General Rantings

[Zinner]

Well, I remember being at a tasting once and we had in front of us premium Cabernets from all over. Think we were sipping Dalle Valle when, just being polite and making conversation, I asked the guy next to me what he thought. He replied, "I don't know what to think...usually all I drink is old Bordeaux." In the crowd I was in, he wasn't trying to be pretentious--I totally believed he was just telling the truth.

However, I'm sure the guy never imagined that I actually felt sorry for him because his palate seemed so limited. When I meet up with one of these characters, I want to say, "Do you eat only caviar three times a day? Do you ever just eat a hot dog?"

I find wines that I like in all the price categories, from all sorts of places. Geez, I've had wine from Thailand that I enjoyed very much and it didn't displease me that it was decidedly different from any other wine I'd ever had. It was delicious with the food.

And that's what I look for really...something that enhances my enjoyment of the dish or the occasion. If it's not fun, then what is it for?

Sometimes it's fun for me to know about the terrior(I have my geekish moments) but I think where people quit having fun sometimes is when they let it deteriorate into one-upsmanship. Then it's like any other commodity such as having to have a Rolex or a BMW or a Hummer because you want others to know you've arrived. And of course, those folks often serve their trophy wine to friends who'd really rather have white Zin.

I don't get angry because the wineries don't age the wine for me. Many have accountants or banks breathing down their necks and can't afford to cellar it.

And I agree with WW about the pricing. You can buy aged wines from shops that specialize in such like but you'll spend a bundle. Also that's another matter where you can express your personal taste. Some people like young wines and some like old.

For me, it's all about the exploration. I'm glad there's so much out there, that it's endlessly entertaining and I'm always learning something new.