Tuesday, January 25, 2022

LeDomduVin: Happy Chinese New Year 2022 Year of the Tiger



Happy Chinese New Year 2022
Year of the Tiger

by @domelgabor 2022

Xīnnián kuàilè 新年快乐
Gong hei fat choy 恭喜发财

Happy Chinese New Year and best wishes for 2022

Health, happiness, joy, wealth, prosperity, and success to you and your family and loved ones. 

Take good care of yourself and stay safe. 

Dom

@domelgabor #domelgabor #happynewyear #newlunaryear #chinesenewyear #bestwishes @ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesdessinsadom #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #lescollagesadom


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LeDomduVin: Portrait




Portrait: LeDomduVin


Reposting this picture from 2 years ago, somewhat nostalgic about this time when I used to open great bottles on a daily basis. 

And also because I love this picture.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #portrait #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wine #vin #vino #wein #gruaudlarose @gruaud_larose #saintjulien #bordeaux #dominiquenoel


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Wednesday, January 19, 2022

LeDomduVin: Club des Sommeliers Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueuil 2018




Club des Sommeliers 

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueuil 2018


Funny enough, looking at some pictures from about a year ago, nearly the same day, I realized that I also bought a bottle of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueuil. 

Obviously, January must have a subliminal effect on my love and occasional craving for Cabernet Franc wines 🍷 😋 👍😁

Last Sunday, after biking until late in the afternoon, with my daughter, we stopped by a French gourmet store, in TKO, bought a few groceries and my eyes fell on this bottle from the "Club des Sommeliers".

I don't think I've ever tasted a bottle from "Club des Sommeliers" before, so I took it to try. And, coincidentally, I started writing that post about "Sommelier" earlier that day (see my previous post on the subject from a few days ago). I guess that bottle inspired me the rest of the post that day while sipping it with some charcuterie. 

The wine had nothing extraordinary, and, at that price, nothing extraordinary was expected, nor anything unexpected or wrong either. It was just a nice, quaffable, and approachable Cabernet Franc, fairly harmonious, well balanced between the fruit and the acidity and the tannins. 

The tannins are present, and add to the structure and texture, yet are integrated and not astringent. The fruit is also ripe enough to please the palate, provide a juicy attack and mid-palate, and prevent the green vegetal and astringent edges some Cab Franc are renowned for. 

Nice and quaffable, as I was saying. It went perfectly well with the saucisson. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom 

NB: It is important to always keep a saucisson handy for any occasion at home. 


@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein  #saintnicolasdebourgueil #cabfranc #cabernetfranc #loirevally #clubdessommeliers @clubdessomneliers #saucisson 

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LeDomduVin: How much time should you spend on a bottle of wine?





How much time should you spend on a bottle of wine? 
I don't know...
About half an hour?
😁👍🍷

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesmemesadom #joke #drinkresponsibly #takeyourtime #keepcalmandhaveanotherglassofwine #wine #vin #vino #wein


Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

Monday, January 17, 2022

LeDomduVin: Sommelier



Sommelier 



Reflecting on my 30-year career working with wine, including 25 years as a certified Sommelier and Wine Buyer, I have a profound respect for this profession and confidence in (most of) my peers.

Despite the annoying know-it-all attitude and often out-of-place arrogance, some may display, most Sommeliers (male and female alike) are usually very knowledgeable, passionate, and skilled.

I find those with years of experience and travels, driven by passion and curiosity, often to be the most humble and savvy wine people I know.

Whether at a restaurant, a hotel, a "caviste" (niche boutique wine store), a supermarket, a cellar, a winery, a distributor, a wholesaler, a Negociant, and/or any other places and positions requiring such profile, the role of a Sommelier is to act as a relay between the producers and the consumers to:

- tell the story behind the label (producer, history, geography, topography, climate, weather, exposure, nature of the soil and subsoil, the landscape, grape varieties, and everything else that constitutes the terroir and influences the style and taste of the wine).

- convey the message of both the producer and its wine (particularity of the producer, the vintage, a specific terroir, vineyard management, winemaking styles and techniques, ageing, etc...).

- transmit the passion and love for wine to both entertain and convince the guests and customers the recommended wine is the most ideal and fits the purpose perfectly.

- sell the wine by sharing knowledge and passion, love and conviction, opinions and facts, while respecting and understanding both the customer's needs and the wines themselves.

- make the customers travel to the place where the wine is from, speak about the wine as if you've made it, and enhance their journey with stories and images.

