The Tasting Panel magazine

September 2011

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VEGAS An Intimate F or the third consecutive year, William Sherer, MS, Wine Director at Aureole Las Vegas, led his team in presenting their annual Wine Weekend on August 5–7, an impressive series of unique tastings and dinners that may be one of the enophile world's best-kept secrets. Assisted by the Mandalay Bay Resort Director of Wine Christophe Tassan, local wine consultant Sébastien Gavillet, and Napa scion Michael Mondavi, Sherer led an intimate gathering of fewer than 100 guests through seven varied events, including a global blind tasting, a unique Priorat blending session, a tasting of uncommon Swiss varietals, a Riesling breakfast, a casual kitchen breakfast with sangrita sampling and white Burgundy– and Spanish red–themed dinners. A "pitch-perfect" bouillabaisse. Corporate Executive Chef Charlie Palmer, Executive Chef Vincent Pouessel, Sous Chef Lupe Avila and Executive Pastry Chef Megan Romano each contributed personal strengths to an impressive array of off-menu dishes, includ- ing a massive paella cooked over mesquite, a pitch-perfect bouillabaisse, rabbit loin and leg confit, tapas, Hedonism THE IMPRESSIVE AUREOLE WINE WEEKEND IS AN ENOPHILE'S DELIGHT story and photos by E. C. Gladstone William Sherer, MS, Wine Director at Aureole Las Vegas, presented the annual Wine Weekend at the Mandalay Bay menudo, stuffed pig trotter and blood sausage stew, traditional fondue and raclette. "We get a lot out of this ourselves," Sherer tells THE TASTING PANEL, comparing it to a smaller version of the late Masters of Food and Wine, or less media-driven Aspen. "It keeps us honing our chops in food and wine pairing, keeps us challenged, as well as rewarding some of our regular national clients." A few notables from the 60-odd wines poured: Coche-Dury 1998 Rougeots Mersault; Maximin Grünhauser 2004 Herrenberg; Artadi 1998 Grandes Anadas Rioja; Capafons-Ossó 2006 Sirsell Priorat; and Jean-René Germanier 2007 Amigne de Vetroz Mitis. The Aureole Wine Weekend manages to be intimate, educational and hedonistic at the same time (and different every year). Quite an impressive feat. 46 / the tasting panel / september 201 1

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