My Year in Wine:
2010
2010
How do you put in perspective the year 2010 in wine that for me personally included some family stress - great friendships - super parties - wines that belong in museums and wines that belong in the trash?? You can't, its not that simple. In reality, I am so looking forward to 2011 already.
This year I managed to surpass the light estimate of 175 to 200 wines from last year that I tasted to easily reach 300 to 400 wines in 2010. Yes! that number is correct. I am a very fortunate man. I have the very best friends and family in this industry. I have developed friendships with so many people that I really can't ever pay back for there generosity. All I can continue to do is remain there friend and give my personal opinion regarding the wines that we taste, share, or drink together. All of my friends and the wines that we drank together shall remain nameless this year as I really hope that they will read this blog post and know just how much I value there friendship and kindness.
The year started off with the grape that I have become so fond of "Pinot" and one heck of a pinot tasting in Pasadena. Some of my favorite wineries were there, including a few bottles that I brought myself. Although as the year went along I developed a bit of "Pinot Burn-Out" and started tasting lots and lots of Syrah, as I still cannot afford to really sink my teeth into Burgundy. Yes I am yearning more and more for a certain style of pinot, but my preference still remains in the Central Coast, specifically Santa Rita Hills AVA, but this year Oregon made a big impression on me with an almost perfect 16 year old Magnum of wine. The Pasadena Pinot tasting also brought together several of my best wine drinking friends together in one room. In the end, some superior and some horrible pinot's were tasted.
Later in the month of January came not just my proudest wine moment of the year, but quite possibly of all time. It was another great wine tasting that happened to be "Brown Bagged" It included lots of great bottles, but on this day 2 bottles stood out above the rest and my friend and I developed what I believe was a psychic power. We brought 2 very high end wines that were the same varietal, almost the same vintage year, and can hardly be found not just anywhere. The wine I brought was a great expression of Sauvignon Blanc from California, but the wine that my friend decided to open will probably turn out to be the greatest bottle of wine that I had all year long. Perhaps some day it may even be in the top 5 bottles that I will have gotten the chance to drink in my entire life. My proudest moment was just having the sense that I was drinking perfection in a glass even though I didn't have a clue as to the bottles origin. Everything about that wine was in perfect harmony. I don't think that will ever be duplicated.
In February came a meeting with not just one, but two "Wine Legends". Both meetings were fun and laid back tastings, that gave me the chance to ask them questions that were or were not wine related. We hung out, ate great food, drank amazing wines. To me wine makers are "Rock Stars" just like the chefs you see on TV. In the end they are hard working people that love what they do. I just hope that I get more chances like that in my life.
When March finally came around, my brother found work back in the field that got me all started in this craziness more than 15 years ago. He still is the most inspirational person I know in the wine business. I will never be able to pay him back for the education and wines. The month ended with both of my favorite wine bars spoiling me rotten with great bottles of wines. One celebrated there 3rd year in business and the other celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style. Every year this will happen and every year I will look forward to it.
When my birthday rolled around in April. I only got to drink a 31 year old bottle of wine. I also got to share it with a friend of mine that just so happens to have the same birth date as myself. What better way to get a bit older than to enjoy an oldie but goodie with a great wine friend. I never would of known that Riesling wines could last that long. Just another way old world wines one up California. Did I mention that my Anniversary is also the same day as my birthday. What was I thinking. The actual day started very sadly with the news that some friends of ours had a sick child in the hospital. Emotions ran over me as to how can I celebrate my birth as they worried about the health of there newborn child. The day was an emotional roller coaster, but we did get treated very well by my friends in Whittier. They sang Happy Birthday to me and wished my wife and I many more Anniversaries to come. We are so very fortunate.
May was a quiet month. I suppose that I needed a break, so wine drinking was very limited. Mother's Day allowed me to thank my wife and sister-in-law the correct way with 2 beautiful bottles of Pinot Noir. When we moved into June the party started right back up again with the "Empty your Wine Locker Party". This one is an annual event that a few of my friends throw. It allows a bunch us to bring out our "Big Guns" and share them with everybody. There were to many solid or badass wines that night that I got the chance to taste. My head is still spinning!
