Wine director for the Mina Group (SanFran-based restaurant management company), Raj Parr also makes a wine in Santa Barbara called Sandhi. Last opened with his Code38 was a 1995 Henri Jayer Vosne Romanee ‘Cros Parantoux’ – but it was the 1870 Lafitte Rothschild that shines out as a great Code moment. ”I was very nervous opening the wine”, he tells me, ”but the cork came out in one piece (it was recorked in 1980).”
Raj is currently adoring the 2010 Cru Beaujolais as well as 2010 Rieslings. No surprise, then, that his favourite white is a Leitz Riesling ‘Dragonstone’ 2010. Honours for current favourite red go to the Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot 2008, with Cornas being his favourite wine region at present. As for a preferred wine variety, he nominates Syrah from the Cote Rotie.
Sixteen years after Raj tasted a 1986 Raveneau Chablis ‘Clos‘, he can still taste it – at least in his mind. This was his ”epiphany wine”, and he will never forget it.
When it comes to pairing food and wine he prefers to keep it simple. ”One of my favourite (pairings)”, he says, ”is a Marel Lapierre Morgon 2010 with roast chicken”, the wine itself being easily available online. And what Raj loves best about his Code38 is its flexibility and ease of use. ”Not only is it the best”, he sums up, ”but also it’s the sexiest wine key in the world.” In the world!
