Thursday, March 30, 2023

LeDomduVin: Flagrant délit de servir du vin... ...a Sommelier job!




Flagrant délit de servir du vin...
...a Sommelier job!



Looking at these candid pictures of me pouring some wines at an event recently brings back some bittersweet memories of my youth when I first served a glass of a prestigious wine to a customer, 31 years ago.

I had worked in bars and bistros pouring beers and inexpensive wines before, between the age of 16-18 years old. Yet, my official first time pouring a great wine, while on trial for a night, in a gastronomic restaurant, in Bordeaux, was for a Christmas night celebration, on December 26th, 1992.







I was 19 years old. Immature and did not think that night through prior to accepting the job.

The restaurant was jammed, wholly packed, (overbooked, I should say). We were understaffed for the number of reservations, the tables and chairs were squeezed, leaving no room for doing our job properly, and the whole service, from 7pm to 2am, was a real nightmare.

Back then, in France, it was not uncommon, even in posh gastronomic restaurants like this one, to mistreat, overwork and underpay restaurant employees. I even remember crying a little, shattered due to nervosity and fatigue, saying to myself, while polishing the glasses at 3am: "I will never work in the restaurant business".



And, yet, 31 years later, despite many other crazy and unfair nights, and so many times repeating to myself that I should stop and do something else, I have surprisingly made a career out of it.

Call me crazy, but being, respectively, a bartender, a waiter, a captain, a chef de rang, a Maitre d'Hotel, a Sommelier, a Chef Sommelier, an Assistant Restaurant Manager, a Restaurant Manager, a wine store manager, then director, a Wine Quality Control Director, a Senior Manager in wine management, a private/personal Sommelier, and a wine buyer all along, during all these years, has been (and still is) an exhilarating, compelling and thrilling adventure of a lifetime that brought me to work in some of the most exciting wine hubs in the world: Bordeaux, Paris, London, New York, and Hong Kong.

I love my job! 😊👍🍷

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #pouringwine #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob 



Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

LeDomduVin: Jacques Selosse et La Conseillante





Jacques Selosse and La Conseillante



Today, for a private lunch, I brought these two bottles chosen by the host (as always, suggested by your humble servant 😇 🍷🥂). 

I like people who still dare to drink for the lunch! 

In my opinion, it is very pleasing to see, as it has become a rare thing with the rise of low/no alcohol wines (and other beverages), as well as the loud and heavy anti-alcohol ad campaigns and the rapidly growing no-alcohol attitude, in recent years. 

I mean, put yourself in my shoes, it is extremely difficult for a Sommelier, like me, who dedicated 32 years of his life and career to wine and spirits (alcohol in general), to see its decline and be reduced to nearly nothing, after being produced for thousands of years, without being able to do anything to prevent it. 





Wine must no longer be viewed as a vulgar alcoholic beverage intoxicating and poisoning mankind, as it has been described and presented lately, but, once again, as having the intrinsic cultural and traditional values that made it part of a large majority of human lives for the past 6,000 years, at least.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom 

NB: Tasting notes for these 2 wines coming soon 

***** work in progress *****



@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #vin #wine #vino #wein #champagne @domainejacquesselosse @jacquesselosselover #jacquesselosse @chateaulaconseillante #chateaulaconseillante #pomerol #bordeaux #lesphotosadom #tasting #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife



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LeDomduVin: Champagne Henriot Blanc de Blancs Brut NV





Champagne Henriot Blanc de Blancs Brut NV



Tasted a couple of times recently, and I really enjoyed this champagne. 

Fresh, light, crisp, aerial, subtle, refined, focused, and mineral with feather-light white stone and citrus fruit flavors as well as timid white flower and toasted nuances. 

Light on its feet, some people may think that it lacks a bit of substance and texture or even complexity. 

Yet, despite its lightness, it still possesses a certain presence and elegance, with a certain sense of purity and focus conveyed through the palate, from the beginning to the end, by crisp, razor-sharp acidity and mineral limpidity. Loved it! 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #vin #wine #vino #wein #champagne @champagnehenriot #champagnehenriot #henriot #lesphotosadom #tasting #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

LeDomduVin: Selfie time with Opus One




Selfie time with Opus One



Yesterday, while I was having lunch with our event team, doing a food/wine pairing tasting session (see my previous post), at the same restaurant, the Opus One team and one of their distributors were having a tasting lunch with some Sommeliers and F&B people, in one of the private rooms. 

