At the Grand Hyatt in Seoul this afternoon, I conducted the first of this year's presentations of German Grand Cru for the VDP. Ian Seo had done an excellent job of culling the cream of the Korean crop of journalists, importers and sommeliers in order to make the event a success. About thirty people joined us for a tasting of two dozen of the finest 2009s and a few older reds, with interesting pairings of Stein Silvaners and Morstein Rieslings. Sadly, few of the wines are currently available here. This evening, the ambassador, Dr. Hans Ulrich Seidt, has invited a dozen influential Koreans from business, politics and television to a dinner highlighting six other Grand Cru from the 2008 vintage. Perhaps I had one glass too many? The German phoenix is slowly rising from its ashes… Comments