If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 20s it’s that weddings are…expensive. But, not surprisingly, they are also great opportunities to try new wine! My brother got married at BR Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen on a sweltering summer day and we fought the heat with plenty of sparkling. One of my best friends tied the knot the weekend just prior, at her parents’ vineyard in Sonoma. They grow grapes for Castle Vineyards, and had a Merlot from their property bottled with a special wedding label. At both of these fun events, the wine flowed like, well, wine.
This past weekend my family celebrated another wedding as my step-sister got married in Tahoe. (Congratulations again Elisabeth and Darrell!) The setting was picturesque, the weather perfect, and again the wine was delicious. I love being able to hear what people who don’t work around wine for a living have to say about what’s in their glasses; it’s refreshing and honest, and not obscured with typical review jargon. Here’s what we were drinking, along with some comments from my family members:
2006 Kistler Chardonnay Les Noisetiers – “Smokey, flinty. There’s a lot to it,” said my brother, and an hour later his wife commented, “Oh, fruity!” This also got a round of “I like it” comments from the table.
2005 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Reserve – My father: ”Tastes good with the duck sausage. A little more please.” By the way, it also went well with the rack of lamb.
2003 Pride Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Napa/Sonoma – My eloquent brother: “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Why do you even bother with Pinot?”
At the end of the night, my dad and I fought over the two unopened bottles that remained. He ended up with the Pinot and I got the Chardonnay. I think I won.