My lunch finished, I paid them a visit to say hello, and was invited to taste 2 of the wines: 







“Overture” Napa Valley NV 

(Opus One 2nd wine) is a blend of different vintages (predominately 2019 vintage for this one, I was told) 

Nice, bold, generous, forward, fruity, ripe, Bordeaux-style with that “je ne sais quoi” of California vibes and taste. Really enjoyed it. 


Opus One Napa Valley 2018

Behind its lovely dark garnet robe, it displayed incentive aromas of blackberry, cassis, and black cherry, with floral notes of violets and earthy nuances. Rich and bold, yet elegant and distinguished, it expanded nicely with fresh and fruity, licorice, and dark chocolate flavors. Beautifully balanced, with smooth integrated tannins and fresh acidity, the palate is soft, round, creamy, and layered, and the seamless finish is an invitation to another glass. 



Before leaving, I had to take a selfie with the protagonists (right to left):

Laurent Delassus (Vice Président of International Marketing at Opus One (@laurent.delassus_opus_one)

Stephen Raducki (@st4phen7) Kerry Wines

Yvonne Chiong Mougin (@yvonnechiong) (Export Manager South East Asia, Hong Kong and Macao for Opus One)

And your humble servant, me, (@ledomduvin)

Missing in the picture was Chris Lynch (Opus One CEO)

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom



@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein @opusonewinery #opusone #napavalley #california #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Tasting Session



Tasting session 



I selected these wines for an event coming up soon and we tasted them today, for the lunch, as a pre-event food & wine pairing tasting session. 

I was confident that they will taste well, as I tried them all before, yet, they showed even better than I remembered. 

More especially La Mission Haut-Brion 2012, showed beautifully after 2 hours of decanting, while I had some concerns as it is a lesser vintage and still tasted very tight less than a year ago.

Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain NV

Nice, soft, gentle, simple, clean, quaffable, nothing extravagant, just a good entry-level Champagne.

Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros “Côte Bouguerots” 2016

Light yellow color with green nuances. Fresh, clean nose, mineral, white and yellow stone fruits, lemony aromas, with light buttery notes. Fresh, clean, and zesty on the palate, focus and steely with razor-sharp acidity, balanced, light and limpid, cleansing. Loved it. 

Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru “Les Referts” 2019

Attractive pale golden color. Beautiful nose with mineral, floral, and white stone fruits aromas, with some yellow fruits nuances. The palate is dense, ample, generous, nicely expanding, and coating, with that mineral glycerin sensation that makes you salivate and want more of it. Gorgeous wine. Loved it. 

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan 2012

2+ hours of decanting and a few more swirls in the glass were necessary for this sleeping beauty to reveal itself, but when it did, it showed all the complexity, charm, elegance, and distinction La Mission is known for. Rich, complex, layered, long, satisfying, and fulfilling. Loved it. 


And, once again, it comforted the fact that great Bordeaux can be made even in lesser vintages if you’re patient enough to give them a chance. 

In any case, both Chateau Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, which are my favorite Bordeaux, always take 10-15 years to reach their ideal window of drinkability and can last for decades after that. 

Once again, I was really pleased with my selection and everyone at the table concurred. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #tastingnotes #tastingsession #tasting #champagne #burgundy #bordeaux #champagnehenriot #williamfevre #bacheletmonnot #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob 

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

LeDomduVin: Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf du Pape 2019




Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf du Pape 2019



I selected this wine for the welcome cocktail of a film screening event, a few days ago, and it showed fantastically well. 

I was pleased, even though it is a sacrilege to open a Châteauneuf du Pape so young, even more of a crime to pour it into plastic cups. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😄👍🍷


Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 2019

Nice dark garnet color, it boasted warm and comforting aromas of dark berries and plum, with mineral, earthy, and stony notes. The palate was opened, rich, ample, and generous, without being heavy, layered with similar flavors as the nose with scorched earth nuances, balanced, juicy, and long, and so easy to drink in a very bistro-isch way, with or without food. Loved it. Great value for money. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom


@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #lesphotosadom @levieuxdonjon #levieuxdonjon #chateauneufdupape #rhone #france #sommelier #sommlife #sommelierlife

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Portait and Jacquesson Cuvée 744 Extra Brut



LedomduVin Portait and Jacquesson Cuvée 744 Extra Brut



Soon turning 50 and have never been so active in my life, between working at the office during the day (market analysis, sourcing, buying as well as handling logistics and paperwork) and doing the service at night and on weekends.

Hard work and long hours, like most people in F&B, yet, I love my job. 32 years career in the food and wine industry.

A few days ago, I was serving Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 744 Extra Brut (and other wines) for a big event. Light, dry, crisp, mineral, zesty, perfect as an aperitif to awaken your tastebuds.

