Right then. I don’t know Robert Joseph. Indeed I’ve never even met him. Which puts him in a minority in the three bottles division. I’ve yet to meet Allen Meadows and, rather oddly, I’ve yet to physically meet Juel Mahoney, aka Wine Woman & Song, but I don’t feel that Juel counts as we’ve interacted virtually: it’s odd how one can have “twitter mates”, and I count Juel as one of them. But that’s it.
Of other kind respondents, I’ve worked for one of them (Big Si) and currently work for another one (Nice Guy Eddie). Two of them, on top of Nice Guy Eddie and Big Si, have interviewed me for employment, and one of those interviews is worthy of a write up itself. A few are friends, one of them a close one. The point here is that they’re easy to introduce.
So back to Robert Joseph, who I will meet, to buy a him beer to thank him for his answers for a start. In the meantime, here’s what I know:
1) We share a palate. Read the answers.
2) He founded, with Charles Metcalfe, the International Wine Challenge.
3) He’s clever and – I think this is what I “like” about him most: he asks questions.
Tosh over. Read the answers and then read this. Rare intelligence in a trade where ego is the most popular currency.
What was the first wine/bottle that got you into the whole wine thing?
Hard to say precisely because I grew up in my parents’ hotel and there were several contenders but I reckon that it was probably a 1971 Volnay
What was the first wine/bottle that took you closer to your maker?
Easier to answer: a 1934 Beaune with a very tatty label bought for a low price in a restaurant in Cambrai in N France.
What was the best wine/bottle you have had this year? – OK, the past twelve months.
1995 Lafon Meursault Charmes
Thank you, Mr Joseph. www.thewinethinker.com
