“Oh! Every morning when I wake up and I see there's a whole
new other [BOTTLE OF PINOT NOIR TO DRINK], I just go absolutely ape!”
I stole this wine from my dad and his girlfriend. (Sorry
guys!) They bought it while they were in West Virginia for the weekend, wine tasting, so I
was worried that it would turn out to be expensive and that 1) I would be in trouble
and 2) I wouldn’t be able to get it again. But at $14 a pop, this is a wine I
will think about buying again, despite my proclamations that life is too short
to drink the same wine twice. The best word that I can think of for this bottle
is easy; it is drinkable to a fault. It has a less dry finish than most pinot
noirs, so it’s a good option for a sweet wine drinker looking to branch out. It tastes like berries, light and tart. It
is straightforward and happy tasting, just like the movie I’ve chosen to pair
it with, Paris When It Sizzles (Richard
Quine 1964).
One of Audrey Hepburn’s less well-known films, Paris is well and truly underrated. If
you saw the 2003 Luke Wilson/Kate Hudson flick, Alex & Emma, (… did anyone else see that?) this is the original
that it is based on. The basic plot is this: famous screenwriter and self
styled “international wit,” Richard Benson (William Holden), hires the lovely
American in Paris, Gabrielle Simpson (Audrey Hepburn) as his stenographer for his latest project
which he has had months to write… and which is due in two short days. The two race towards the deadline of
Bastille Day from a posh hotel with a view of, “that rather grotesque object looming so formidably on the
horizon …the Eiffel Tower.” Although the scenes in the hotel are
charming, the real beauty of the film lies in the shared fantasies that “Rick”
and “Gaby” take part in while writing the film, “The Girl Who Stole The Eiffel
Tower.” These daydreams turn the movie into a patchwork; stylistically it is
all over the board, jumping from action to romance to comedy to spy movie
effortlessly. The quips on various genres are detailed and many, too many to
list or to pick favorites from here. Other delights include cameos from the likes of
Noel Coward, Tony Curtis and Marlene Dietrich and references to nearly all of
Miss Hepburn’s films that predate this one. This is a delight for Hepburn fanatics and fun romp for
those who aren’t as familiar (although I can’t adequately put myself in your
shoes). Be forewarned, you will fall in love alternatingly with Holden, Hepburn and Hahn, a pairing made in movie within a movie heaven.
This movie is an unspotted classic with a little something
for everyone, just like this Pinot will easily please all the pallets at any
party. The two get along swimmingly.
Pairing Notes: Although the early scenes may have you craving a
Bloody Mary, open a bottle of Hahn Pinot Noir and put Paris When It Sizzles on your laptop so that you can snuggle up in
bed with a friend. Wear cozy socks and sip between smirks and lines of charming
banter... Serendipity.
Note: Being from the 60’s, this movie is squeaky clean
despite a few more… sinister references that are more likely to make you giggle
than blush. Feel free to watch with Mom; Dad will probably fall asleep.
Wine
info from: http://www.hahnfamilywines.com/
Film
info from: My memory, Paris When It
Sizzles DVD, and http://www.imdb.com/
(Is that a credible source? No? It’s okay, because I’m not either.)
If there is a wine or movie that you'd like to see reviewed, email me at deelburn@gmail.com.
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