Featured User: Shengli Hu

Shengli Hu has been an AI research scientist with Dataminr Inc in New York City since she received her PhD in wine tasting from Cornell University in Ithaca, in the beautiful finger lakes region in upstate New York. Her research experience and interests are interdisciplinary, bridging social sciences, computational linguistics, computer vision, and speech. She has published in top conferences and journals in natural language processing, computer vision, speech, and applied statistics including Association of Computational Linguistics (ACL), Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP), European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV), Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), InterSpeech, and Annals of Applied Statistics (AoAS). She is also a wine professional with credentials including Certified Sommelier by The Court of Master Sommelier, Diploma in Wine by Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), Certified Specialist of Wine by The Society of Wine Educators, and Certified Specialist of Spirits by The Society of Wine Educators. She is currently finishing her new book about AI for wine professionals which examines the essential qualities of sommeliers through the lens of AI, identifies components of the wine industry where AI greatly improves upon human sommeliers, solves challenging problems that have shaken the sommelier circles in recent years, and lays out future plans to build an ultimate sommelier-in-the-loop AI system for the wine industry. Delectable: What sparked your passion for wine? Shengli Hu: Coming from a traditional Chinese family, I had never tasted any alcoholic beverage until my first wine tasting class at college, and the years studying away in Ithaca in the middle of nowhere made me realize what I had been missing out on all along. Blind tasting quickly became my favorite game of all time. Or the fact that the wine world is an ever-expanding web that spawns history, language, geology, culture, and more… D: What wine region are you wild about right now? SH: Over time my palate evolved quite a bit but aged Alsacian Riesling , Riesling or Gruner Veltliner Smaragd from Wachau , and aged Savennieres have always been among the favorites. Currently I have been excited about the potential of Armenian wines and wine regions like Vayot Dzor and Ararat , where ancient vine growing and winemaking traditions are being revived. D: What is the most unusual wine you’ve ever tried? SH: I was at a GuildSomm dessert wine tasting led by the former Delectable editor Bryce Wiatrak who scored us the 1948 Fondillon Solera from Alicante and the Angelica from Swanson Winery in Amador California. D: What is your golden rule for wine? SH: Not unlike many other things in life, wine study is a humbling experience through which you never stop learning... D: Say you’re not allowed to have wine, what is your second option? SH: Freshly brewed fruity coffee from home-roasted coffee beans and brewed Japanese tea. D: Choose a movie, book, quote, or song and pair it with a wine SH: As a theater fan: Hadestown with a Gruner Veltliner Smaragd from Wachau : starts bright and peppery with the acidity racing up and down like a roller coaster over time, only to strike a resounding finish of a phenolic bite. D: If you were a wine, what wine would you be? SH: Muscadet or Aligoté perhaps: searing and rasping acidity, non-aromatic, and bitter sometimes with a phenolic grip. D: What is your favorite bottle you’ve opened recently? SH: 2008 Felsina Vin Santo Chianti Classico : deep amber with an orange hint, it was nutty, spicy, yeasty, slightly chocolaty, and figgy. Through its long lingering finish, its sweetness is well balanced by the racy acidity and fruit nature. Not unlike Vin Jaune, old white Rioja, or a fine Madeira, sweet or dry.

Albert Mann

Hengst Grand Cru Pinot Gris 2017

Medium straw. Off dry, white peach, yellow apple, Asian pear, Meyer lemon, peach blossom, allspice, cinnamon, musk, curry spices, honey, and crushed stone. Linear zesty medium level acidity. Creamy and round mouthfeel. It was a lovely pairing with Japanese curry 🍛 we had for dinner 😋. — 6 years ago

Drew, Peter and 5 others liked this
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The Royal Tokaji Wine Company

5 Puttonyos Furmint Blend 2013

Medium amber in color. Ginger candy, dried mango, dried pineapple, lemon candy, powder sugar, salted caramel, maple syrup, lemon curd, toasted hazelnut, stony minerality, a whiff of VA. Luscious/sweet, high acidity, 11% abv, long finish with a hint of phenolic bitterness. — 6 years ago

