If the Fantastic Four Were Wines, Which One Is Your Favorite?
As the new Fantastic Four film arrives in cinemas, the reviews are pouring in. Watching the film, it struck me that the team's archetypes—leadership, elegance, passion, and heart—mirror the complex personalities we find in the world of wine. It begs the question: if the Fantastic Four were a flight of wines, what would we be tasting?
Mr. Fantastic: A Cru Classé Bordeaux
Reed Richards, the brilliant scientist and leader of the group, is defined by his long-term perspective. He solves immense problems with a cool head, often making pragmatic decisions where the ends justify the means. This requires patience and a belief in a future payoff.
This is the essential dilemma of a great Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux. Do we enjoy its youthful power, with vibrant fruit and assertive tannins, or do we cellar it for decades, waiting patiently for complex tertiary notes of leather and earth to emerge?
And like the Fantastic Four itself, a classic Bordeaux is a blend. Cabernet Sauvignon may be the leader, but Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot are essential teammates, each playing a critical role to create a harmonious and powerful whole.
A fine example would be a Château Cantemerle from a structured vintage like 2018.
The Invisible Woman: The Elegance of Champagne
Sue Storm is the heart and soul of the team and often underestimated by friend and foe alike. Her true power does not lie in her invisibility alone. She is a catalyst for the team, projecting a nearly impenetrable force field to provide an edge in the most critical conditions.
Those situations could occur when needing to impress the inlaws, or turning up to a birthday party you're invited to. Those situations clarly call for Champagne. It stands for elegance, complexity, and a surprising longevity, often overlooked in favor of more bombastic wines. Its delicate, persistent bubbles rise with an unstoppable grace. Could a subtle force field be keeping them so perfectly contained?
The Human Torch: The Unexpected Vintage Port
"Flame On!"—or let's say, "Port On!"
The hot-headed, impulsive, yet undeniably charismatic Johanny Storm is all youthful energy and showmanship. As he brings heat and excitement, he is truly something special. And what other wine is literally opened with a flame?
A rare, old Vintage Port. For bottles aged many decades, the cork can become too fragile to pull with a corkscrew. The classic method involves heating port tongs until they are red-hot, clamping them on the neck of the bottle for a moment, and then touching the heated glass with a cold, wet feather. The neck cracks off cleanly. It's a dangerous, theatrical trick suited only to the most adventurous enthusiasts and leading Sommeliers. Much like Johnny, it's all about bringing the heat for a spectacular result.
A powerhouse like Taylor's Vintage Port comes to mind.
The Thing: The Terroir-Driven Hero
Tragic yet beloved, Ben Grimm is the rock of the Fantastic Four. His formidable, stony exterior protects a profound depth of compassion. He is powerful, yet gentle and fundamentally down-to-earth.
What better match than a natural orange wine? These wines, made from white grapes with extended skin contact, have a texture and structure that is undeniably 'stony'. The palate often reveals a rugged, terroir-driven character with notes of dried orange peel and herbs, all supported by a gentle tannic grip. Like Ben, an orange wine is complex, sometimes misunderstood, but ultimately offers a uniquely honest and grounded experience.
A producer like Sepp & Maria Muster, with their wine named ‘Erde' (Earth), perfectly embodies this powerful and soulful character.
Peter Douglas
