12/03/2016
When one is asked to recount his greatest experiences with wine, it is seldom a matter of simply denominating the finest wines one has tasted. Instead, the response usually begins with an effusive description of the setting, tasting companions, and the culinary fare.
Some might be surprised that a quintessential wine moment is so integrated into the full tapestry of a dining experience, rather than being isolated to enable the taster to focus singularly on the wine. But, for a sophisticated diner, the apex of a culinary event, like a great wine itself, is its harmony, its balance of several superb components elevating the senses to a state of great satisfaction. Certainly, the wines require focused attention when poured, and periodically thereafter, to assess their attributes - the aromas, body, texture, depth and concentration of flavors, the finish, and complexity. But, thereafter, when served in the context of a great meal, the pleasure of the wine becomes somewhat diffused into the blissful circle of sensory influences surrounding us.
And then at some point, there is a quiet interlude returning your attention to the brilliant stemware with its golden- or ruby-colored wine. The wine refreshes and seems suspended on the palate, exuding an exotic and satisfying array of flavors. It is meditative in the sense that it briefly, but fully, engages the mind, providing one of those gastronomic epiphanies of pleasure, stimulation, and understanding. The allure of great wine reveals itself clearly.
