My Cup Overfloweth
Yes, it certainly does.
Really. I have wines pouring in (doh!) from all over: wedding gifts, shipments from Seghesio, a light case from wine.com. It’s an illness. I hunt for wine like mallistas shop for. . . whatever it is that people shop for at malls. And it’s not as if I NEEDED more wines to replenish my stock. Even with Andie helping, we can’t get through more than two bottles a week, and with her trying to get pregnant, I’m laboring mightily to get through a bottle on my own. Over the course of the week.
Plus I like to share the good stuff, so when I’m the only one drinking, I opt for “eh” wine; decent stuff, or bottles people have given me that THEY think are decent. Which I suppose depends on your palate. One’s palate. MY palate, which is finicky.
Like at my wedding reception, the Guenoc Petite Syrah, 2001, a FAVORITE, just didn’t taste right to me. I eschewed it, and tried the 2003 Geyser Peak Cab that came so highly recommended. Eh, all over again. I can’t remember what else I tried. I just remember being dissatisfied. In fact, it was the champagne we had at the wedding ceremony that most pleased me – the Cristalino Cava Brut. Go figure – I drink champagne once or twice a year, as it’s not my thing. Only this made for a nice change. Maybe it was the excitement of the day, or the beauty of our surroundings. Or maybe this baby deserves its perennial “Best Value” award from Wine & Spirits, which I think is a magazine.
More-than-decent quaffs I’ve had of late include the Norton Bodega Malbec and the 2003 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, like the 2001 a 90-pointer and only $10. Also the Concannon Limited Release Petite Sirah.
But the flat-out tastiest wine I’ve had in months has to be the Marian’s Reserve from Seghesio. Limited to members of its wine club (and perhaps the tasting room in Healdsburg, but I dunno), and limited even then to six bottles per member, this wine is luscious through and through. It’s named for Faye Marian, the mother of Ted Seghesio, one of the winemakers. Faye’s idea it was for the Seghesio family to stop selling the grapes from its 100-year-old vineyards and start bottling its own. Bless you, Faye Marian.
Marian’s Reserve was the first wine released by Seghesio Vineyards, back in 1983, I believe. Faye had succumbed to cancer a few years previously; how tragic and ironic is THAT, that she didn’t get to taste her own wine? At least not in this world.
Anyway, Seghesio hadn’t released any more Marian’s Reserve until this year, more than three decades later. It was worth the wait. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane grapes combine for a glass of sheer pleasure, with a nose to match. Also incredible legs, which undoubtedly would please Faye Marian. It sure pleased ME, and Leeser, and Andie. And it went very nicely with dinner, which was ribeyes charcoal grilled to perfection by Chef Tall; also asparagus, which doesn’t go with a dam’ thing, near as I can tell, besides Sauvignon Blanc; and mashed ‘taters a la Kim, which means sour cream instead of milk. And which goes with every wine under the sun. And moon. Which was waxing full, like my happy tummy.
Really. I have wines pouring in (doh!) from all over: wedding gifts, shipments from Seghesio, a light case from wine.com. It’s an illness. I hunt for wine like mallistas shop for. . . whatever it is that people shop for at malls. And it’s not as if I NEEDED more wines to replenish my stock. Even with Andie helping, we can’t get through more than two bottles a week, and with her trying to get pregnant, I’m laboring mightily to get through a bottle on my own. Over the course of the week.
Plus I like to share the good stuff, so when I’m the only one drinking, I opt for “eh” wine; decent stuff, or bottles people have given me that THEY think are decent. Which I suppose depends on your palate. One’s palate. MY palate, which is finicky.
Like at my wedding reception, the Guenoc Petite Syrah, 2001, a FAVORITE, just didn’t taste right to me. I eschewed it, and tried the 2003 Geyser Peak Cab that came so highly recommended. Eh, all over again. I can’t remember what else I tried. I just remember being dissatisfied. In fact, it was the champagne we had at the wedding ceremony that most pleased me – the Cristalino Cava Brut. Go figure – I drink champagne once or twice a year, as it’s not my thing. Only this made for a nice change. Maybe it was the excitement of the day, or the beauty of our surroundings. Or maybe this baby deserves its perennial “Best Value” award from Wine & Spirits, which I think is a magazine.
More-than-decent quaffs I’ve had of late include the Norton Bodega Malbec and the 2003 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, like the 2001 a 90-pointer and only $10. Also the Concannon Limited Release Petite Sirah.
But the flat-out tastiest wine I’ve had in months has to be the Marian’s Reserve from Seghesio. Limited to members of its wine club (and perhaps the tasting room in Healdsburg, but I dunno), and limited even then to six bottles per member, this wine is luscious through and through. It’s named for Faye Marian, the mother of Ted Seghesio, one of the winemakers. Faye’s idea it was for the Seghesio family to stop selling the grapes from its 100-year-old vineyards and start bottling its own. Bless you, Faye Marian.
Marian’s Reserve was the first wine released by Seghesio Vineyards, back in 1983, I believe. Faye had succumbed to cancer a few years previously; how tragic and ironic is THAT, that she didn’t get to taste her own wine? At least not in this world.
Anyway, Seghesio hadn’t released any more Marian’s Reserve until this year, more than three decades later. It was worth the wait. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane grapes combine for a glass of sheer pleasure, with a nose to match. Also incredible legs, which undoubtedly would please Faye Marian. It sure pleased ME, and Leeser, and Andie. And it went very nicely with dinner, which was ribeyes charcoal grilled to perfection by Chef Tall; also asparagus, which doesn’t go with a dam’ thing, near as I can tell, besides Sauvignon Blanc; and mashed ‘taters a la Kim, which means sour cream instead of milk. And which goes with every wine under the sun. And moon. Which was waxing full, like my happy tummy.
posted by Winetaster | 12:42 PM
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