Bad day, good wine
Whenever I teach a wine course, one of the most often asked questions usually goes something like this
I have this great bottle of wine that I received as a gift. I have been saving it for something special, but don't know at what age it will taste best. When should I open it?" My answer is always the same..."Open it the next time you have a bad day."
Now, I know that sounds like a cheeky answer, but there are two things at work here.
- If you have had that special bottle for quite a few years, you have probably built up your expectations for it to such a degree that it may never live up to them.
- As wine ages, it goes through a metamorphosis. Red wines will change from tasting of ripe fresh fruit and strong tannins into something with softer tannins and dried fruit and leather flavors. White wines change from being crisp and refreshing into a wine with caramel and nut characteristics.
Telling when a wine is "ready to drink" is a personal thing. Some like younger wines (put me in this category), while others like older wines. In my opinion, a wine is ready to drink whenever you decide to pull the cork.
Now, let's tackle that special occasion wine. The reason I tell people to drink it whenever they have had a bad day is twofold. A special occasion is already special enough. Savor the occasion itself. Pop open a bottle of something nice, but don't bring out that special bottle. It will never live up to your expectations and instead of making the occasion more special, it will probably bring your spirits down a bit.
A great wine can lift even the dreariest of days and make it special. So, next time you have a bad day, crack open that special bottle. You won't regret it.
Trust me, I have been there.
Comments
Ron Sober
Wed, Sep 9, 2009 : 11:48 a.m.
Yep...cat pee is definitely a real wine term. It is especially a characteristic of certain Sauvignon Blancs. While it sounds extremely awful, it actually isn't in application. I think there was even a New Zealand SB that was once released that was actually called "Cat Pee on a Gooseberry Bush", as those are distinct characteristics of NZ SB.
Joe Bauer
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 9:40 p.m.
whoa, "cat pee"? Is that really a distinct wine taste term?
Eric Arsenault
Wed, Aug 26, 2009 : 10:17 p.m.
So true, Ron. I get the same question all the time and, funny enough, give the same answer. Thinking all wines get better with age is right up there with thinking you should smell a cork. Generally, I find that most of the people who have yet to learn about the life cycle of wine are not too impressed by old wine, anyway. Leather and nuts are "acquired" tastes right alongside barnyard, dirty diaper, and cat pee. Great topic.
Jennifer Shikes Haines
Wed, Aug 26, 2009 : 9:52 a.m.
I loved this. It's a lesson I try to live in many areas - we never know what the future may bring, so it's important to savor what we can as we can.