My good friend Jaclyn came to visit LA a few days ago. It was lovely to have her. Our friend Jeff and I shared some good meals with her, including a much-anticipated tour to that bastion of snout-to-tail eating, Animal.
The prospect of a nearly-exclusive animal-based meal got me to wondering what to select as the alcoholic accompaniment. I could have safely selected a Burgundy, or a Beaujolais, but instead I went for another B: a Bollinger “Special Cuvee” Brut Champagne.
Many commentators have noted that Champagne and other sparkling wines are rather underutilized pairing partners for food. This is a shame, as a brut (not sweet) Champagne is perhaps one of the most versatile wines: the mineral notes in a good Champagne can serve as a perfect complement to oysters, for instance, while the effervescence can enliven the palate after a rich bite of ribeye.
Vinicultured: A Wine Blog 