Sarah Heller MW is Asia-Pacific's youngest Master of Wine. Sarah is not only a wine expert of the finest hour, but also a visual artist. Her Visual Tasting Notes are a unique project; an extraordinary rendition of a wine description.
You need to read these visual tasting notes from top to bottom. The outline of the picture reflects the 'shape' of the wine. All other tasting components have been incorporated into the artwork as well, such as aromas, colours, acids, and tannins.
This is how her visual art describes Amuse Bouche Proprietary Red 2015: “luscious, velvety soft violets sprinkled on a bed of black olives and juicy jellied plums, with a hint of menthol. Structurally quite rectangular with tarry, gravelly front of mouth tannins and with fresh, pristine acid.
About the winery
Heidi Peterson Barrett grew up in Napa Valley, where her father was also a wine producer. From an early age, she was able to spend time in the vineyard and the cellar, so she learned the tricks of the trade early on. After graduating with a degree in Fermentation Science, Heidi started working as a freelance winemaker and consultant. She has worked for renowned wineries Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle Vineyards, among others. And so, it didn't take long before her talent was discovered. Her wines have been awarded the maximum number of points several times and Heidi was named 'The First Lady of Wine' by Robert Parker.
After all these wonderful experiences and achievements, she decided to set up the winery Amuse Bouche in Napa Valley in 2002 with her good friend John Schwartz. Their very first wines were inspired by Pomerol wines from Bordeaux. The main component of the blends is Merlot, supplemented with Cabernet Franc. Besides wine, art has always played an important role in her life, since her mother was an artist. That is why she wanted to bring an art aspect into Amuse Bouche. This led to specially designed labels by a different artist every year.
Proprietary Red 2015
This cuvée consists of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. This year’s yield was considerably lower than in previous years, resulting in bunches of excellent quality. After fermentation, the wine matures for 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% of which consists of new wood. The artwork on the label is called Le Pique-Nique and was designed by Jacques Pépin. Jacques is not only a good friend of Heidi, but also a world-renowned chef. Besides being a food and wine lover, he is apt to express his creativity on canvas. The design illustrates the aesthetic nature of wonderful life experiences. Life experiences abound with food, wine and art.
