To hold the bottle of wine I’d randomly picked up in my cellar a couple of days ago or — what the hell — open it now? That is was the question I asked myself. Until now I would’ve probably left that Cabernet to mature another year or so, but these days I find myself rethinking the whole philosophy of wine enjoyment, and I wonder if you’re having the same shifting thoughts.
I’m not talking about your investment wines, those gems you’ve laid down and planned to keep for another decade or so. No, I mean the wine that is probably ready to drink today but that might also evolve a little more in a couple of years.
For me, Covid19 has caused me to adjust my views on such matters somewhat, as in the case of this bottle of Freemark Abbey, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California Cabernet 2013, which cost $70 when it was released. Sure, it might age and soften a little more in a year or two, or it might be perfectly delicious now. But I need cheering up these days (don’t we all?) so why not enjoy it right now?
Inspired by that thought I popped the cork, poured out a healthy dose and admired the deep, dark, still youthful looking purple liquid shimmering in my glass. I sniff, I taste, I swallow. I do the wine drinker’s version of purring. This is good stuff! Robustly flavored, with plenty of fresh fruit, softly textured and long on the palate, there is nothing more I could ask for.
Perhaps it’s time to make another trip downstairs to see what other middle-aged wines might be lurking down there waiting to be enjoyed right now.
Connect with Marguerite on Twitter at @M_L_Thomas
7