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Why I Get Up In The Morning

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  • Posted: 7/29/2017
  • Categories: Wine
Comments Off on Why I Get Up In The Morning
​There are days, like most of us face, you know the ones – mundane, tedious, monotonous days that won’t seem to end, those staring-at-the-clock-as-if-the-hands-of-Time-have-swallowed-some-powerful-paralytic-and-each-nanosecond-has-become-an-eternity-of-its-own moments, and the day at work becomes a millennium of elongated repetition of meetings, orders and dumpster fires. Fortunately, I am oft-reminded of how good I have it here at JJ’s Eastgate every time someone comes in with Champagne.

Recently, we got a visit from Aurelie “Lily” Baetche from Dourthe USA, who treated us a bit of Champagne and Bordeaux from their portfolio:

Champagne Thiénot NV.  Stunning blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, there is a vibrant pear mousse with hints of Golden Delicious apples, quince and mineral.  This one was new to me, but I was glad to finally makes its acquaintance.

Champagne Canard-Duchène Brut NV.  A playful bit of fresh-baked bread, stone fruit and white flowers with pretty minerality.  A great little Champagne.

Champagne Canard-Duchène Brut Rosé NV.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier collaborate on a zesty, minerally jam session of strawberry mousse, apple skin and citrus undertones.

Champagne Canard-Duchène Blanc de Blancs “Charles VII” 2007.  A hint of vanilla cream resonates across a vast landscape of rich mineral, green apple, lemon zest and apricot mousse, this is a pleasure labyrinth.

Dourthe Sauvignon Blanc La Grande Cuveé 2015.  A youthful, exuberant white that does a slight New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc impersonation with its ornery grapefruit and guava display, before demonstrating fairly adept grass and mineral undertones.

Chateau Pey La Tour Bordeaux Rouge 2014.  Straightforward, fruity Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon team-up, with easy tannins and dry, mellow notes of cherries and earth.

Chateau Pey La Tour “Reserve du Chateau” Bordeaux Superieur 2012.  Dark-fruited, earthy red with solid grip and well-balanced acidity.

Chateau Reysson Haut-Medoc 2011.  Despite being Left Bank, this blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Firm tannins, medium-to-full-bodied with dried black cherries and currants, hints of sage, cedar and leather.  Finishes with a hint of baking spices and smoke.

Chateau Belgrave Haut-Medoc Grand Cru Classe 2010.  65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.  Bold, full-bodied red with notes of tobacco, black fruits, pepper and spice.

I often say Champagne and Bordeaux are two of my favorite wine regions on the planet (though truth be told, I say that about a lot of wine regions).  But for wine nerds like myself, Champagne and Bordeaux hold a particularly seductive and intoxicating (pun intended) sway over our psyches.  It sometimes feels as if we are partaking in rituals of the ancient ones whenever a glass of Champagne or Bordeaux is brought to our lips.  The heady, luminant liquid that sends our hearts and souls ascending to the heavens, running across plains of imagination, where it is said our nerd spirits can run wild, run free.  

Is that over the top?  (I can never tell.)

All kidding aside, it is wine from Champagne, Bordeaux, and even Burgundy and the Rhone, that stirs the poet in me, penning lyrics of romance, passion and desire, with every sip I take.  It is times like these that are my raison d’être.

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