WTN: Tradition

The birthday boys gathered again at Café la Haye in Sonoma to celebrate the passing of time. We don’t see each other often enough but this ritual is something we all look forward to and make time for. We usually gather at this restaurant, and he who has gained another year is exempted from the check. But we all bring a bottle.
Tradition among friends.

2010 Rhys, Syrah Horseshoe Vineyard:
12.6% alcohol (I think; hard label to read with these eyes); Jamet, Côte Rôtie on the nose – that wonderful violet and ash combination that I love about the AOC, clear fruit, some nice spice tones and all of this integrated into something that is greater than the sum of its parts; savory and focused (almost firm) on the palate, barely medium weight but quite intense, immensely complex; lovely, feminine finish. Years from peak but terrific tonight. Oh my!

1992 Grace Family, Cabernet Sauvignon:
13.1% alcohol; from the Gary Galleron days, I believe; begins with a somewhat closed, slightly insecticide nose (weird descriptor, I know, but something I often find in just opened older cab. based wines that exhibit tertiary development), broadens out in minutes and loses that chemical note, mostly dusty, warm red fruit with some truffle notes and a touch of tobacco; much the same in the mouth and quite complex with air; medium length finish that is not drying. The fruit is still strong but as the evening wears on, this begins to come apart, not entirely, but noticeably. What a pleasure to taste this; my first Grace.

2009 Kosta-Brown, Pinot Noir Russian River Valley:
14.5% alcohol; touch of VA on the nose but most at the table found nothing objectionable. Not my style but others loved it.

2009 Revana, Cabernet Sauvignon:
Alcohol unknown; typical Napa cab.; not my style but again, others kept going back for more.

Best, Jim

[Jenise]

Btw, served your excellent Sauvignon Blanc to a gentleman named Ron Freed on Thursday night. You might know Ron from other boards, though he may never have overtly let you know what an impression you made on him. He saw the bottle in my cellar and excitedly said, "That's Florida Jim's?" He then told me that it was your tasting notes that made him realize how many wines there were in the world outside of California's production and shamed him, more or less, into branching out. So I selected that Sauv Blanc to serve to with the lobster and cauliflower salad I was planning for a first course, and sent a bottle of your pinot noir home with him.

Btw, served your excellent Sauvignon Blanc to a gentleman named Ron Freed on Thursday night. You might know Ron from other boards, though he may never have overtly let you know what an impression you made on him. He saw the bottle in my cellar and excitedly said, "That's Florida Jim's?" He then told me that it was your tasting notes that made him realize how many wines there were in the world outside of California's production and shamed him, more or less, into branching out. So I selected that Sauv Blanc to serve to with the lobster and cauliflower salad I was planning for a first course, and sent a bottle of your pinot noir home with him.

Thanks for both the lovely story and the props.
FWIW, making as little wine as we do, we will never make money doing this - both Diane and I understand that. We do it for the lifestyle and for these moments - when some one learns, delights and for these connections.
Believe me when I say, you made my day.
Best, Jim

[Jenise]

Btw, served your excellent Sauvignon Blanc to a gentleman named Ron Freed on Thursday night. You might know Ron from other boards, though he may never have overtly let you know what an impression you made on him. He saw the bottle in my cellar and excitedly said, "That's Florida Jim's?" He then told me that it was your tasting notes that made him realize how many wines there were in the world outside of California's production and shamed him, more or less, into branching out. So I selected that Sauv Blanc to serve to with the lobster and cauliflower salad I was planning for a first course, and sent a bottle of your pinot noir home with him.

Thanks for both the lovely story and the props.
FWIW, making as little wine as we do, we will never make money doing this - both Diane and I understand that. We do it for the lifestyle and for these moments - when some one learns, delights and for these connections.
Believe me when I say, you made my day.
Best, Jim

You're so welcome, and it's so deserved! Btw, speaking of "these [wine] connections", about 25 years ago, we met Ron in So Cal when he became engaged to the daughter of a good friend and neighbor. The only wine we were expert on at that point was what $1.99 buys you at Trader Joe's--back when TJ's only had like six stores. Ron would end up over at the inlaws and wander our direction when he would get a little bored and fed up with all the girly stuff. Years later he and Sue divorced, he remarried, and Bob and I moved to Alaska, back to California and then to Washington state. Separately, both Ron and I became seriously wine lovers and when he saw my first name in a tasting note posted on Beserkers by a friend here in Bellingham, he said "gotta be her". Was so great to share (better) wine with him again all these years later.

That is what it's all about.
Best, Jim