Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1025306
september 2018 / the tasting panel / 85 Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to host a serious speed tasting the same raucous weekend the world-famous Commander's Palace hosts its live jazz brunch, but at least it made for an accurate representation of the magne- tizing charm of New Orleans. On a particularly hot and muggy summer day, some of the best palates in Louisiana assembled to blindly sip their way through eight wines while "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" blared at least twice from the neighboring room during the 30-minute limit. Once the time expired, the somms inhaled cochon de lait eggs Benedict as each of the four Banfi winemakers took turns yelling over a three-piece jazz band's rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" to reveal their wines. Despite their trademark Italian projection, it appeared they'd met their match. In fact, it's impressive they were still able to use their voices at all. The Banfi crew had disembarked the day prior from the metaphorical speeding-bullet train that is the annual Cru Artisan College (CAC) tour, which made stops in three cities across the United States. Luckily for us, however, they and fearless leader/translator/CAC dean Lars Leicht, National Director for Banfi's Cru Artisan Wines, were excited enough to shout. Intrigued by the quality of wines, the NOLA-based somms seemed equally eager to listen. NEW ORLEANS-BASED SOMMS TASTE THE GREATEST HITS FROM BANFI'S CRU ARTISAN WINES IN A RAUCOUS BLIND SPEED TASTING by Jessie Birschbach photos by Chris Granger The beloved cochon de lait eggs Benedict served at Commander's Palace. Pictured in the front row from left to right: Papillon Prince, Sommelier at Emeril's Delmonico; Dan Davis, Wine Director at Commander's Palace, and Coryn Caspar, General Manager/Director of Operations at Bacchanal. In the back row: Byron Halliburton, Beverage Manager at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans; Kevin O'Neill, Wine Director at Antoine's; Douglas Fortinberry, Sommelier at The Tasting Room; and Christopher Curtis, Sommelier at Marcello's.