The unnamed rosé of the previous post turned out to be the 2006 Renzo Masi Toscana. This wine retails for about $7 and is worth every penny. I highly reccomend it for its fruit driven, full style. It is balanced and insanely quaffable for drinking all summer long on those 100 degree days...
Last night Stacy called while I sat comfortably reading Dewey Markham Jr's 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification. If you are interested in Bordeaux this is a fascinating journey into the commercial history of the world's largest fine wine producing region and the controversial classification that arose as a result of years of unofficial but widely acknowledged hierarchy among the producers of the Médoc.
Stacy wanted to know if I would join her at The X-Lounge, her usual watering hole and an account we share in common. Stacy works for the Wal-Mart of wine distribution while I work for the Mom-and-Pop of wine distribution. She has to sell a bunch of crap most of the time, but she is a great salesperson and she does well. I, on the other hand, get to sell good wine most of the time, but am not driven by making the sale like most good salespeople and so I do alright. I always tell people that I love wine but could care less about sales (except when the rent, my car payment, and every other bill is due). As I can't seem to refuse any offer of a dionysian good time I promptly put away the book and drove over to the bar.
A spectacular thunderstorm raged and lightning flashed all around me as I drove , illuminating the sky and the dark clouds above. Were it not for the rain I probably might of stood outside enthralled for a while, but ran into the "X" instead and found not a sign of Stacy.
I asked the hostess in the crowded room if she had seen her. "Is that someone who works here?" She asked me. Though Stacy is a regular customer (nearly every night, sometimes infamously every night) the woman at the host stand didn't know her. I shuffled amateurishly to the bar with my phone in hand trying to reach her. No answer. Hmm. There I was, the awkward guy alone at the bar...I contemplated my game plan: have a drink and wait or take off and go back home? While I thought about it Stacy (thankfully) turned up.
What did I drink? A cocktail. I felt a little wined out to be honest with you.
While I sat sipping, one of C'ville's caricature personalities appeared across the bar. He had just been mentioned in our conversation not five minutes earlier. Strange night, I thought, while the ominous thunder bellowed at us from outside. I told Stacy to ask him to join us. He is the former owner of the best cheese shop in town, now defunct, replaced by a mediterranean themed restaurant. Also a great chef with a fantastic palate. Very french. Very grumpy (according to much of the clientele he ran out of his shop). My take is that he has a vision of food and wine which he refuses to compromise in order to make money. This vision remained unappreciated for the duration that he was open to the public. Sadly (though many would say, thankfully) he closed his doors at the end of summer last year.
He ordered a bottle of the 2004 Bouissiere Gigondas (which I sell) and shared it among us. Sweet notes of red fruits (raspberry) on the nose with a touch of garrigue and stones. On the palate it was full and lush with a nice ripeness. Long in the mouth. Quite good.
The 2004 is a blend of 62% Grenache and 38% Syrah. I have had a lot of luck with the wines from La Bouissiere. Their attention to detail and passion for quality really shows with their 2004s, which is, in my experience so far tasting Southern Rhone wines, a quite spotty vintage.
And can you believe it, Stacy declined the offer of another bottle. Thus our night ended, myself still quite sober.
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