Topic: Sommelier

A mystery clip is revealed to be the voice of Burt Reynolds. This leads into the "Tip of the Day," where a high-quality Italian brandy called Grappa is recommended. Specifically, the "Jacopo Poli" brand is highlighted as a world-class product that avoids the "turpentine" taste of lower-end grappas. The host shares a story of discovering this "protection racket" of quality through a French sommelier.

The hosts discuss the prevalence of 1970s and 80s disco and soul music in New York City bars and restaurants. An anecdote details using a "wine script" to impress a sommelier at a high-end dinner. They express surprise at the lack of modern hip-hop in the venues they visited.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced it will calculate the 2022 Consumer Price Index (CPI) using expenditure data from 2019-2020, effectively omitting 2021 data. In a related discussion on fuel prices, John Dvorak claims he can determine the quality of gasoline by its smell, specifically looking for "aromatics" and the absence of sulfur. This leads to a tangent about individuals with "super palates" who can distinguish between different sources of water or wine.

A British sommelier with Tourette Syndrome describes the condition as a "superpower" that allows him to redirect excess nervous energy into intense focus on his passion. Adam Curry agrees, noting that his own tics allow him to enter a high-productivity "zone" during show preparation. The hosts also mention literary agent John Brockman as another example of a highly successful individual with severe Tourette's.

A Denver-based company called Replica claims to use laboratory analysis to recreate expensive wines at a lower price point. John C. Dvorak, a professional wine judge, deconstructs the claim as a marketing scam, explaining that the complexity of yeast and fermentation makes it impossible to chemically map and perfectly replicate high-end wine.

A formal knighthood ceremony for high-tier donors, including the designation of a "Sommelier Knight." The segment is complicated by ongoing technical issues with PayPal and spreadsheet synchronization, leading to confusion over duplicate donation entries and missed birthdays.

A detailed critique of the wine list at Parallel 37 reveals extreme markups, with the hosts claiming prices are four times the retail value. They highlight the presence of rare bottles like a 1947 Cheval Blanc and a 1945 Petrus priced at $16,000 each. The segment concludes with a discussion of the 2009 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon they eventually consumed.

A recent dinner at the 5th Floor restaurant in San Francisco resulted in a negative experience involving a dismissive sommelier and potential food poisoning. The meal included a Pommard wine, oysters, and foie gras, with one participant becoming ill shortly after. The discussion critiques the "sous vide" cooking method and the decline in quality at high-end establishments following chef changes.

A review of a meal at the Four Seasons restaurant highlights several service failures, including a forgotten doggy bag and a lack of sommelier expertise. The hosts describe an incident where a server failed to pour the last half-glass of wine from a bottle. Despite the high cost, the overall experience was deemed a "fail" due to these lapses in attentive service.

A dinner at Rubicon in San Francisco serves as the basis for a critique of modern wine service and sommelier expertise. The experience involved testing a pretentious sommelier's knowledge compared to legendary figures like Larry Stone. An anecdote about a French sommelier at City Hall in New York illustrates how a high-quality Grappa changed a previous negative perception of the spirit as "paint thinner."

A visit to Cliveden House leads to a discussion regarding the exorbitant pricing of vintage wines on restaurant menus. The hosts compare the market value of a 1953 Chateau Latour, priced at over 3,000 pounds at the estate, against potential auction prices and the drinkability of 1995 Bordeaux vintages.