- treat the customers fairly, with a smile, and always with the same respect and interest, whether they want the least or the most expensive wines, or take your advice or not.


A Sommelier's knowledge, passion, love, curiosity, storytelling talent skills, as well as his or her attitude and behaviour, greatly contribute to how satisfying the experience will be.


And, to conclude, without getting into too many details, (as if I was really getting deep into the subject, I could write a full book about "What is a Sommelier and what it takes to be a good one!" - maybe I should write that book 🤔😁👍🍷), for now, I will simply say that, besides all the above, a properly educated and trained Sommelier is an individual who has a very large array of knowledge and skills in many subjects, domains, and topics and has acquired, with time and experience, the essential "savoir-faire" (know-how), to respond and accommodate any customer's inquiries, needs and demands far beyond just wine.  

A properly trained Sommelier's knowledge, skills, and know-how must also cover and extend to pretty much anything you can drink, eat and smoke: from mineral water to tea and coffee, spirits, liqueurs, saké, Eaux-de-vie, cocktails, whisky, Cognac, Armagnac, and so much more, basically anything from the aperitif to the digestif, as well as to all the food on the menu in detail, from the "canapés" to the "petits fours" (or "mignardises" if you prefer) and all the various dishes in between, and of course cigars.  

A properly educated and trained Sommelier is a passionate and curious individual, always eager to learn and understand, accept and adapt to new things without forgetting about the basics and the classics, who will continue to grow his or her knowledge and skills all of his or her life as the world, the people and the trends, moods, modes, and techniques evolve and change with time. 

That said, and despite how he or she will evolve depending on his or her work experiences and choices, a Sommelier will always evolve with a foot anchored to certain service, culinary and hospitality traditions, which are the staples and standards of this profession, and to which a Sommelier is also very respectful and bond to.  

A Sommelier is like a knight! A guardian of the old guard's know-how and traditions, about the "Art de Vivre" (Art of Living), as much as the "Arts de la Table et du Service" (Table and Service Arts) and the "Art Culinaire" (Culinary Art), (by always seconding and complementing the Chef and the rest of the team), with a "je-ne sais-quoi" of a modern twist attitude, allowing him and her to stand out (through time) as an essential and indissociable part of the wine (and spirits) and food scene, and industry.        

I have received this grape back in 1997, after completing my Sommelier certification at the Hospitality and Tourism Management School of Talence (Bordeaux),  and it never left my side ever since. 

Proud to be a Sommelier. Proud to wear the grape. Proud to convey the message of the producers. Proud to share my knowledge and use my skills to enhance the experience of my clients, customers, and patrons.  

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

NB: It is a beautiful grape. It was all gold 25 years ago, and now it looks silver. It may have lost its gold, yet it still shines like it did on its first day. I broke the pin in the back, long ago, and (kind of) repaired it with a safety pin 🧷 😁👍🍷😅😅😅 It is very sentimental between my grape and me. It is my precious.


@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #grape #lesphotosadom #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #lifeinwine #wineinlife #lifeiswine #wineislife #sommeliergrape #grape #loveforwine #sharingknowledge 


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Thursday, January 13, 2022

LeDomduVin: Château Haut Montizeau 2019




Château Haut Montizeau 2019


Blaye - Côtes de Bordeaux 
à Berson, en Gironde 

À regarder les infos de ces derniers jours dans le sud-ouest de la France (en France en général), j'ai eu un petit coup de blues et surtout beaucoup de pensées inquiètes pour la famille, les amis, les proches et même les producteurs de vins, et les autres. 

Entre les pluies diluviennes, la crue des rivières, la montée du COVID, les grèves et autres manifestations, la politique et le reste, j'avais besoin de me rapprocher de mon pays, de ma région d'origine. 

Je suis passé au mini-supermarché du coin pour acheter une bouteille, sur le chemin de la maison, la tête vide, sans vraiment savoir ce dont j'avais envie. 

Puis, j'ai vu cette bouteille de Château Haut Montizeau, une petite propriété de la commune de Berson, un petit village à environ 5 kilomètres du village où j'ai grandi. Un petit bout de chez moi, de chez ma mère plus précisément. 

Parfait pour me rapprocher des gens à qui je tiens, en pensées, même si à 10000 kilomètres de là (*). 







