It was like being invited to take part in a heavyweight boxing match. My nerves were kicking Thursday night when I found out that Claudio had got me into a professional blind tasting in Alba for the exclusive and international wine event called Nebbiolo Prima. Lasting for four intense days, the attendees may drink taste up to 600 wines, especially the newly released Barolo vintage, in this case, 2009. Was I going to stick out like a sore thumb and get beaten up by both the wines and my peers?
Like the insecure underdog, I was one of the first to arrive, clueless about what adventure I was embarking on. I was escorted into a stark and "silenziosissimo" room and was given my own individual table, facing the others. I hesitantly got out my ipad to kill time, and luckily recognized an AIS who kindly told me that the first wine bottle which was wrapped in foil was to "vinare" the glasses, or rinse them with wine first. So I got through the pre-game prep work, looked down at the wine list of over 70 wines, and was pumped up for the first round of 5 wines.
Round 1. At first I felt a little bit like a poser, trying to not be clumsy or self conscious, sniffing and spitting and trying to pray for some answers! Little by little I blocked out the others around me, got in my own zone and regained my confidence, diving right in. First five 2009 Barolos done.
Round 2. Raised my hand for the next 5 bottles and done. On and on it went but I started losing my focus. I got through the first page and tried not to think about the other one and a half. All of a sudden I started looking at the time, one hour = one page tasted. I had to keep the pace to finish in 3 hours. Reminded of our high school basketball posters, Truckin' Along, I got through the Barbarescos and Roero Nebbiolos one by one.
Round 3. I was feeling quite beat up at this point. Although I was spitting red wine like it was no one's business, my mouth was being roughly beat up by Nebbiolo's tannins. I felt numb and could no longer concentrate and decided to take a much needed water and bathroom break. I had to get to the Barolo 2007 Reserves at the end of my list. It was a matter of pride.
Round 4. The big blows from Serralunga and Monforte. The bottles were covered so I couldn't make out their "faces" but I could taste their identities and couldn't wait to find out who they really were.
With 10 minutes remaining, and the last to leave, I finally made it through the match and succeeded in staying alive... with very red teeth I might add! I never thought that tasting wine could be such a challenge and so exhausting, but I guess most people wouldn't start their professional tasting like this with the very tough grape Nebbiolo. But if you are going to start somewhere why not start at the top! Now I must find the time to compare my notes to the revealing of the wineries and bottle numbers and see if there were any surprises! My top ten will be coming shortly so stay tuned!
Thankfully I found a EWBC blogger friend Ilkka who made this awesome video of the event where I am pointing at my red teeth! Check it out here.
Like the insecure underdog, I was one of the first to arrive, clueless about what adventure I was embarking on. I was escorted into a stark and "silenziosissimo" room and was given my own individual table, facing the others. I hesitantly got out my ipad to kill time, and luckily recognized an AIS who kindly told me that the first wine bottle which was wrapped in foil was to "vinare" the glasses, or rinse them with wine first. So I got through the pre-game prep work, looked down at the wine list of over 70 wines, and was pumped up for the first round of 5 wines.
Round 1. At first I felt a little bit like a poser, trying to not be clumsy or self conscious, sniffing and spitting and trying to pray for some answers! Little by little I blocked out the others around me, got in my own zone and regained my confidence, diving right in. First five 2009 Barolos done.
Round 2. Raised my hand for the next 5 bottles and done. On and on it went but I started losing my focus. I got through the first page and tried not to think about the other one and a half. All of a sudden I started looking at the time, one hour = one page tasted. I had to keep the pace to finish in 3 hours. Reminded of our high school basketball posters, Truckin' Along, I got through the Barbarescos and Roero Nebbiolos one by one.
Round 3. I was feeling quite beat up at this point. Although I was spitting red wine like it was no one's business, my mouth was being roughly beat up by Nebbiolo's tannins. I felt numb and could no longer concentrate and decided to take a much needed water and bathroom break. I had to get to the Barolo 2007 Reserves at the end of my list. It was a matter of pride.
Round 4. The big blows from Serralunga and Monforte. The bottles were covered so I couldn't make out their "faces" but I could taste their identities and couldn't wait to find out who they really were.
With 10 minutes remaining, and the last to leave, I finally made it through the match and succeeded in staying alive... with very red teeth I might add! I never thought that tasting wine could be such a challenge and so exhausting, but I guess most people wouldn't start their professional tasting like this with the very tough grape Nebbiolo. But if you are going to start somewhere why not start at the top! Now I must find the time to compare my notes to the revealing of the wineries and bottle numbers and see if there were any surprises! My top ten will be coming shortly so stay tuned!
Thankfully I found a EWBC blogger friend Ilkka who made this awesome video of the event where I am pointing at my red teeth! Check it out here.
