There are a lot of really smart people that are involved with wine to varying degrees but some border more toward the genius side. Enter Brian Owens. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about great wines of the world but he has also had the good fortune to have experienced probably all of them that count. Apart from his wine erudition the other thing that really makes this guy standout from so many other wine people is what he created.

The Wine Salon, created by Brian, is an invite-only event that takes place at various fine dining locations usually about every month or so. The intent is clear: bring experienced wine collectors together to hang with up-and-coming sommeliers, restaurateurs, and future wine experts, by showing up with great wines to share and experience them collectively. My own experience on numerous occasions reveals that sommeliers may have good book knowledge but often lack the real-world knowledge or experience necessary to really connect to wine in a meaningful way. Anyone can acquire knowledge through reading and classrooms but to actually experience the pure bliss of a beautiful and mature 1^st Growth Bordeaux (or fill in the blank) is like no other. It really does make a difference – ask anyone that has had exposure to truly great wine.

Here, the wine itself is very important but so is the conversation. Younger people get to ask a lot of questions to older, more experienced connoisseurs that have been at it for a while. They get the benefit of being a part of a debate about the Classification of 1855 or whether or not 2^nd Growths are outclassing 1^st Growths. All of this intimate knowledge and experience is carried out the door from a Wine Salon event and eventually served up at your table somewhere in one form or another, of which you and I are the clear beneficiaries. For people that love wine, the depth of wine knowledge and experience is what makes a great sommelier or restaurant owner.

What a brilliant concept to ask collectors to dig through their cellars and come up with a decent bottle to donate, and then further donate their time and expertise for a few hours. I wish people would take up this mentor-like cause around the rest of the country because the dining populous would be far better off in the long run.

My first Wine Salon episode occurred a few weeks ago and the theme was Bordeaux. The machinations of wine flights were carefully devised by Brian, who always graciously credits other people that had input or contributed somehow, such as the remarkable Michael Vilim of Mirabelle Restaurant. Have a look at the wine that was tasted that day:

1.     SOME DEFINITIVE POMEROLS             

            1999 L’Evangile                       

            1999 La Conseillante                           

            1999 La Fleur Petrus               

            1999 Vieux Château Certan

2.     ONE LARGE VINEYARD:  ST JULIEN - LEOVILLE HORIZONTAL             

            2000 Léoville Poyferré           

2000 Léoville Barton 

2000 Léoville Las Cases           

2000 Clos du Marquis    

3.     GRAVES - PAPE CLEMENT THROUGH THE YEARS             

            1985 Pape Clement

            1988 Pape Clement        

            1998 Pape Clement        

            2000 PapeClement       

4.    DEFINITIVE ST EMILION GARAGISTE             

            2000 Gracia

            2000 Bellevue

            2000 Valandraud

            2000 Gomerie

5.     DEFINITIVE SUPER-2NDS FROM THE 4 MEDOC APPELLATIONS          

           2000 Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande – Pauillac

           2000 Ducru Beaucaillou – St Julien

           2000 Cos d’Estournal - St Estephe

           2000 Lascombes – Margaux

6.     BLIND TASTING the 1976 Paris Tasting, many vintages later

7.     FIRST GROWTHS?? (blind tasting)              

            1995 Haut Brion - Pessac-Leognan

            1996 Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac 

            1995 Cos D’Estournal - St Estephe

            1995 Léoville Las Cases - St Julien          

8.     PAUILLAC 1989 VS 1990             

            1990 Lynch Bages           

            1989 Lynch Bages

            1990 Pichon--Longueville Baron

            1989 Pichon--Longueville Baron

9.     Old Bordeaux             

            1978 Vieux Chateau Certan – Pomerol

            1981 Lafite Rothschild – Pauillac

            1981 Léoville Las Cases - St Julien

            1988 Margaux – Margaux

I tasted flights 5, 7, and 9 critically although there was many others I was able to taste non-critically and being a Left Bank guy, it could not have been tailored any better for me. It’s interesting to note that a number of collectors at this tasting happened to be primarily Burgundy oriented and preferred Right Bank Bordeaux which makes sense I think; Right Bank is Merlot driven compared to Cabernet Sauvignon from the Left Bank so mature Merlot is closer to Burgundy than Cab and therefore for the Burgundy group, more enjoyable due to preference.

Out of 34 people attending, 14 were collectors/contributors and 20 were there to learn. Actually I think all 34 of us were there to learn something because wine, being ever evolving (at least until its all gone), is always a learning experience. For complete notes of this stellar wine tasting, visit CellarTracker here:

http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=10071

The 2000s were very young but very interesting to taste side-by-side and the ‘96s and older were drinking very well indeed. And as great as all the wine was that day, the deep pool of knowledge from those in attendance along with the concept of giving back to an industry we all love is what makes the Wine Salon so special. And so it is that Brian Owens’ concept of the Wine Salon is a truly significant contribution to us all. Well done!