Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard 2004

Dark purple color, with a tight-knit nose of blueberry, tar and earth. The palate felt closed... the wine was clearly holding back. The lovely young lady and I opened this bottle way too soon. Does not live up to the 2003. Three stars out of five.

Priorities.

Within the past week, the lovely young lady and I became engaged. The past few days have been hectic as we have been telling all of our friends the news, and looking for venues to hold the ceremony and reception. Then, tonight, I realized -- how the heck are we going to pay for all of it?

A minor panic attack later, and I realized -- duh, we can afford it. It just requires priorities. So, sadly, that means I have to watch what I buy over the next year. Sniff. No 2005 Latour. My biggest priority is spending the rest of my life with the lovely young lady. Everything else comes second to that. So, while that does not mean I am going on a blogging hiatus, it does mean I am going on a wine buying hiatus... er, downturn.

This also makes for a good lesson. There is a little obsessiveness when it comes to wine collecting. Oenophiles tend to have the desire to collect them all. Collect. Them. All. But such consumption should not be one's goal in life. Any hobby -- whether wine, art, model building, or dog walking -- should contribute to one's life, not distract from it.

I am very glad I have this lady in my life, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of life brings.

Question?

Is it appropriate to include a wine store on a wedding registry? The lovely young lady and I will need to know.

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2002

Over a year ago, I blogged about finding a bottle of the Insignia 2002. Tonight, I opened it with the lovely young lady. But, before I give my tasting notes for the wine, a little back story.

I moved to San Francisco a year ago today. The move was a major change for me -- I knew no one here, I had no work connections, and I had no idea what the future promised. I simply needed a change. A year later, and I have met the woman of my dreams, my career is doing well, and I feel like I have finally found a place that felt like home.

So, tonight called for a celebration! The lovely young lady and I prepared a great dinner, and the Insignia 2002 was opened.

What an amazing wine! Royal purple color, with rich aromas of creme de casis, vanillan, and mint on the nose. The tannins are both rich and silky smooth, and the finish lingers for minutes. This is an amazingly rich, opulent wine without being overpowered in any one area. Still has a lot of life left in it, but don't wait -- drink up now! Four and a half out of five stars.

Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1984

Sigh. this wine was just too old.

Though there was a burst of fruit when I opened the bottle and poured it in the decanter, sherry and nut like aromas on the nose dashed my hopes. Distinct, orange color gave further proof that the wine was oxygenized. The palate was completely off, showing that it had passed its prime. One star out of five.

Grgich Hills 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

Rich, dark purple color. The powerful, dark fruit aromas on the nose -- even though the wine is going on five years! Succulent, silky tannins make this a great wine to savor. And while the label shows that the wine approaches 15% alcohol, it does not come off as hot. Drink in the next two to three years. Four out of five stars.

Art/wine comparison for the day.

From Jean Hoefliger, Alpha Omega's winemaker:

The Pressed wine is the frame of a painting or the base of a sculpture supporting the masterpiece, holding everything together.