Virtual Tastings: Cellar

by: jorge ferraez

If someone would tell me that one day I would be doing virtual wine tastings I would have laughed with skepticism. Sharing sensatory experience of wine is crucial. But we also discovered that it was a different experience, one more centered in visual and auditive expressions of participants and using far more imagination rather than face to face interaction with other tasters.

So I organized my first virtual tasting ever, asked my participants to open a bottle of their favorite wine, a wine that could have a remembrance with the group from the best wines we have tasted. Everybody brought great wines to the Zoom meeting; There was a Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, a Pedro Ximenez, a Roll (from Mexico) and an ALION, so I decided to go with a Don Melchor 2010 from Concha y Toro in Chile; showing delicious notes of deep red fruit, currant, forest spice, dark chocolate and minty notes on a powerful yet silky and velvety texture and a powerful structure and complexity, perhaps one of my favorite Cabernet Sauvignons, and it was the perfect wine. After an hour of making comments and reviewing each one his own wine, we just relaxed, chatted and had a great happy hour with friends in wine.

After we left the meeting, I thought: “what a great thing this Pandemic has brought to me; the opportunity to meet with people hundreds of miles away, on the same subject and still enjoy our wines”.

01

RAMON BILBAO, VERDEJO 2018

  • Region: Rueda, Spain

  • Varietal: Verdejo

  • Price: $25

  • Aromas: Pear, hey, citric notes

  • Flavors: Asparagus, green apple, flowery

  • Impression: Crisp and bright

  • Structure: Light body, easy to drink

  • Drink with: Sushi, Manchego cheese, seafood in general

  • Why I loved this wine? Savory

My Rating: 89 pts.

02

CHATEAU CERTAN (DE MAY) 2004

  • Region: Pomerol, Bordeaux

  • Varietal: Mainly Merlot

  • Price: $250

  • Aromas: Foret fruit spice, rosemary

  • Flavors: Prune, truffle, currant, blackberries

  • Impression: Subtle and elegant

  • Structure: Complex, full bodied

  • Drink with: Beef, Pathe, Duckling

  • Why I loved this wine? Silky and layered with very complex flavors

My Rating: 96 pts.

03

DRY CREEK VINEYARD “THE MARINER” 2013

  • Region: Sonoma, California

  • Varietal: Red Blend

  • Price: $48

  • Aromas: Vanilla, red fruit compote, dry cherries

  • Flavors: Fig, cocoa, ripe plums

  • Impression: Powerful and complex

  • Structure: Elegant, round, nice balance

  • Drink with: Filet Mignon, NY Strip Steak, Lamb

  • Why I loved this wine? Soft tanins and toasted coffee notes

My Rating: 95 pts.

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