“To appreciate a wine to the full, a few rules are essential: the right temperature, the right glass and, most importantly, the right moment. The first sip is never insignificant as it determines the way in which the wine offers itself to us. In my opinion, the most important thing is not based on theory, but a realisation of the energy felt at that moment, as this is when the gustatory experience really begins.”

“Follow your instinct. The best wine is above all the one that meets your desires. Never mind the rules: if a mineral white wine appeals to you with pigeon or a tannic red works well with fish, then that is the right choice. Wine is a vibrant, living entity that responds to your mood, your curiosity: the most heartfelt emotions are born from the right wine at just the right moment.”

“A successful tasting session may be totally unforeseen. A bottle unexpectedly brought along by a friend can change the entire course of an evening. This spontaneity is vital: it transforms the moment and creates lasting memories, as in a blind tasting that can overturn your certainties!”

“Tasting a wine is also about discovering a story: that of a vintner, a terroir or grape variety. Each bottle forms a link between the producer and the person tasting the wine, and sommeliers should pursue it. Whether it is about a famous Grand Cru or a limited, insider vintage, there is always a tale that brings the moment alive. Uncorking a bottle means revealing its truth.”

“Beyond aromas, a wine’s texture plays a decisive role. Some flash by like lightning, others linger with delicacy or intensity on the palate. This sensation often guides my wine pairings, occasionally taking precedence over a wine’s aroma or flavour. This is how some discoveries become foundational memories, like those which, for a sommelier, shape a lifetime.”

Les Amoureuses 2002 from Domaine Robert Groffier. It revealed the very essence of Burgundy to me, between deep vitality and delicate elegance.

That with Fred Niger, at Domaine de l’Écu, near Nantes. Wine tasting with him is a one-off experience, based on a vibratory approach to wine, blending vitality and immediacy.

The Moselle region in Germany for its Rieslings with good aging potential, especially those from Domaine Egon Müller. Their low alcohol content and freshness on the palate offer ideal lightness at the end of a meal.