pizzas at the Mist are getting better and better. Only on one occasion have I had a more delicious pizza in Delhi … and that was in Mist, although La Piazza and Oliva are my all-time favourites. Plenty of breads with finery, smiling faces with the usual efficient and pleasant Park service, also added to the charm of a wonderful evening that went well beyond the appointment, only because the members and guests were enjoying the fruit of the evening. EAM Rifaqat Ali, acting GM in the absence of TP Oberoi, has a well oiled machinery he had put into action even though he got temporarily incapacitated and unfortunately could not be present.
We await more details of the cheeses and wines Nils had us taste. Hopefully, this was just the beginning of the many events we shall be doing with him and his company, and the country.
