The coolest thing happened today. OK, it’s a little thing, but still.
    I had a wine rep visiting with a distributor, and another rep waiting in the wings. We were tasting some amazing French wines, all great values. So I shared some of my wine with the waiting rep, a friend of mine. And soon, everybody was tasting each others’ wine. It was great. Coincidentally, each of them had a stunning Burgundy. No posturing, no competition. I don’t know why this can’t happen more often.
I think it’s a great idea for people who sell wine to taste wines that they don’t sell. This is a given for those in the business because they love wine. But this is a weak area for people who are just salesmen. What the salesmen don’t know*, I can tell just how much they know about wine. I can tell if a salesman, say for a big corporate outfit, only tastes his wines. I can tell he "doesn’t get out much."  I can tell he’s just spouting to me what was spouted to him. See, I get to taste everything from everybody–including some of the best importers of artisinal wine**. It’s the biggest advantage to being a wine buyer.

* Again, a wine rep is someone in this business because they love it, a salesman is in it because wine smells better and is more exciting than tires, carpet, or software–but they are still just salesmen.
** Artisinal means hand-made. It does not mean expensive. Get it? Or do I have to emroider it on a pillow for you?

Domaine Bertagna Les Dames Huguettes
    from importer Peter Weygandt
      From the Hautes Cotes de Nuits, these wines always move me. Depth, elegance, and character. This is a 70+ year old planting and costs only $25, to put the entire West coast of America in to perspective. Drink this bottle and then tell me why I have a problem with many Oregon and California Pinot Noirs.
Michel Gros Vosne Romanee Clos de Reas
    from importer Kermit Lynch
       The nose alone on this wine will sit you flat on your ass. Gaaawgeous. This bottle is around $50. I’m under no illusion that I’ll ever be able to afford DRC on a regular basis, but I have a wine like this and the Mathlete in me thinks…I could have a case of this Clos de Reas for one bottle of DRC. Hmmm.