In the month of June, finally some vacation! Yep, it was wine related. Just a small trip up to Central Coast to visit my favorite winery and favorite California Pinot Noir. Visiting there new facility was so cool, but the coolest part was the friends that I have made there treating us above and beyond there abilities. It feels good to have friends in the right places. The trip was most needed for us all. When summer rolled around, it was time for me to give back just a little. My wife was about to undergo a surgical procedure to lose weight and requested that I make her favorite dish one last time. It is no mystery that I find my inner calm in the kitchen. Up until that point, we had not thrown any big wine party. I spent several days putting a menu and a music play list together. Two of my best friends and my sister-in-law were invited to enjoy in this meal. As I ate the meal and drank the wines, I became very emotional. Nothing brings me more satisfaction then to feed my family and see there smiles after a successful dinner. The emotions still linger now for my wife's health. She is my rock and I would be lost without her. We have so many more dinners to host. Just a few weeks after her surgery, I finally got the chance to introduce my wife to several of my wine friends. It is still uncomfortable for her to explain that she could not eat anything. My wine friends treated my wife very well and we are both looking so forward to many more parties together.
As the wine year comes to a close, party after party emerge. To many to count from my friends in La Canada. It has been the absolute best club that I could of ever joined. We are friends now, not just a bunch of guys getting together to taste wines. Brown bagging the wines has taught us all how to judge and be judged. The friends that I have met from Monrovia, also deserve so much praise. There generosity is priceless, and there friendships to both my wife and I are legendary. Words cannot say enough about the friendships I have made in Whittier. To Angie and I, you are family now.
Then comes the party of parties. A party where friends decided to cook and drink wine. A party that allowed me the pleasure once again to feed friends and enjoy there company. Cooking is still such a fun activity for me. It brings me calm remember? A party that allowed me to give back! Why hold onto legendary wines if you can't share them with friends and family! The food prepared in a high end culinary style. The friends, laughing and enjoying the day. This is why we get together. These are the days that we hope we will never forget!
So the year is almost over! How will I put together a top 15 list. It will be difficult, but I will try really hard. I sit here writing about it, Remembering the wines! Remembering the parties! Remembering the laughter and some tears as well!
And I say yeah!!
I did it right!!
Cheers~
This year I managed to surpass the light estimate of 175 to 200 wines from last year that I tasted to easily reach 300 to 400 wines in 2010. Yes! that number is correct. I am a very fortunate man. I have the very best friends and family in this industry. I have developed friendships with so many people that I really can't ever pay back for there generosity. All I can continue to do is remain there friend and give my personal opinion regarding the wines that we taste, share, or drink together. All of my friends and the wines that we drank together shall remain nameless this year as I really hope that they will read this blog post and know just how much I value there friendship and kindness.
The year started off with the grape that I have become so fond of "Pinot" and one heck of a pinot tasting in Pasadena. Some of my favorite wineries were there, including a few bottles that I brought myself. Although as the year went along I developed a bit of "Pinot Burn-Out" and started tasting lots and lots of Syrah, as I still cannot afford to really sink my teeth into Burgundy. Yes I am yearning more and more for a certain style of pinot, but my preference still remains in the Central Coast, specifically Santa Rita Hills AVA, but this year Oregon made a big impression on me with an almost perfect 16 year old Magnum of wine. The Pasadena Pinot tasting also brought together several of my best wine drinking friends together in one room. In the end, some superior and some horrible pinot's were tasted.
Later in the month of January came not just my proudest wine moment of the year, but quite possibly of all time. It was another great wine tasting that happened to be "Brown Bagged" It included lots of great bottles, but on this day 2 bottles stood out above the rest and my friend and I developed what I believe was a psychic power. We brought 2 very high end wines that were the same varietal, almost the same vintage year, and can hardly be found not just anywhere. The wine I brought was a great expression of Sauvignon Blanc from California, but the wine that my friend decided to open will probably turn out to be the greatest bottle of wine that I had all year long. Perhaps some day it may even be in the top 5 bottles that I will have gotten the chance to drink in my entire life. My proudest moment was just having the sense that I was drinking perfection in a glass even though I didn't have a clue as to the bottles origin. Everything about that wine was in perfect harmony. I don't think that will ever be duplicated.
