A Gift

It hasn't taken me long to open another bottle of wine. I remembered that I had a bottle of Gamay an old professor had given my wife and I as a gift about 5 months back knowing that I really enjoy wine, and being that I have been trying to find a time to drink this wine I thought tonight was as good a time as any.

The wine I am tasting is a French wine from Chateau de la Chaize; from the 2004 vintage costing around 16 dollars. I let this wine decant for about an hour before pouring myself a glass. This wine is medium red in color with a fairly delicate body. The bouquet roped me in right off; I detected aromas of shrill strawberry (what is shrill strawberry you may be asking yourself? I too am asking this very question as I write)! There was a faint essence of cotton candy in the bouquet for the first minute or two after swirling the wine, but it has morphed into the aroma of a decadent strawberry pie. I also detect the unassuming aroma of toasted oak. My first sip of this wine was quite disappointing compared to the bouquet. As the wine ran over and around my tongue I felt my mouth pucker up. This wine tastes a little young to me. It tastes as if there is not enough fruit to counterbalance the tannins. I can detect strawberry and cherry flavors, but they are quickly overtaken by the tannins, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Overall, I will give this wine a pass if I run across it in the future.

Although I am not overly impressed with the wine, it is interesting how gifts bring back memories. While trying this wine I have been reminiscing about the time Dr. Colin Greene, (the professor who gave me this wine) another friend, and myself shared several bottles of wine after finals one semester. Dr. Colin Greene is one of the most engaging, open, personable people I have had the pleasure of knowing. It totally makes sense that he enjoys wine so much!

Drinking this wine also takes me back to the time I spent in France. I lived in France for eight months as an exchange student. I have also been a couple other times. I love France. France was where the seeds of my love of good wine were planted. Back then I didn't know much about wine. I was spending about 18 francs a bottle, which equaled around 3 dollars American at the time. I didn't know anything about the different grape varieties, grand cru's, terroir, weather affecting the grapes during the growing season, etc. But I learned to enjoy wine, and that was the start.

I never knew how enjoyable yet humorous it could be writing about wine. My review smacks of pretentiousness. I guess wine brings out the best in me!