2007 New York Wine Experience

This may sound like the quintessential newbie question, but what does one have to do in order to attend this event? As a burgeoning wine aficionado, the idea of tasting numerous wines in a three-day event is tantalizing! I spend so much of my disposable income buying and tasting wines, I'd love a chance to be bombarded with tasting options.

csquared78,

It's held every year around this time. Details on WS online or in the magazine.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by Wino90210:
2. Tastings were way too crowded...they need to thin attendees by at least 20%.

Thanks for the write up, wino. Don't count on any "thinning," in the future.

PH

Used to be in to cigars before I quit smoking and went to the big smoke a few times. Every person was always smoking a cigar always; it was always to crowded, way to smoky and generally cost a lot more that the value of what was given. I imagine the wine experience is similar aside from the smoke (replace with purple teeth maybe) in that it’s crowded and while there are some good/great wines your getting a lot of what you’re not looking for. Sharing my wine with a few thousand other folks would kinda damper the wine experience a little.

I can't stand tastings where people "belly up to the bar" and just stand there. When it's crowded, get your glass and get out of the way and take some time to enjoy the wine. I would like to make it to one of the big events at some point.

A good excuse to go to New york and avoid the event.

quote:

Originally posted by Wino90210:
A few comments from a first time attendee...

1. They serve great wine, at all events. Food was solid as well.

2. Tastings were way too crowded...they need to thin attendees by at least 20%.

3. Three days is too much, IMO. After the first night, I was done. Needed a day off...struggled through top ten/cramer/chard tasting. Chapoutier was overkill. By second night, had ZERO interest in tasting anything.

4. Most fun event was Blind Tasting this AM...was only 3/7 but the wotn (2005 Schrader Old Sparky) everyone on my table thought was an Aussie Shiraz! Personal favorite was 2005 Pontet Canet, but I had no clue it was a cab/bordeaux. NICE!

I probably have to pace myself more, or just do one night. At this point, all I want is a cold glass of beer.

Cheers!

Agree.
The only one I got correct was the Old Sparky by name, vineyard, bottle and vintage. I don't know how they all thought it was Aussie.
I did 76 wines the first night, and 56 the second night because I left an hour and a half earlier to go to dinner. 132 wines those two nights.

Orlando

We had a blast, although the seminars were hit and miss this year.

The Blind Tasting Panel, Matt Kramer's "Wines of my Heart", and the Four Chefs were my favorites.

The Chard seminar was tedious, and the Chapoutier tasitng was interesting in theory, but you might as well be doing a horizontal tasting of nail polish removers -they were so searingly young.

The Grand Tour was the best ever (and I've been to more than a few). The '97 Masseto (from magnum) made my knees buckle. What a memorable wine! The first wine I'm giving a 100P rating - ever.

And quite unexpectedly, Frankie Valli put on a terrific show. We stayed until the end of the banquet (a first). He had the crowd in a frenzy, especially the cougars. Having bottles of 98 Lynch-Bages and '04 Caymus Special Selection on the table was a definite upgrade in the vino dept.

I'll be back in 2-3 years.

Cheers,

Otis

Otis,

It was great finally meeting you. Sorry I couldn't go get pizza with you and BirDungy. I agree on the '97 Masseto. Kudos to Ornellaia for pouring 2 great wines ('95 Ornellaia and '97 Masseto) from magnum.

quote:

Originally posted by otisabdul:


The Blind Tasting Panel, Matt Kramer's "Wines of my Heart",

I always enjoy Kramer!



The Grand Tour was the best ever (and I've been to more than a few). The '97 Masseto (from magnum) made my knees buckle. What a memorable wine! The first wine I'm giving a 100P rating - ever.

Otis, I agree 100%. I think Masseto is equal or even exceeds Petrus and Le Pin of today for great Merlot.

quote:

Originally posted by Longboarder:
Otis,

It was great finally meeting you. Sorry I couldn't go get pizza with you and BirDungy. I agree on the '97 Masseto. Kudos to Ornellaia for pouring 2 great wines ('95 Ornellaia and '97 Masseto) from magnum.

We missed you both.
I prefered the Ornellaia (95 points) to the Masseto (94 points).
How did the Valdicava 01 Riserva tasted? I missed that 100 point wine.

How did the Valdicava 01 Riserva tasted?
I missed that 100 point wine. I overlooked it in the book.

Thanks for your comments on the Wine Experience. It takes a lot of work -- and incredible generosity from the wineries, who donate all the wines -- to put this event on each year. My takeaway from the Grand Tastings is the increasing diversity of the wine world -- convincing refutation of the argument that "international style" wines taste the same the world over.

I'm not surprised there is a diversity of opinion on which wines were best, or which seminars. Wine is personal! We all have our own unique palates. But an event like this allows us to expand our horizons. If you didn't try something you didn't like, you didn't taste enough.

