Sommsation is a wine store in addition to an expertise — a web based retailer which doesn’t simply promote you the wines you’re ingesting however can even information you thru the tasting course of for those who’re so inclined. Whilst you can replenish your cart with particular person bottles, Sommsation — not “Sommstation,” as I usually name it erroneously — is distinguished by its tasting periods, whereby an expert sommelier will information you — otherwise you and a bunch of mates who all bought the identical wine — by a Zoom-based tasting expertise.
Launched by an funding firm targeted on hospitality, the thought grew out of the Zoom pleased hours of the pandemic period, which many people most likely indulged in to the purpose of turning into sick of them. The concept: Reasonably than everybody sitting round and getting drunk, perhaps mates or colleagues may truly be taught one thing about what they’re ingesting.
Serving a group of about 50 smaller however premium wineries within the U.S., plus a handful abroad, there’s an honest collection of wines to select from — and so they are available in kits of two or 3 bottles every and at a variety of worth factors — and a whole bunch extra wineries coming on-line quickly. To strive it out, Sommsation despatched me three bottles from vineyard Authentique in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills AVA and paired me up with Elyse Lovenworth, the corporate’s lead sommelier, who manages about 30 tasting guides on employees to get the total expertise.
Lovenworth was a delight to talk with and was well-versed in wine geekery, however she promised that periods are all the time geared towards the extent of data within the room. When you’ve by no means operated a corkscrew earlier than, she’ll dial down the trivialities and take the viewers again to fundamentals. The stay tasting contains all of the stuff that makes Zoom worthwhile — not only a speaking head however display sharing that may showcase maps and different ephemera as wanted.
My expertise with Sommsation was nice, although I can perceive that patrons might not wish to crack open three bottles suddenly. A Coravin can assist, or you will get a crew collectively (in a single place; pricing is per bodily tackle) to assist make shorter work of a number of bottlings.
As for Authentique, I used to be despatched three bottles from this very small vineyard, which might run a retail shopper $158 plus transport, about $40 for the most affordable choice. (Retail costs for every bottle, accessible on the positioning, are famous under.) That complete represents no markup over the retail price — primarily you’re getting the guided tasting session at no cost.
When you’re trying to combine up pleased hour — or simply wish to get a wine tasting expertise with out the headache of journey — I like to recommend giving Sommsation a strive. As for the wines they despatched, right here’s how they acquitted themselves.
2020 Authentique Leisure Barrel Aged Pinot Gris Keeler Property Winery – Leisure is a second label for Authentique, however there’s no motive it needs to be from what I can see. It is a pores and skin contact model of this well-liked wine. Creamy and plush, the expertise is boldly peachy and floral, with a lush layer of vanilla backing it up. The wine evokes peach cobbler, but in addition honeysuckle, blurring the road between pinot grigio and chardonnay in a gorgeous means. I doubt you’ll ever see it until you get it right here. 74 instances produced. A / $38
2019 Authentique Chardonnay Fond Marin Eola-Amity Hills – Essentially the most difficult wine on this assortment, right here we’ve a sharper expression of chardonnay, barely reductive — with a camphor word taking maintain with time. The oak right here — 30% is new — disappears into the wine, letting it communicate by layers of vanilla informing its tart inexperienced apple core. Ample acidity all through makes for a brilliant and full of life expertise, although shaking that gentle rice vinegar word requires important warming, nearly to room temperature. That mentioned, it’s definitely worth the effort. B+ / $60
2019 Authentique Pinot Noir Keeler Property Winery – A basic expression of Oregon pinot noir, that includes blackberry prominently over cherry, layered with loads of leathery earth and a little bit of licorice within the combine. Lean however expressive, the tartness on the end evokes cranberry sauce, with a swirl of strawberry gastrique. Serve at cellar temp. A- / $60
2020 Authentique Leisure Barrel Aged Pinot Gris Keeler Property Winery
$38
