Taste For Yourself (some spoilers ahead…)

 I always love to extend this class right on into the weekend – and so last weekend, I watched Somm III (the movie). I was a big fan of the first two, naturally. The third installment brought in several of the themes we’ve learned in class: emerging wine regions, the importance of terroir, warming up too-cold wine with your hands, and the challenges that producers face shipping out of state.

The film focuses on three of the most famous and established oenophiles, Jancis Robinson, Fred Dame, and Steven Spurrier. Steven Spurrier is the merchant who organized the “Judgment of Paris” in 1976 – an event famous for putting California wines on the map, when California wines beat out French wines for both white and red categories (a huge surprise at the time). And Jancis Robinson did for wine what Julia Child did for food.

What was interesting is just how much of a pull these three wine experts have had in the past four decades on global perception of wine, and on just what “quality” means. Critic Jancis Robinson even said that she hated blind tastings, because she was afraid she wouldn’t like a wine, say so, and completely tarnish that producer’s reputation. These experts uncovered totally unheard of wines and launched their producers into prominence with the publishing of a single article!

But at the same time, the three get together to open and taste the original bottles that first spurred their own loves of wine. They blind taste all three, and rank their favorites – each ends up with a different favorite, and each describes the wines in uniquely personal ways.

Even if you listen to the critics, remember that wine is a deeply personal experience – make sure to taste for yourself!

In case you’d like to watch, either come to my place, or find Somm 3 on Amazon Video, YouTube or Google Play. You can watch the first 2 installments on Netflix.