Josh, Paul and 4 others liked this

Keush

Origins Méthode Traditionelle Brut Sparkling Blend

First time doing outdoor dining thing since Covid and found this curious Armenian sparkling on the menu: granny smith apple 🍏, lime curd, Asian pear, crushed stone, and bread dough. Zesty acidity with medium+ finish and medium body. Sunday brunch bubbly of excellent value!! Old vines of 60% Voskehat and 40% khatouini on limestone. 18 months on lees. — 6 years ago

Alex liked this

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2014

Bright ruby with a garnet rim of medium minus concentration. Tobacco, pencil shavings, cigar, cedarwood, licorice, fresh pomegranate, raspberry, tart red cherry, stony minerality. Lightly spiced. Elevated acidity, medium soft tannins, medium alcohol. Medium body. — 6 years ago

Alex and Ken liked this

Girolamo Russo

Feudo Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese - Nerello Cappuccio 2017

High toned tart and ripe red fruits: plush red plum, strawberry, red cherry. Slightly brambly. Game, meat, sour cherry, clove, dried herbs, mushroom, forest floor. Sanguine on the palate. Fruits went tart. Medium plus acid, tannins, and alcohol. Medium minus concentration, pale ruby with a brick rim. Classic. Called it correctly during a blind 😊 — 6 years ago

Florrie and Alex liked this

J. Brix

Cobolorum Petillant Naturel Riesling 2019

Perfectly crushable on an early summer Friday afternoon with Oaxacan chicken mole tacos! Green and yellow apple, bruised pear, cider, orange zest, fresh herbs, and earthy funk :) Off dry with zippy acidity. — 6 years ago

Alex liked this

Rene Rostaing

Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2011

Violet, crushed stone, mushroom, smoked game, black and green olives, balsamic oils, blackberry, red cherry, dark cherry, elevated acid/tannins and medium body. — 6 years ago

Josh, Ira and 1 other liked this

Monte Tondo

'Casette Foscarin' Soave Classico Garganega 2017

A Soave Classico cru. The vineyards in Casette Foscarin are situated to the north of the Soave Classico area. In calcareous soil of volcanic origin. Multiple passes through the vineyard for picking, soft pressing with low temperature maceration, and aging in barriques and tonneau for 6 months. The signature cherry blossom jumps out of the glass, CHERRY, CHERRY, CHERRY, stony minerality, hefty salinity, mushroom, dried herbs, cherry pith, yellow apricot, and Meyer lemon. Medium+ finish. Elevated acidity. — 6 years ago

Josh, Paul and 7 others liked this

Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga

Vin Santo Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2008

Deep amber with an orange tint. Marcona almond, bruised apple and green apple, baked pear with cinnamon, marmalade, allspice, bread dough, prune, fig, dried cranberry, Japanese plum wine, caramel. High acid, long finish. 15% abv. — 6 years ago

Josh, Trixie and 4 others liked this

Dönnhoff

Oberhäuser Brücke Auslese Riesling Goldkapsel 2010

Pale yellow in color. Dried apricot, honey, petrol, lemon custard, lemon pie, vanilla cream, banana peel, and bread dough. Piercing acidity, 7.5% abv, medium length, finishes on the creaminess hmmm... — 6 years ago

Josh, Paul and 5 others liked this

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2015

Blinded - called it a Cote Rotie 🤦‍♀️. Tart red and dark cherry, blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, leather, tar, crushed stone, roasted wild herbs, balsamic oil, black licorice, and black pepper. Fruit went tart and red on the palate - almost tomatoey. In hindsight it’s less floral without the black olive note signature of northern Rhone, tighter longer grained tannins, and fruit a tad riper more blue than Cote Rotie. — 6 years ago

Paul, James and 10 others liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Circa J.L. Chave Sélection Saint-Joseph Marsanne Roussanne 2017

Medium yellow. 60/40 Roussane/Marsanne. Fermentation 100% in barrel. Aged in Barriques for 14 months. Ripe citrus and tropical fruits: Meyer lemon, papaya, mango, pineapple, yogurt, yellow flowers, celery, hints of honey and ginger, bergamot oil, marzipan, and crushed stone. Medium acid, 14.5% abv, vanilla toast and baking spices with a creamy and round mouthfeel. Long finish. — 6 years ago