Ultimately, the Wine Experience is about education as much as it is about entertainment. (Remember, it's charitable event that funds scholarship for students in the wine and hospitality industries). I found the Chardonnay and Chapoutier tastings extremely helpful in sharpening my understanding of variations on important themes.

Glad some of you will return next year. Please introduce yourselves.

Went to the Grand Tasting......I do not feel that there are too many people......just not enough room. I think I was able to taste all the wines I wanted (none of my faves ran out of wine) However, if the event could be held in a larger room(s) it would be very conducive to better tasting. Several times I came across a mind-blowing wine (like the Masseto), but was unable to get away from the crowd to truly relish the experience. However, wouldn't trade the experience for anything and I compliment WS for a great time!

By the way, where is next year's being held?

quote:

Originally posted by GatorGunner:
I do not feel that there are to many people......just not enough room.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by GatorGunner:

By the way, where is next year's being held?

New York
Oct 16

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Matthews:
Ultimately, the Wine Experience is about education as much as it is about entertainment. (Remember, it's charitable event that funds scholarship for students in the wine and hospitality industries). I found the Chardonnay and Chapoutier tastings extremely helpful in sharpening my understanding of variations on important themes.

Glad some of you will return next year. Please introduce yourselves.

Thomas, agree.
Although all the tastings were not the same quality, they were educational.
Having Chapoutier there with his unreleased 05 was great. I bought the Ermite and Le Meal and it was good to try them this young because they will need 10 more years.
As for the Chardonnay, I did not like it as much as my wife, but probably many females like it as well.
You got me with the Altos de Moncayo. For me and for my friends it was puere Aussie. I think that was the reason for many liking it. But being an 04 I understand the ripeness it had. It was also a pleasure that Jim was able to talk to Fred Schader and to donate all those magnums of the 05 Old Sparky which was my favorite. It should be repeated!
About the four chefs, I did not like the wines this time (you should do it next time) and I prefer if their plates are served as the lunch like a year before.
Also because NY floors are smaller, maybe if a single row is eliminated, we can have about 2 more feet between rows.
But thanks for putting this event together. I have been to six, and will keep going as long as I can.

My problem with an event like this is the size...I have forgotten where the venue is but I cannot even stand the tastings at Zachy's on a Saturday, although this past Saturday was awesome due to Insignia being poured..

I am very much in favor of the industry tastings..if you have a connection use that and skip this mass tasting event..

quote:

Originally posted by orlando:

quote:

Originally posted by GatorGunner:

By the way, where is next year's being held?

New York
Oct 16

I thought it's held in New York only in odd years....it rotates among several sites in even years.

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:

quote:

Originally posted by GatorGunner:
I do not feel that there are to many people......just not enough room.

PH

Well, five people would be too many if it were held in a closet! My point is that there was plenty of enough wine to go around, just wish the producers pouring the wines had been spaced out more to reduce the congestion.

quote:

Originally posted by orlando:
How did the Valdicava 01 Riserva tasted?
I missed that 100 point wine. I overlooked it in the book.

IMO, it was not the best BdM there. For my palate, the Fuligni Ris. was drinking better on this night. The Valdicava is a nice wine but it was hard for me to evaluate it at this stage.

Does anyone have tasting notes on the final seminar, the '97 Italians? It was great to hear what was poured in WS's report, but I'd REALLY be interested to see what tasters thought of the wines.

quote:

Originally posted by GatorGunner:

quote:

Originally posted by orlando:

quote:

Originally posted by GatorGunner:

By the way, where is next year's being held?

New York
Oct 16

I thought it's held in New York only in odd years....it rotates among several sites in even years.

Odd years is always NY and is the international
Even years was originally in SF but in the last 6 years they are moving it aroung (NY, Vegas, Chicago....now NY again)

quote:

Originally posted by stickman:
Does anyone have tasting notes on the final seminar, the '97 Italians? It was great to hear what was poured in WS's report, but I'd REALLY be interested to see what tasters thought of the wines.

Wines were all 1997:
Here are my points and many a commentary

Giacosa Le Rocche del Falleto 90 tight, acidic

Gaja Lorenzo 93 good balance

Castelgiacondo BdM Ripe al Convento Ris 90 tight

Altesino Montosoli 94 great nose and fruit

Solaia 94 good

Le Pupille Saffredi 92 tannic

Foradori Teroldego Rotalio Granato 90 light, not much fruit

Allegrini La Poja 92 ripe nose, aged well

Orlando

stickman,

I'll post a recap of the Italian seminar soon. I was slightly disappointed, as I thought many of the wines were lacking the fruit I was expecting from a ripe vintage. Agree with Orlando that the Montosoli was the best.

-Otis

quote:

Originally posted by Longboarder:
IMO, it was not the best BdM there. For my palate, the Fuligni Ris. was drinking better on this night. The Valdicava is a nice wine but it was hard for me to evaluate it at this stage.

I should have the opportunity to taste the 2001 Fuligni Riserva on Thursday, and I'm really looking forward to it!