I friggin’ did it. For a second, though, I had my doubts. It seems like an easy prospect: finish 12 flights of wine in five weeks. But if you have any kind of life you’re trying to balance, drinking wine suddenly recasts itself as an arduous task.
from abaynoash on Flickr
And so on Saturday I found myself two flights short of the goal and running out of time. I hauled ass (that’s a technical term) to get down to BIN 36 with enough time to drink two flights of wine without looking like a complete alcoholic. They close at 1 A.M., so 11:51 P.M. seemed reasonable enough.
I sat down at the bar determined to knock those suckers out. I had long ago given up on the cheese flights, and as I stared at the challenge card Jimmy handed me—my name and email scrawled on it, various flights messily scratched out—the four or five cheese flights that still remained perfectly legible mocked my last hour act of heroism.
Oh well, can’t let the haters get to you.
So I dove into the last couple wine flights with the gusto of a man about to friggin’ own. And, fittingly enough, I ended the night with a lil’ bubbly.
Also check out my reviews of flights 12-11 and flights 10-5.
Flight #1: Bubbles
I really don’t have a preference between white or red wines. I’m an EOD. But sparkling wines tend to be very hit or miss for me, I love it or absolutely hate it. As was the first wine in this flight, a Prosecco, which to me was so tart and acidic it demanded food or else refused to be palatable. Though my favorite…
3. NV Brut, Chenin Blanc, Tabernero, Peru
At this point in the night, I was just trying to finish. I was chatting with people at the bar and carelessly making my way through the flight when I stopped, and thought, “Wow, what is this wine?” I had had been impressed with Tabernero before, so little surprise.
Flight #2: Italian Reds – Chianti And Beyond
Not really one of my favorite flights. It’s kind of a personal problem I have with Italian wines outside of the Piedmont. Which makes my favorite wine from the flight not so surprising.
1. 2006 Dolcetto di Dogiliano, Marenco Alto, “Suri,”Piedmont, Italy
Earthy, dark fruits, truffles. The first time I heard someone talk about Truffles in a Piemontese wine, I was all, “Bro, you serious?” But it’s absolutely true. Dogliani makes some beautiful Dolcetto, too. Perhaps the best?
Flight #3: Sauvignon Blanc vs. Chardonnay
Really a killer flight. If you’ve been rocking supermarket butter bombs and New Zealand ruby reds for two long, these wines will give you a whole new perspective on two awesome varietals.
3. 2008 Macon, Larochette Manciat, “Les Morizottes,” Burgundy, France
My tasting notes began, “Holy shit!” Which I interpret as literally, sacred waste material. This is probably what Dionysus pisses out, so I bought a bottle hoping to sell it on Ebay.
But seriously, I did buy a bottle. Full of bursting citrus and minerals, a little creaminess. Such a clean, beautiful wine.
Flight #4: The BIN 36 Flight
You gotta give it to Brian Duncan, he’s pounding the pavement hard for his BIN 36 line made in collaboration with Hahn Family Wines. He’s definitely crafting some very toast-able wines.
3. 2006 Merlot, BIN 36, California
Classic, delicious Merlot. Sweet red fruit with a hint of cinnamon, dark coffee lingers on the finish. Perfect example of why you should drink more Merlot.
