Every wine lover and/or professional has their own method of taking notes… or rather, not taking notes. I take notes as often as I can but am constantly disappointed in myself for not being more detailed and consistent. Especially after big tasting trips like my most recent in Asti, I realize so much of the wine gets lost in the shuffle. The shuffle of having fun. With long tasting dinners, vineyard visits and luncheons I spend my time enjoying the wine and the conversations about the wine. While in Asti at the Barbera Meeting a few weeks ago, I met a super cool Chinese wine writer/educator named Denis Lin, otherwise known as the honorary 8th member of the Barbera 7. He has also become my note-taking mentor, my spirit guide of wine notation, my vino scribing guru.
Yes, that is a Denis original hand drawn sketch. He has dozens of moleskin journals full of all the great wine he has tasted. When a bottle is opened (usually at one of his weekly tastings with friends), he sits with a glass and the bottle. He draws the label down to the finest of details and also writes his tasting notes. Color, body and aroma, acidity…by writing and drawing and thinking- the intimate relationship with that wine is formed. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s drinking some really great stuff.
Do Bianchi posted about Denis here, but I just had to give my own personal shout out. You have inspired me Denis. Thank you!
April 1, 2010
Whitney, your photos are always AMAZING! Great post…
April 1, 2010
Dear Whitney,
I am too flattered 🙂
Still trying to make more interesting experiments with the content of my notes. More to share soon!
And I am happy to join Barbera “8”!
April 14, 2010
Awesome! But now I feel guiltier than ever that my notes are an indecipherable mess. And that’s sober!