It is the champagne of my son Jacques (as I like to say) 😁👍🍾🥂

It was a fun night.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom


@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #vin #wine #vino #wein @champagne_jacquesson #jacquesson #champagne #portrait #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #lesphotosadom #ilovemyjob


Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Thursday, March 16, 2023

LeDomduVin: Bouchard Père et fils dégustation





Bouchard Père et fils dégustation 



A few days ago, a "degustation" (*) of old and rare ladies (as I like to call them), in mythical vintages, took place somewhere (I can't tell you where). 

I was just passing by and therefore was not a part of it. Yet, the Head Sommelier of the restaurant showed me the bottles and even offered me to taste one of them, which I felt very privileged. 

I must admit that the people who tasted them, that night, were very lucky, as it is not every day one can taste such old and rare bottles, needless to say, have access to them in such great conditions. All from the estate I was told. 

The degustation included the following wines: 

Bouchard Pere & Fils Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Combettes 1966

Hospices de Beaune Meursault-Charmes Premier Cru Cuvée Albert Grivault 1964 
by Maison Bouchard Pere et Fils

Domaines du Chateau de Beaune Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 1983 
by Maison Bouchard Pere et Fils








Domaines du Chateau de Beaune Beaune Clos de la Mousse Premier Cru Monopole 1959

This is the one I tried and it was absolutely stunning! In a mindblowing condition, perfect! Soft, silky, and beautifully balanced, displaying delicate red cherry fruit flavors, superb freshness for a wine of that age, and a seamless finish. I was very impressed with how good it was. Looooved it. 

Bouchard Pere et Fils Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot Premier cru 1995

Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune-Greves Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus 1964 (magnum)

What a great lineup! 

I can only imagine how good the other wines must have been. And, whether they were as good (or not), just being part of this unique experience must have been a truly exceptional moment. 

I must say, I envy them. Yet, I'm glad I had the chance to taste one of them. Thank you. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

(*) (I prefer this french word to the simple word "tasting", as it sounds better and more sophisticated 😃👍🍷)

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #vin #wine #vino #wein @bouchardpereetfils #bouchardpereetfils #burgundy #oldandrarewines #oldandrareladies #oldandrarevintages



Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

LeDomduVin: Quaffable wines



Quaffable wines


It is fun to regularly participate in food & wine pairing/tasting for various events in our restaurants and other venues, as well as doing and supervising the wine service during these events.

Organizing the wines for these events and tasting them with the team allows me to come down from the stratospheric heights of top wine levels where I usually spend most of my time, to come back down to earth, to the world of more affordable quaffable wines.

Yesterday, we tasted these wines:

Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain NV
A blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, it is gentle, nice, and easy, light to medium bodied with a fine mousse, crispy without being too acidic, and good minerality and chalky nuances, delivering pear, lemon flavors, with light notes of ginger, seashell and toasted brioche.

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray 2020
Soft, supple, and mineral, well balanced, light-bodied, and easy-going, yet rounded by ripe fruit flavors, which almost made it taste sweet with the Thai-influenced food we had with it. The finish was a bit short for my taste (but that's me). 

William Fevre Montmains Chablis Premier Cru 2019
Fresh, really crisp, light to medium bodied, superbly balanced between the ripeness of the fruit and the razor-sharp lemony acidity, developing a cleansing steeliness marked by a mouthwatering minerality bringing both structure and texture lasting to the zesty lingering finish. Loved it.

La Rioja Alta S.A. Vina Alberdi Reserva Rioja DOCa 2018
Frankly, I had higher expectations for this wine as I love this producer, and Rioja wines in general, more especially when it is a "Reserva", but it was light, too light, and short unfortunately, lacking both charm, complexity as well as structure and texture (in my opinion). Not a bad wine, just "blah"...

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied 2016
As the main course was fish, I could have chosen a Pinot Noir, but I preferred a Cabernet Franc instead. It was a great alternative, as this wine was rather light, with great acidity, bright red, and dark fruits, integrated tannins, excellent balance, and long-lasting fin. Loved it.

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #tasting #tastingnotes #vin #wine #vino #wein #champagne #loirevalley #burgundy #chablis #rioja


Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Some young Bordeaux wines...




Some young Bordeaux wines...



Some Bordeaux wines, far too young to drink now, that will probably take the next 5-10 years to reach their opening window of ideal drinkability, while lasting and ageing beautifully for many years after that. 

Château Mouton Rothschild 2019
Château Margaux 2019

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin @chateaumoutonrothschild_ #chateaumoutonrothschild #châteaumargaux 
@chateaumargaux #pauillac #margaux #vin #wine #vino #wein


Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).