Reading back through these posts I realize I rarely delve into the world of wine – my passion and my career. So I thought I’d share a week in the life in that fabulous world of wine. During a master class today with Michel Chapoutier of M. Chapoutier fame, I thought I’d share some thoughts on how great New York is and the amazing people you meet – all passionate about the juice!
Monday - Wake with slight hangover and swear off drinking for the week. I feel old. Head to mid-town for Kobrand tasting. Chuckle to myself as I walk in and see many vintages of Roederer Cristal. I feel young again. The president of Roederer is in town and pulls out a ‘79 which I enjoy responding to emails. Whip through the Delas range noting the Hermitage looks great. Move to the Pichon Longueville’s and agree with others that the ‘95 is superb.
Tuesday - Head into work early to check on new portfolio tasting being held there during the day. Head to Public restaurant for tasting with Dave ‘fu#king’ Powell of Torbreck wines. Very colourful language through out and I start to get homesick. The silence of tasting shattered when sales rep drops bottle of Run Rig Shiraz covering my colleagues white shirt with Aussie Shiraz. Very humerous. He should’ve heeded our warning not to taste in white shirts. School boy error. As David leaves Rolf Binder of Rolf Binder (Veritas Wines). More Barossa juice. Serious wines to go with serious purple teeth. Leave Public feeling quite mellow. Work the floor that night.
Wednesday – Catch up on inventory at the restaurant. New wines in – descriptions for the staff, reprint list, etc. Have 3 tastings at the restaurant. A 1.00, 2.00, 3.00. Work the floor.
Thursday - Don the suit and head up town feeling all Mad Men like. Lunch with the Henschke’s – Steven and Prue at Porter house steak restaurant. Our table looks over Central Park, shilloettes of empty Cyril and Hill of Grace in the foreground. Steven and Prue are lovely and passionate. Pepper them with questions in between steak, fries and onion rings. They oblige accordingly. Work the floor.
Friday - Work the floor. Busy – nightclub proportions. Drink a ‘beer’. My palate is thankful so I drink a couple more.
Saturday - Regret drinking the couple more. Work the floor.
Sunday – The Lords Day in more importantly my day off. Football watching occurs.
Monday – Master class at Hearth Restaurant with Gaston Hochar of Chateau Musar in Lebanon. Blown away by these wines. They actually seem to get younger as they get older. Scribble ‘the Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ on my notes. Vintages tasted – Red- ‘2000, ‘95, ‘81, ‘72, ‘66. White – ‘99, ‘95, ‘69. Gaston tells us to “detect life (energy) in the wine. Look for truth”. I leave inspired.
Tuesday – Random tastings at the restaurant throughout the day. Sales rep drops full spit bucket over the bar and my notes. I flash back to my colleague and the white shirt incident. Head home and shower then into Public Restaurant for Clarendon Hills dinner paired with their wines. It’s a late evening with lots of purple teeth.
Wednesday - Wake and look for Tuxedo jacket from the night before. Marvel when I find it stuffed in a shelf in my apartment. Wonder how I’m going to taste wine today and spit with out following through. Meet colleague at Bar Bolud of Chef Daniel Bolud fame and feel better as he looks worse than I feel from the night before. Head down stairs and check coats, greeted by sales rep and two glasses Bollinger Champagne before being seated for master class with Michel Chapoutier. Sitting next to Master of Wine from previous nights dinner and am thankful I’m not alone feeling a touch shabby. The champagne helps. Very interesting presentation from Michel and learn about bacteria on the vine roots converting minerals from the soils into liquid which is then absorbed by the plant. The Ermitage looks great. Finish with terrines, cured meat and Ermitage. Head downtown to work for 4.30 tasting. No spilling this time. Work the floor.
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