Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/552044
104 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 age. His "Hail Mary" call on the Lacrima from Italy's Le Marche won not only the respect from his fellow panelists but also presaged his future success: Jack was one of seven of the 63 who took the exam to earn his pin. Jerusha and Morgan both said the tast- ing at Boulud not only enhanced their studies, but also provided an opportunity to share opinions and broaden horizons. "It's always fun to be in a room with other great somms," Morgan said. "Their opinions, whether you agree with them or not, are highly informed and they may provide you with a perspective on the wine you hadn't thought of before." "A lot of a wine buyer's job is spent alone," Jerusha said. "We taste a lot with reps, but unless we are studying for an exam there isn't a lot of communal tast- ing." She also appreciated the chance to try the unexpected. "Many of the wines you chose were not on my radar, and it was unbelievably helpful to try them," she said. "Blind tast- ing can be any varietal and [the] curve balls were much appreciated." Jack agreed, and said the applications of tasting go beyond the academics. "I think blind tasting in general helps to enhance the way one is able to talk about and sell wine," he said. "When I understand how to break down a wine to its structure, condition of fruit, how it was made and aged, I can create connections to other grapes or wines that a guest might enjoy or feel more comfortable with." The newest Master Sommelier touched upon what Mike summed up as the high- est priority: choosing wines in service to the food. "I want to buy wines that I like and that represent the restaurant and that work well with the food," Mike said. "And anything that deviates from that are wines I'm not interested in." ➊ Mike Madrigale hosted the Quaff Report at Bar Boulud. ➋ Jerusha Frost is Head Sommelier at Chef's Club by Food & Wine and an MS candidate. ➌ Jack Mason, MS, Wine Director at Marta, had the most correct guesses. ➍ MS candidate Morgan Harris, Sommelier at Aureole, loved the panel's "highly informed" yet differing opinions. 1 3 2 4