Dr Vino’s wine blog

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Jancis Robinson, Robert Parker, Hugh Johnson, Burton Anderson, Frank Prial, Kevin Zraly, and Ed McCarthy were inducted into the Wine Media Guild Hall of Fame on Monday night at a ceremony in New York City (there were also posthumous inductees; see the full list and bios). It was the inaugural class inducted into the HoF and therefore the first ceremony.

Members, various guests and two of the inductees poured into the event at I Trulli restaurant. After a champagne reception, co-chair Charles Sciccolone introduced Ed McCarthy, co-author of Wine for Dummies among other books. Ed delivered some warm remarks telling us that a grand cru Chablis was his wine epiphany long ago and concluded by saying “I’ve had a very good life because I happen to love wine.” Ed brought a magnum of 1986 Gruaud Larose from his cellar to help the celebrations.

Member Philippe Newlin introduced another honoree, Kevin Zraly (pictured, right), author of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course (various editions). In his animated style that has won so many admirers at his wine course, Kevin told a few stories. I particularly like the one that he told about taking posthumous Hall of Famer Alexis Lichine’s Wines of France around France with him when he was backpacking after college, going to Beaujolais, sitting down in a cafe and ordering a glass of Beaujoais, and then drinking the Beaujolais in situ while reading what Lichine said about it. Talk about learning in context! Kevin brought a jerobaum of 1994 Stag’s Leap Cask 23 to help the celebrations.

Members also raided their cellars and brought at least a bottle each for the dinner. Unfortunately the 1996 Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet that I had acquired for the event was dreadfully pre-oxidized. Some highlights from my corner included: 1981 Cheval Blanc, a 1982 Beychevelle tasting beautifully, 1970 Forts de Latours (magnum), 1964 Vallana, a 1957 Gaja, and Ed and Kevin’s wines. But the wine of the night was a 1978 Haut Brion, quite a spectacular wine from the cellar of a cravat-wearing New Jersey gentleman and WMG member–who also brought the 81 Cheval. Very nice!

I joined the Wine Media Guild three years ago when I moved to New York and have found it a very convivial group with great opportunities to taste excellent wines. If you are a wine writer and interested in joining, poke around on their web site to see if you meet the minimum qualifications–we have welcomed three new members this year already. And if you’re interested in attending an event as a guest, befriend a member!