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Lunch with the FT and U2: Wine or Diet Coke?
From Mr. Gianfranco Magazzini.
Sir, I am a regular reader of Lunch with the FT and always find it interesting except for something that is in my experience never there – a bottle of wine.
To my recollection the only beverages present are: San Pellegrino, Coca-Cola and, even worse, Diet Coke, green tea, herbal tea (which I assume is taken before going to bed … ) or a glass of house wine. Now tell me how you can enjoy lunch in such circumstances?
Mr. Magazzini volunteered to buy wine for any future lunches if the interviewer would call him in Montecatini Terme in Chianti and read him the wine list. Other readers chimed in blaming the sad effects of bubblegum palates, frugality and temperance.
Guess who came to the rescue? U2. Honest.
Paul McGuinness the band’s manager told the FT over his lunch that, “I figured out bad wine costs the same as good wine, so why not learn about it?” He taught the lads as well.
So McGuinness’ last lunch at The Spotted Pig, Mario Batali’s gastropub in New York, included Spanish ham, pumpkin, chowder and gnudi dumplings, and a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir (plus a bottle of still water, a double espresso and a tea). Lunch with U2.
2006 Lemelson Pinot Noir Thea's Selection ($24.99)
Don’t know if a bottle of wine will solve the world’s problems, but I’ll vote with U2 and the gentleman from Chianti.
For a Willamette Valley Pinot, I’ll take Foxy Rock 2006, made by Clearwater’s own Burgundy-loving Bob Heileman
($24.99) or any of 2006 Lemelsons ($24.99 to $59.99). For the Tuscan, the 2005 Nipozzano Rufina Reserva from Frescobaldi is a steal ($17.99).
Have a glass, it’s lunch time somewhere.
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