In February came a meeting with not just one, but two "Wine Legends". Both meetings were fun and laid back tastings, that gave me the chance to ask them questions that were or were not wine related. We hung out, ate great food, drank amazing wines. To me wine makers are "Rock Stars" just like the chefs you see on TV. In the end they are hard working people that love what they do. I just hope that I get more chances like that in my life.
When March finally came around, my brother found work back in the field that got me all started in this craziness more than 15 years ago. He still is the most inspirational person I know in the wine business. I will never be able to pay him back for the education and wines. The month ended with both of my favorite wine bars spoiling me rotten with great bottles of wines. One celebrated there 3rd year in business and the other celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style. Every year this will happen and every year I will look forward to it.
When my birthday rolled around in April. I only got to drink a 31 year old bottle of wine. I also got to share it with a friend of mine that just so happens to have the same birth date as myself. What better way to get a bit older than to enjoy an oldie but goodie with a great wine friend. I never would of known that Riesling wines could last that long. Just another way old world wines one up California. Did I mention that my Anniversary is also the same day as my birthday. What was I thinking. The actual day started very sadly with the news that some friends of ours had a sick child in the hospital. Emotions ran over me as to how can I celebrate my birth as they worried about the health of there newborn child. The day was an emotional roller coaster, but we did get treated very well by my friends in Whittier. They sang Happy Birthday to me and wished my wife and I many more Anniversaries to come. We are so very fortunate.
May was a quiet month. I suppose that I needed a break, so wine drinking was very limited. Mother's Day allowed me to thank my wife and sister-in-law the correct way with 2 beautiful bottles of Pinot Noir. When we moved into June the party started right back up again with the "Empty your Wine Locker Party". This one is an annual event that a few of my friends throw. It allows a bunch us to bring out our "Big Guns" and share them with everybody. There were to many solid or badass wines that night that I got the chance to taste. My head is still spinning!
In the month of June, finally some vacation! Yep, it was wine related. Just a small trip up to Central Coast to visit my favorite winery and favorite California Pinot Noir. Visiting there new facility was so cool, but the coolest part was the friends that I have made there treating us above and beyond there abilities. It feels good to have friends in the right places. The trip was most needed for us all. When summer rolled around, it was time for me to give back just a little. My wife was about to undergo a surgical procedure to lose weight and requested that I make her favorite dish one last time. It is no mystery that I find my inner calm in the kitchen. Up until that point, we had not thrown any big wine party. I spent several days putting a menu and a music play list together. Two of my best friends and my sister-in-law were invited to enjoy in this meal. As I ate the meal and drank the wines, I became very emotional. Nothing brings me more satisfaction then to feed my family and see there smiles after a successful dinner. The emotions still linger now for my wife's health. She is my rock and I would be lost without her. We have so many more dinners to host. Just a few weeks after her surgery, I finally got the chance to introduce my wife to several of my wine friends. It is still uncomfortable for her to explain that she could not eat anything. My wine friends treated my wife very well and we are both looking so forward to many more parties together.
As the wine year comes to a close, party after party emerge. To many to count from my friends in La Canada. It has been the absolute best club that I could of ever joined. We are friends now, not just a bunch of guys getting together to taste wines. Brown bagging the wines has taught us all how to judge and be judged. The friends that I have met from Monrovia, also deserve so much praise. There generosity is priceless, and there friendships to both my wife and I are legendary. Words cannot say enough about the friendships I have made in Whittier. To Angie and I, you are family now.
Then comes the party of parties. A party where friends decided to cook and drink wine. A party that allowed me the pleasure once again to feed friends and enjoy there company. Cooking is still such a fun activity for me. It brings me calm remember? A party that allowed me to give back! Why hold onto legendary wines if you can't share them with friends and family! The food prepared in a high end culinary style. The friends, laughing and enjoying the day. This is why we get together. These are the days that we hope we will never forget!
So the year is almost over! How will I put together a top 15 list. It will be difficult, but I will try really hard. I sit here writing about it, Remembering the wines! Remembering the parties! Remembering the laughter and some tears as well!
And I say yeah!!
I did it right!!
Cheers~
