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Photos By:: Adil Arora
 The wine aficionado restaurateur Sumit Gulati had organised an interesting tasting of 6 wines from Gusto Imports, the wine importing company founded and owned by Kadambri (Kay) Kapoor with the office based originally in Kolkata and shifted now to Mumbai. Sumit is so passionate about wines and his Indian snacks are so delicious that it is very difficult to say no to him when he organises the tastings with such gusto.
Gusto is also Spanish word that means Taste. So anyway you look at it, Gusto was the buzzword for the evening where Turni Dhar, National Key Accounts Manager for Kay Kapoor had come from Mumbai to conduct a few such tastings. The importer has decided to enter the Delhi market after establishing its presence in Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Pune, says Turni who had selected 6 wines for the evening out of a portfolio that also includes Portuguese wines.
Gagan Sharma was the Sommelier of the evening that saw wines from Villa Calappiano (Prosecco), Faustino (Cava and Rioja), Sensi (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Chianti) and La Louviere Andre Lurton from Pessac- Leognan (the only place outside Medoc, known for the First Growth Chateaux Haut Brion). The Tasting was followed by the usual delicious, finger licking, swaad snacks made by Sumit’s wife Chef Chiquita.
The evening started with Prosecco Villa Calappiano doc Extra Dry. Pale colour with green tinge, Clean and aromatic wine with peachy aromas, slightly jammy, nice mousse and zingy on the palate, a bit too sweet on the palate with sugar feeling at around 18-20 gms, 84/100 MRP Rs. 2600 in Delhi- a bit expensive. Suitable for new drinkers and spicy Indian snacks like Fish Amritsari.
Faustino Cava Extra Dry- produced in Rioja (yes, Cava can be produced practically everywhere in Spain provided the area is approved by DO Cava and the grapes are as per the rules- I believe in this case Macabeo and Chardonnay), darker golden colour, quite effervescent , good fruit-citrus and apple on the palate, 26 months on the lees in the bottle has made it creamy and smooth, elegant, crisp and fresh wine. 89/100
Sensi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Collezione 2013 Dark cherry red, chocolate aromas, black fruit, soft tannins, cherries, a bit lean on the palate, slightly bitter end, medium, good match with pizzas and pastas 85/100 MRP Rs. 1550 in Delhi
Sensi Chianti Collezione- 2013 was nice with bright acidity, but not much complexity, good fruit, fresh and young on the palate. It would be delectable with mutton samosas. I liked it with kebabs being served. 84 MRP Rs.1900 in Delhi
La Louviere Andre Lurton 2007 from a 700 year- old estate in Pessac Leognan. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominated serious wine, Deep Red garnet, hint of oak on the nose, good balance of fruit and tannins, drinking very well right now, slightly light but easy and pleasant on the palate, medium end and length, perfect with gilauti kebab a-la-Spice Market 89/100 MRP of over Rs. 9000 in Delhi. Quite unaffordable in India. I would wait till Spice Market gets a duty-free license and lists it at his usual, excellent, low mark-up prices.
 Faustino Rioja Gran Reserva 2000-The usual combination of grapes in Rioja-Tempranillo, Grenache, and a bit of the indigenous Graciano, the wine was still too tight with a hint of wood but plenty of black fruit. This is a good example of the expression of Rioja wines. Unfortunately, it had not been decanted and tasted reductive, tight and listless. At Rs. 5000 MRP, it didn’t seem to be worth the price and I would much rather taste a Crianza. But since I wanted to try tasting it with the kebabs for which I had to wait, it had time to open up till the kebabs were ready. That’s when it started revealing its secrets; full bodied-complex wine was a perfect match with the kebabs. Great value if respected and treated well before pouring. 87/100 going up to 90/100 after breathing for 30 minutes. Suggest decanting 1-2 hours. A serious food wine.
A note on the Gulatis is in order. Sumit is not only passionate about wines, he is very humble and a great host. Chiquita is a great chef and supervises her cooking staff very well. All the dishes I had time for, were delectable as usual and well selected to go with the wines which are to be marketed soon through Indo-Spirits.
We welcome Gusto with gusto in Delhi for the gusto of a range of new wines i!
Subhash Arora |