A keg party may bring to mind a wealth of images…none as chic as The Infinite Monkey Theorem Keg Party at The Black Pearl on May 14. The restaurant closed for the evening to celebrate spring in style with a crowd of appreciative wine- and food-lovers. We rang in the season on the patio wearing polo shirts and parkas – because it is spring in Colorado!
Ben Parsons, winemaker for The Infinite Monkey Theorem (IMT), an urban winery located in Denver’s RiNo Art District, greeted tipplers after they had sampled IMT Rosé with fresh & fried oysters and rose mignonette, and IMT Sauvignon Blanc with grilled asparagus and mushroom pâté. These first two wines were on tap. The Rosé – made of 25% each Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Malbec – smelled of roses and spice, while the Sauvignon Blanc smelled of pineapple and citrus.
IMT wine on tap.
Parsons introduced the winery and wines and described the work of a winemaker as making order from chaos. In a year with destructive freezes in Colorado’s vineyards, Parsons likened the journey to chaos as growing grapes in Colorado, where there is only a 200-day growing season. Once the grapes are picked, they must be trucked over the mountains on icy roads and taken to a back-alley winery to become wine.
Parsons described packaging wine in kegs as a more economical way to drink wine, especially given that a single bottle of wine can cost $4.00 to package.
The attendees sat down to IMT Blind Watchmaker Red and Duck Pastrami Salad with Watercress, Romaine, English Peas, and Marinated Mushrooms tossed with Nettle Dressing and Toasted Brazil Nuts. The wine was pure delight to sip and savor. It was made of 50% Merlot and 50% Syrah from Paso Robles due to the freeze.
The fourth course featured IMT 100th Monkey paired with Beef Tournedos Niçoise with Herb-Roasted Potatoes, Olives, Green Beans, Duck Pâté Deviled Eggs, and Crumbled Yolk Drizzle, finished with Spanish Olive Oil. The premium blend of Petite Sirah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Tinta Cao, offered leather, berries, pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. The wine was aged for 22 months in one-year-old French oak and was unfined and unfiltered.
The fifth course paired IMT Petite Sirah with a Chocolate Fudge Brownie topped with Cherry Gelato, Chocolate Sauce, and Candied Walnuts. The wine was made from 100% Petite Sirah from Colorado’s Grand Valley and aged 14 months in two-year-old French oak. The bright fruit really shone in this wine, and was complemented by the chocolate and cherry flavors in the dessert.
To conclude the evening, we had IMT Moscato Cocktail with Cherries and Nuts, served on the patio.
Until our next adventure in wine and food…
The Infinite Monkey Theorem
3200 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80205
Neighborhood: RiNo
The Black Pearl
1529 South Pearl Street
Denver, CO 80210
Neighborhood: Washington Park/Pearl Street
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