Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/142283
THE MESSAgE Chandon napa Valley Marks 40 PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHANDON NAPA A s the sparkling wine producers of Napa and Sonoma reach milestone anniversaries, their retrospective tastings have proved beyond any doubt that domestic bubbles can age well for two decades. That is, until Chandon Napa Valley winemaker Tom Tiburzi poured a 1979 NV Brut Reserve as the highlight of a retrospective dinner celebrating the winery's 40th anniversary. Few if any domestic sparkling houses can reach back into their libraries and produce a sparkling wine that has aged sur lie for 32 years. 1979 was a warm vintage which resulted in a wine with baked apples, pears and nutty sherry with hints of cedar and spice. Tiburzi didn't stop there. He poured a '88 Blanc de Noir, '95 NV étoile Rosé and '98 Tête de Cuvée saying, "The 1980s are showing well particularly the '82, '84 and '88." The '88 Chandon Napa Valley Winemaker Tom Tiburzi. Blanc de Noir which spent 24 years sur lie was characteristically smoky, a signature of the yeast strain, and showed brilliant intensity mid-palate. And from Chandon's restaurant at the winery—étoile —Chef Perry Hoffman's inspired courses of Ora smoked salmon, rabbit and sweet breads with smoked beef belly let Chandon's wines shine and dessert by long-time pastry chef Francisco Enriquez mirrored the haunting '79 NV Brut Reserve. —Deborah Parker Wong A Cocktail for Every (Sandeman)Port Welcome to the Court T he folks from Sandeman Porto held a Bartender Mixology Seminar with noted barman Jonathan Pogash in San Francisco on May 15. Ligia Marques, Sandeman Brand Ambassador, was on hand to present the history of Sandeman, while Pogash talked about historic port cocktails and modern ways to craft new cocktails. Each bartender made a unique cocktail and three winners will be featured in the Sandeman Mobile Mixology App, making its debut last month, in both an iPhone and Android version. PHOTOS: ANDRIA LO PHOTOS: ANDRIA LO New Members of the Court of Master Sommeliers (left to right): Christopher Tanghe, Emily Pickral-Papach, Carlton McCoy and Christoper Bates. I Mixologist Jonathan Pogash. Matt Solario, bartender at San Francisco's Social Kitchen, with his winning cocktail La Condeza. n May, The Court of Master Sommeliers welcomed four new members to the prestigious organization: Christopher Bates (Hotel Fauchère, Milford, PA), Carlton McCoy (The Little Nell, Aspen, CO), Emily Pickral-Papach (Chappellet Winery, Napa, CA) and Christopher Tanghe (RN74, Seattle, WA). Held at the Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado and sponsored by the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, the byinvitation exam was attempted by 63 individuals from 19 states and three countries. 20 / the tasting panel / july 2013 TP0713_001-33.indd 20 6/24/13 5:33 PM