Showing posts with label #legendarywine. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

LeDomduVin: Petrus! What else?

Petrus! What else?

1982, 1989 & 1990

I posted so many pictures and posts on my social media and blog that some of you might think I have a cult fascination for Petrus. An obsession even. And you're probably right!

Yet, who wouldn't?

Isn't it fascinating that a wine could command such a high price?

Isn't it fascinating that being so sought-after and coveted, it is one of the world's top 10 most counterfeited wines?

Isn't it fascinating that it is so secretive and inconsistent regarding the details of the labels, even on bottles from the same vintage, that you (and even the most experienced of us) may never really know if the bottle you have in your hand is real or fake?

My fascination for Petrus results from all of the above and beyond.

I'm entirely fascinated by Petrus as it is so expensive. I always feel humble and privileged in its presence.

Although I have never been able to afford such wine, it has always been a treat to be able to buy, open, taste and serve as many bottles as I did in my 32 years career as a Sommelier/Wine Buyer working for renowned restaurants, boutique wine retailers and large corporate companies.

Fascinated also as, for 9 years in my previous job, I was a Wine Quality Control Director in charge of inspecting all the bottles we bought, especially those from Auction Houses and private cellars, and inspected so many bottles of Petrus.

Fascinated as this wine is unconventional, famous yet mysterious, traditional yet modern.

Secluded, discreet, old school, restricted, noble and anchored in the history of its terroir as one of the earliest vineyards established in Pomerol in the mid-18th century.

And yet, at the same time, classic, sophisticated, contemporary, world-renowned, adulated, revered, and praised by the whole wine industry, collectors, connoisseurs, amateurs and beyond.

Isn't it fascinating?

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

Photo taken in the cellar of one of our restaurants while inspecting some label and bottle details for a post on my blog.

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #petrus #pomerol #bordeaux #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #legend #legendary #legendarywine #classicwine #lesphotosadom

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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

LeDomduVin: Visiting Old and Rare Ladies | (Part 2) | TLC as needed

Visiting Old and Rare Ladies | (Part 2) | TLC as needed

On my previous post (here), I was telling you that, 2-3 times a week, I'm visiting the Old and Rare Ladies of the Display Cellar of the French Restaurant "Le Pan Apicius" located in the Headquarters Building of the company I have been working for, for the past 5 years, (Goldin Group), to provide them with some TLC (Tenderness, Love and Care) as needed.

As you know, storage conditions, climate and environment are crucial for these Ladies to age gracefully and the best way possible without getting too "old", "decrepit" and/or "unbearable" to quickly (Am I still talking about bottles of wine? 😉).

However, do not freak out Ladies, it is unavoidable, with age come skin creases and outfit crisis (i.e. understand damaged or deteriorating label), and I'm here for you to help and remedy to this undesirable situation (I think that I'm not going to make any friends amongst the women reading this post...)....

So here we are, a few weeks ago, we had a major issue with the cooling unit maintaining the temperature and humidity levels in the display cellar (which unfortunately took a few days to be repaired) and I realised that the humidity level was going down around 50-55% instead of the usual and ideal 70-75% level.

You see the problem with old ladies is that once they lay down comfortably and adapted to their environment, better not move them to prevent from choking or brusk them, moreover they get very cranky and take days to settle down back in the right mood after being moved ...

As a consequence, and despite the use of additional water buckets placed in the cellar the duration of the repair, some of these old and rare Lady's labels started to dry up and get slightly detached.

It was a horrible sight for a Sommelier like me... I couldn't watch my old Ladies friends dried up...

I had to do something.. And so I did... I decided to dress them up with a plastic film to maintain the label in place and avoid further deterioration... a sort of a makeup to make them pretty and resplendent once again.... what will I not do for these Ladies.... ?!? How could I resist facing these "Grand Dames" in great distress?

Let's get dressed up Ladies.... especially you... yeah, you... the very old ones (...antic should I dare to say... historical might be better) from one of the most unique collections of Chateau d'Yquem outside the Chateau with vintages dating back to 1825... I really don't want to see you undressed...

Latour 1945 detached Label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 bottle without the label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 detached label © LeDomduVin

Label Protection Operation Tools © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 detached label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin

Latour 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Mouton 1947 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Mouton 1949 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1945 slightly damaged and detached label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1945 slightly damaged and detached label © LeDomduVin

Lafite 1945 with plastic film covered label © LeDomduVin

H Jayer 1996 Vosne-Romanée Cros- Parantoux label © LeDomduVin

Yquem 1856 slightly detached label © LeDomduVin

Beautiful, aren't they? Yes, I know, this Display Cellar is a Sommelier, or should I say a collector, dream come true.

I feel very privileged and humbled to be able to hold and take care of these beauties, memories of the past who survived history and still live to this day... They need to be preserved and tend to until maybe one day someone decides to lay them forever in a museum or offer them a better end by savoring them religiously right after listening to their last whisper when releasing the cork.... and let them finally take their last breath... (sigh)

NB: I hope you get the metaphors in my way of writing these posts... otherwise ask someone to explain you... it is second degree mixed French-American humor... but some of you might not get it at all.... (sigh)

LeDomduVin

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