Tokyo Jizake Strolling (spring wine tasting event)
By Ryuji Takahashi
As cherry blossoms started to bloom in Tokyo, I invited wine sommelier Miho Nagato to a spring wine tasting event I organized at the bar of my sake shop. The theme of this wine tasting event was “Enliven cherry blossom viewing throughout Japan by serving wine in sake cups” because sake consumed while viewing cherry blossoms evokes cherry blossom petals floating on the surface in a sake cup. Six wine selections were served during the event.
The first wine served was Japanese sparkling wine “Baily A Rose,” pressed from Muscat Bailey A grapes. The sommelier commented, “The flavor is like a bittersweet memory, seeing your first love for the first time in a long while.” The second wine served was Italian white wine “Vinosia” from the town of Campania, pressed from Falanghina grapes. The sommelier described the flavor as “a dashing gentleman in a suit, visiting a lush green park during his lunch hour.” The third wine served was Italian wine “E’ Orange” by Poderi Cellario in Piemonte, pressed from Nascetta, Moscato Bianco, and Incrocio Manzoni grapes. The sommelier described the flavor as akin to a person from a prominent family in a rural area, good-natured but also hot and cold.
The fourth wine served was “Remy Pannier Rose D’anjou” from Anjou Loire Valley in France, pressed from Grolleau grapes. The sommelier described the wine flavor as “a baby-faced person you encountered at a bank of the Sumida River on a sunny day.” The fifth wine served was “Beringer – Zinfandel Rose” from Napa Valley, California, U.S.A. The sommelier described the flavor as “a beloved star standing center stage, wringing the hearts of his? (her?) fans.” The last wine served was “Robert Weil Junior Spatburgunder,” a German Pinot Noir pressed from Spatburgunder grapes in the Rheinhessen region.
The sommelier described the flavor as “a regular patron at a coffee bar who kindly listens to you rambling.” The wine selections consisted of many rose wines since its spring, yet each wine selection was unique in flavor. Just like last time, the sommelier’s feedback for each wine was also unique and humorous, with guests nodding along as they enjoyed the lively tasting. Wine samples served in sake cups were well received by guests, a unique style of wine tasting organized at a specialty sake shop.
The first wine served was Japanese sparkling wine “Baily A Rose,” pressed from Muscat Bailey A grapes. The sommelier commented, “The flavor is like a bittersweet memory, seeing your first love for the first time in a long while.” The second wine served was Italian white wine “Vinosia” from the town of Campania, pressed from Falanghina grapes. The sommelier described the flavor as “a dashing gentleman in a suit, visiting a lush green park during his lunch hour.” The third wine served was Italian wine “E’ Orange” by Poderi Cellario in Piemonte, pressed from Nascetta, Moscato Bianco, and Incrocio Manzoni grapes. The sommelier described the flavor as akin to a person from a prominent family in a rural area, good-natured but also hot and cold.
The fourth wine served was “Remy Pannier Rose D’anjou” from Anjou Loire Valley in France, pressed from Grolleau grapes. The sommelier described the wine flavor as “a baby-faced person you encountered at a bank of the Sumida River on a sunny day.” The fifth wine served was “Beringer – Zinfandel Rose” from Napa Valley, California, U.S.A. The sommelier described the flavor as “a beloved star standing center stage, wringing the hearts of his? (her?) fans.” The last wine served was “Robert Weil Junior Spatburgunder,” a German Pinot Noir pressed from Spatburgunder grapes in the Rheinhessen region.
The sommelier described the flavor as “a regular patron at a coffee bar who kindly listens to you rambling.” The wine selections consisted of many rose wines since its spring, yet each wine selection was unique in flavor. Just like last time, the sommelier’s feedback for each wine was also unique and humorous, with guests nodding along as they enjoyed the lively tasting. Wine samples served in sake cups were well received by guests, a unique style of wine tasting organized at a specialty sake shop.
As I thought previously, comments while tasting sake tend to require honest feedback. The more one tries to describe sake flavor like describing wine, the more the comments deviate greatly from Japanese culture to the point the comments no longer describe the sake flavor nor its aroma. However, humorous comments like those shared during this tasting event can spark fun conversations with guests while savoring wine together. I personally prefer this style of sake tasting over thoroughly analyzing the sake flavor and aroma in detail. Another wine tasting event is scheduled for early summer. I look forward to the wine selections and descriptions of each flavor during the next event.
東京地酒散歩（春のワイン会）
東京に桜が咲き始めたころ、私の運営する酒販店の角打ちスペースの実験的利用法として長戸美穂ソムリエーヌを招き、春のワイン会を開催した。花見の酒は、お猪口に浮かぶ桜の花びらのイメージがあるということで、「日本の花見、もっと浮かれて。おちょこでワイン」というテーマで開催された。揃えられたワインは全6種類。まずは日本のスパークリングワインでマスカット・ベリーAを使用した「酵母の泡・ロゼ」。ソムリエーヌのコメントは「甘酸っぱい記憶。久しぶりに会う初恋の人。」2番目はイタリア・カンパーニャのファランギーナ使用の白ワイン「ヴィノジア」。コメントは「緑多い公園にランチにくるスーツ姿のスレンダーなあの人。」3番目はイタリア・ピエモンテのナシェタ、モスカート、マンゾーニを使用したオレンジワイン「チェラーリオE」コメントは田舎の名家出。素直でちょっとツンデレさん。4番目はフランス・ロワール・アンジューのグロローを使用したロゼ「レミー・パニエロゼ・ダンジュ」。コメントは「隅田川の川辺、晴れた日に会った甘いマスクの人。」5番目はアメリカ・カリフォルニア・ナパのジンファンデルを使用したロゼ「ベリンジャー」。コメントは「華やかな舞台に立つきゅんきゅんさせるみんなのアイドル」。そして最後はドイツ・ラインヘッセンのシュぺートブルグンダー使用の「ロバート・ヴァイル・ジュニア」。コメントは「優しく話を聞いてくれる大人なカフェバーの常連」。春なのでロゼワイン多めのセレクトだったが、全てしっかり個性的だった。前回に引き続き、ワインのテイスティングコメントもユーモア溢れる個性的な物で、参加者も皆納得しながら盛り上がっていた。初めてのお猪口でのワインの味わいも喜んでもらえていて、日本酒専門店でのワイン会らしさが出たのではないだろうか。以前も思ったことだが、日本酒のテイスティングコメントはリアルを求める方向に有り、ワイン風に語ろうとすればするほど日本の食文化とかけ離れた物になり、
味も香りも想像がつかないコメントが出てきたりすることがある。しかしながら、今回のようなユーモアが有り何となく想像がつく情景のコメントであれば、皆が楽しく味わいを語りあえて楽しいのではないだろうか。私は、香りや味わいを細かく分析するよりも、こちらの方が圧倒的に好きである。次は初夏のワイン会が既に決まっている。次回はどんなワインとテイスティングコメントが出てくるのか。今から楽しみである。
味も香りも想像がつかないコメントが出てきたりすることがある。しかしながら、今回のようなユーモアが有り何となく想像がつく情景のコメントであれば、皆が楽しく味わいを語りあえて楽しいのではないだろうか。私は、香りや味わいを細かく分析するよりも、こちらの方が圧倒的に好きである。次は初夏のワイン会が既に決まっている。次回はどんなワインとテイスティングコメントが出てくるのか。今から楽しみである。
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