Pretty sure it’s from Paso 
The terroir has a beautiful view of the Rio Grande.
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I could be wrong, but I think WSET focuses more on the regional characteristics and winemaking principles rather than introducing brand names or important winemakers. So they teach about classifications and not names of well-known Chateau.
I mean no disrespect or criticism in any way to both you and the Somm but I don’t think it’s fair to see this as a common or even basic knowledge. I don’t mean to defend the Somm and expectations of a Somm is different for everyone.
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True that WSET hardly mentions actual producer names, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this Somm not knowing DdC specifically if it’s out of his wheelhouse. But he absolutely should’ve been able to deduce from the label that this is an old producer from BDX, at bare minimum. Failing to recognize that demonstrates either major ignorance or pure laziness imo.
Well played, Yule.
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I wasn’t there and we’ll never really know, but my guess remains that:
- He didn’t know that producer
- At a quick not-very-interested-glance, the name Domaine de Chevalier does not make you think Bordeaux since hardly any Bordeaux producers are called “Domaine” and then Chevalier is a common name in French wines from various regions
- He did not really care enough to look at the label, see that it was from Graves and from Bordeaux, so he idly made the comment about not knowing the wine and is it a new producer
And then a small part of me considers (again not knowing the guy or having been there) that maybe he was being a bit droll and dismissive by saying “I’ve never heard of this, are they new?” In kind of a “looks like you brought some unimportant wine here to the restaurant” way. Probably not, but I guess from the little I know of the encounter it’s a possibility.
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Not related to OP story, but based on Thread Title…
Attended a Company Dinner for about 20 at a Berns’ associated property in Tampa about seven years ago.
The Somm probably realized the group was not too wine savvy and pitched us with “Orin Swift is among the world’s greatest winemakers”. Sale made, as the boss bought several bottles for the table. I bit my tongue pretty hard, but chose not to call him out on it. I did, however, have to quietly tell the friends sitting next to me that Orin Swift was a brand name and not an actual person. Never went back to that place.
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to be clear, WSET is something a Somm probably isn’t necessarily doing while the Court is something a Somm likely has done. They’re two different sides of a coin, but they are quite different.
You two are correct in that WSET puts much less emphasis on specific producers and that is something I like and would wholeheartedly agree with. Knowing what the underlying conditions for why a Sancerre tastes like Sancerre is much more important (IMO) than spouting off 10 producers without understanding the climactic and soil conditions for why it is that.
The Court of Master Somms (which is how you become a Certified Somm) does focus much more on the producer and which producers are important in a region. Obviously it is focused more on service and restaurant floor conditions than WSET as WSET isn’t necessarily aimed at the restaurant professional and rather for Retail/Distribution/Importing/Winemaking.
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One of the best Somms that I’ve had recommended a Bordeaux Blanc to round out a meal a couple of years ago. Turns out I’d never had one from a really good producer and I was blown away. I’ve consistently purchased them since.
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I don’t get the ”Hall Pass” mentality when it comes to this subject. The guy is supposedly a professional. He should have at least basic knowledge of his profession.
In a previous life I was an auto technician for 20yrs i worked on Domestic and Asian mostly before working at Ford. Even though I never saw or worked on Seat, Skoda, Vauxhaul, Daihatsu, Opel (Worked on a few Mantis), Renault, Abarth, Alpina, Citroen, Morgan, Hino etc I’ve heard of them, and know they’ve been in production for quite some time. For me it simply comes down to at least having basic knowledge of your trade and the players. If your trade is wine show some pride.
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