Le Château Haut Montizeau s'étend sur 12 hectares de vignes, plantées avec 100% Merlot, d'une moyenne d'âge de 30 ans. Le sol est argilo-sableux. Et le 2019, bien qu'un peu jeune, est déjà très approchable, et vraiment pas mal du tout, surtout pour le prix. Un bel équilibre, sur le fruit, juste ce qu'il faut d'acidité, des tannins présents, mais intégrés et soyeux. Une jolie surprise, qui m'a rappelée la maison et mon enfance, en buvant les premières gorgées. Merci. 

Santé, Cheers! 

Dom

(*) Hong Kong to Bordeaux - Map data courtesy of © 2022 Google INEGI


@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #closertohome #wine #vin #vino #wein #lesphotosadom #pensees #chateauhautmontizeau #blaye #cotesdeblaye #cotesdebordeaux #maregion

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Tuesday, January 4, 2022

LeDomduVin: I ❤ WINE JANUARY


I ❤ WINE JANUARY 

by @ledomduvin 2022


Everyone can do and think whatever they want, it is their choice. And, thus, I won't elaborate on the subject of "Dry January" as I've already created this meme that says it all, so, enough said!   

Yet, the only thing I will add is: 

Drink some wine, responsibly, and drink it with (and for) pleasure, to enhance a meal, a conversation, a moment, an occasion, or just simply to celebrate life, with family and friends, and colleagues, and clients or patrons, or whomever you like to drink wine with, or even alone, enjoying a blissful and pleasurable moment for yourself and by yourself (we all need those occasionally).  

By doing so, you will help all the people working within the wine industry, from the vigneron-winemaker working in the vineyards and crafting the wine, to all the other people who contributed, along the way, for this wine to arrive safely and in good condition to your glass.  

And, if you just take a minute to think about it, you will quickly realize that it amounts to a lot of people. Just to name a few: 
  • Vineyard workers and owners
  • Wine Producers
  • Viticulturists 
  • Oenologists 
  • Winemakers
  • Logistics and transportation
  • Wine ambassadors
  • Wine agents
  • Wine importers
  • Wine distributors 
  • Wine merchants
  • Wine critics 
  • Wine writers
  • Wine educators
  • Wine specialists
  • Wine consultants 
  • Sommeliers and F&B workers in general 
  • Restaurants, brasseries, guinguettes, bars, clubs, discotheques, etc... 
  • Cavistes (and other wine retailers in general)
  • Wine warehouses
  • Wine and food trucks
  • Pop-up wine vendors
  • Wine Tastings, classes, dinners, and other events  
  • etc...

And, surely many others that also depend and/or work directly and/or indirectly with wine and the wine industry... 

So, you can do whatever you want, it is your choice, but, think that by stopping drinking wine for a full month, you also jeopardize the job and (to a certain extent) the life of all these people cited above and all the other ones that are not mentioned. Think about it...    

I'll let you meditate on that... 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom 




#ledomduvin @ledomduvin  #lesmemesadom #lesillustrationsadom #ilovewinejanuary #lovewinejanuary  #winejanuary #therevolutionbeginswithyou #wine #vin #vino #wein #buvezduvin #achetezduvin #soutenezlesvignerons #soutenezlescavistes #soutenezlesbars #soutenezlesrestaurants #soutenezlarestauration #soutenezlescommercants #soutenezlesmetiersduvin #soutenezlesmetiersdebouche #saveawinemaker #winerevolution #enoughsaid 


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LeDomduVin: AIWC - Asia International Wine Competition 2021





AIWC - Tasting wine as a judge for the Asia International Wine Competition (at home) 😁👍🍷


AIWC - 

Asia International Wine Competition 2021



Once again, I'm so excited as, for the 4th consecutive year, I have been invited to participate in the Asia International Wine Competition (AIWC) as a Wine Judge. 






Thank you, Adam Levy (@alcoholprofessor) and Beth Dorrough (@bethdorrough) to give me the chance and the opportunity to participate in this wine competition, once again. It's always with great pleasure. 






This year again, the wine samples were sent at home for all the judges to taste. Definitely not as many wines as the previous years, but, hey, quality over quantity, right? 😉








Cheers! Santé! And may the best wines and best ratio value for money get the medals. 

Dom


NB: Wine tasted on December 18th, 2021 (forgot to post it on the blog earlier 😅)







#aiwc #asiainternationalwinecompetition #thealcoholprofessor #alcoholprofessor #thebespokemarketingco #wine #vin #vino #wein #winecompetition @ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #ledomduvin #winejudge #dominiquenoel



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