Requiem For A Friend

It’s funny, how certain people ebb and flow throughout your life, like a constant in the night sky.  In a weird way, Deirdre was Polaris to me, that North Star ever present, seemingly unmoving.  Though we had fallen out of touch for quite a while, I knew she was there.  Champion for animal rights, a friend who offered compassion without need for repayment, an attentive ear without reprisal or judgment, Deirdre was there for so many people, touched so many lives.  When I got news of her passing this week, my world doesn’t really seem the same.  I know a lot of people who knew her are equally confused, heartbroken, saddened, and devastated.  She had a passion for life that at least in my experience, I’ve never witnessed its equal; there are a lot of enormous chasms in the hearts of many right now.

She was present in my life as I began formulating my first wine list, and in unspoken ways, influenced my attitudes toward wine without her or I even realizing, a philosophy I have adopted that continues to move me today.  I wonder what she would say about all that.  I’m pretty sure she would say I was just being ridiculous, to just shut up about it and get back to work.  

So I stumble back to work where recently we were left a little surprise with these incredible wines from Napa Valley’s Buccella, which if you ever get to try these wines, you are in for a treat.

Mica Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014.  Buccella’s second label Cab made by Scarecrow winemaker Celia Welch is a remarkable effort.  Full-bodied, with both power and grace, this big, rich Cabernet Sauvignon (blended with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot) gives you loads of black fruits, spice and espresso bean nuances.

Buccella Merlot Napa Valley 2014.  Arguably one of California’s best Merlots, this pretty much gets ignored by critics (no reviews whatsoever) which is probably more a good thing.  Voluptuous, velvety and pillowy tannins propel this splendid red across the palate like a dream.

Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014.  Bold notes of chocolate, blackberries, dried sage and crushed flowers emerge as this big, full-bodied, densely-concentrated red opens up, revealing a layered, structured, evolving red that is absolutely stunning.

Wine has become an integral part of my life, and not just because it is my job.  Wine is much like the music, literature, art and science that has bewitched me throughout the past 50 years on this spinning orb, and it has proven a remarkable conduit into the lives of the people who have inspired me, encouraged me and loved me as family, friend, lover and collaborator.  Deirdre was one of those people, and when I gaze up in the night sky and see that North Star above, I’ll know she’s there, watching, and in a way, tasting these wines right along with me.

Be at peace Deirdre Holder.  I will see you again.  And I’ll make sure to bring the wine.
​