Alex and Ken liked this

Tyrrell's Wines

Vat 1 Hunter Valley Semillon 2018

Vegetal radish, tart citrus, prominent minerality, slightly oily texture. High acid, low alcohol, light body. Classic. — 6 years ago

Versie, Hiedi and 4 others liked this

Giacomo Fenocchio

Bussia Barolo Nebbiolo 2016

Pale ruby with orange rim. Aromatic, Tart and ripe red fruit: sour cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, some blackberry, def VA, lifted fruit and floral note: Roses, violets. On the palate there is amaro-like bitter smell, tar with notes of gravel and wet stone. Some oxidation-dried out quality. No new oak, but definitely some old, large botti or something similar. Grippy tannins. Long finish. A thing of beauty. — 6 years ago

Bree, Anthony and 1 other liked this

Château Guiraud

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2005

Deep gold verging on amber. Sweet vanilla, a healthy dose of coconut, Xmas spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice..., Graham cracker, butter cookie, passion fruit candy, lemon candy, honey, saffron, VA- geranium, creme brûlée, caramel, gravelly minerality, forest floor. High acid and long finish. — 6 years ago

Josh, Paul and 13 others liked this

Domaine des Baumard

Quarts de Chaume Chenin Blanc 2005

Medium yellow. Beeswax, musk, chamomile, curry spices, white pepper, chalky minerality, golden raisin, petrol, yellow fig, yellow peach, fresh and dried apricot, bruised apple, and honey. High focused acidity, sweet/med sweet, medium+ length. 12.5% — 6 years ago

Josh, Paul and 8 others liked this

Alois Kracher

Cuvée Auslese Burgenland Chardonnay Welschriesling 2017

Pale amber. Fresh and dried mango and pineapple, golden raisin, yellow fig, marigold steeped in black tea. Crushed white stone. Strong olong tea, fresh herbs... Medium dry to medium sweet? Medium intensity on the nose up a notch on the palate. Medium+ finish. Elevated acidity at 12% abv. — 6 years ago

Josh, Peter and 4 others liked this

Domaine des Roches Neuves (Thierry Germain)

L'Insolite Saumur Chenin Blanc 2015

Honey, brewed green tea, chamomile, ripe yellow pineapple and mango, juicy apricot, medicinal notes/petrol, slightly white pepper, bread dough, marmalade, precise chalky minerality (though I think it’s grown on limestone/schist?). Piercing high acidity, finishes tart and citrusy. Long finish. 😋 — 6 years ago

Peter, Alex and 1 other liked this

Weingut Markus Altenburger

vom Kalk Burgenland Bläufrankisch 2018

Classic version of Blaufrankisch. Medium concentration of a purple hue. Moderate staining. Brambly dark and red fruits such as blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate. Chalky minerality. Lifted floral notes of violet and rose. Fruits went tart on the palate. Especially sanguine and chalky on the palate. Slight hint of VA. Curry spice, and pepper. Medium+ acidity. Medium alcohol, medium soft tannins, body. No new oak. Aged on it’s lees for 18 months in neutral 2000L & 5000L casks prior to bottling. The vineyards are split into more than 30 small plots surrounding the village of Jois. Markus focuses on the vineyards & Minimal intervention in the winery. — 6 years ago

Harland, Bill and 1 other liked this

Domaine de la Haute Olive

Le Chene Vert Chinon Cabernet Franc 2017

Deep purple. High concentration with high levels of staining and moderate tears. Red and black plum, strawberry, cranberry, juicy raspberry, hints of black pepper, green pepper, clove and other sweet spices, tobacco, and stony minerality. Elevated acidity, medium minus soft tannins, moderate alcohol. Fruits went tart on palate. Medium+ finish. It was a blind tasting bottle from FLX provisions. Was debating between right bank Bordeaux Merlot/Cab Franc Blend and Cot. The plush plum and concentration though... — 6 years ago

Erik, Reyna and 2 others liked this