SOMM TV wine & food Episode 268: Wine, Art, & Films
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Oct 24, 2025 French winemaker Alban Debeaulieu of Abbott Claim shares insights on the intersection of wine and art. He contrasts French and American perceptions of wine and discusses how cultural backgrounds influence taste. The duo explores whether wine is art or craft, with Alban recounting moments of transcendence tied to both mediums. They excitingly pair iconic films with wines, linking unique tasting experiences to cinematic masterpieces, from Jaws matched with Napa Cabernet to Psycho with classic Pomerol. A thought-provoking discussion filled with creativity awaits!
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Culture Shapes Wine Perception
- Alban argues cultural context shapes how people experience wine and movies.
- He says French tasting links wine to history and place while U.S. discussion is more conceptual and speculative.
Alchemy Beyond Technique
- Great wines and great films share an ineffable quality that exceeds technical explanation.
- Alban calls this alchemy: a whole greater than the sum of terroir, craft and fermentation.
A Transformative Bottle: 1962 Rumié
- Alban describes tasting a 1962 Georges Rumié that changed his understanding of wine.
- He says it was the greatest bottle he'd ever had and he couldn't believe wine could taste like that.