Foodievents

California-France Rematch in Historic Wine Battle

Wine historian Peter Marks lusting over California reds from the 1976 Paris Tasting.Photo: AP/Eric Risberg
A dinner at 7 Square next Tuesday commemorates one of the great moments in U.S. wine history: the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. The “Judgment of Paris,” as it’s called by grape geeks, was an epochal event — it was the first time that California wines met French wines on their own turf and emerged victorious. To honor this great victory, Manhattan Wine Company (a private storage facility for high-powered wine collectors — isn’t that fancy!) will break out five 1986 Bordeaux with five 1986 California wines of comparable character and pair two at a time with each course in chef Shane McBride’s robust menu. (The final dish comes with four different glasses, yeah!) Read on for the lineup. $250 per person. Contact the Manhattan Wine Company at 973-243-8700 for reservations.

Dominus
Château Talbot
Smithfield-ham ravioli, roasted chestnuts, celery-root fondue, a caramelized-onion pinot-noir jus.

Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Dirty-rice “risotto,” duck confit, andouille sausage, tasso ham, smoked duck ham.

Joseph Phelps Eisele Vineyard
Château Rauzan-Ségla
Monkfish braised in red wine, black-eyed peas, creamy collard greens.

Caymus Special Selection
Château Gruaud Larose
Heitz Martha’s Vineyard
Château Cos d’Estournel
Pan-roasted beef rib eye, root-beer-braised short rib, parsnip purée, spicy cashews.

California-France Rematch in Historic Wine Battle