Date: dimanche 13 fevrier 2011
Location: Private residence in Soho, NYC.
Not sure where to begin - just that unsurmountable luck fell upon me while dining at 15 East 15th Sushi last Friday night. Turns out our Korean-Japanese Sommelier Seju Yang, is a serious wine aficionado, though he humbly claims to have been embarrased when realizing he was serving a Master Sommelier that night. The three of us naturally became fast friends that night due to our shared passions in food, drink, and fine wines. We were delighted when toward the end of our dinner, Seju brought out a box of 12 wines in excitement to show us the "fun stuff" he would be presenting at his Sunday night once monthly wine tasting...
WOW. And fun it was. We were blown away. Every next bottle that Seju brought out of the box was more eye popping, jaw dropping, than the last. Some truly crazy, obscure, unobtainable, rare French wines which have disappeared off the market - were sitting right before my very eyes. Can I touch??? Salivary glands watering.... licking my chops... How???? How does one procure such arcane, sophisticated and gorgeous beauties? More importanly, how can IIIIIIIIIIIII have a taaaaaaaaaaaaasteeee???
Desires answered - Seju extended an unsolicited invitation. What luck!! Jesse said to me, "You HAVE to go!" Words of the wise from a Master Somm, not to be missed.
2 days later, I found myself entering a magnificent private residence in Soho, NYC. The space was inherently built for wine tasting. Whoever lived in this home was certainly of the wine connoiusseur type, it was apparent (actually champagne). Professional wine glasses already set. Wines lined up and decanted. Wine tasting notes organized and printed for the tasters. Pretty finger goods, and sexy water in sophisticated water vases! A very warm welcome as I entered the home through its contempory elevator direct from ground floor. Sexy, swanky, New York just like you see in the hot movies.
What could have been a night with strangers - became a night mingling amongst easy, kindred food enthusiasts - super heavy weight wine collecting enthusiasts, I should add. A total of 13 burgundy wine sniffing and tastings, followed by a Seju introduction, followed by the taster's own tasting notes. So many Grand Crus that night!
My biggest takeaways from this evening were: 1) that I still have an unwavering love and appreciation for fine burgundies and their passion and patience, mystery and complexity; 2) learning to describe a wine as "cubic wine"; 3) being reminded that a taste of heavenly unimaginable, unobtainable wine - does truly change your perspective on things; 4) this night's pinot noir tasting again proved why most the common public is too hasty in its inability to appreciate burgundy - even the 1988's we tasted this night needed another good 10-20 years in the bottle!!; 5) reflecting on this amazing journey called my life - where I have met some of the most talented and gifted palates in the wine and food industry.... and last but not least, 6) I am bringing my own wine glass next time!!
Looking forward to the rest of Winter, Spring, and Summer discovering wine style NYC. Life uncessantly continues to surprise me. Soledad's onward food and wine journeys around the world... next stop, London for Decanter's Spanish Fine Wine Encounter!!
