A Blog-less(?) 2007: A Retrospective

The past year or so I've been thinking about a couple of things.

I have long noticed that I rarely am terribly fascinated about wines I drink. Yet I still love wines. And I will drink it whenever I have the chance. But the occasions that they make me (a) shake my head in disbelief, (b) grin insanely like someone high on drugs, and (c) shiver and my hair stands are just too few. There were so many of these happy times a few years back. And saying this just makes me feel... old.

But recently I decided not to grumble over it. I realize it's just natural. In fact, it's a good thing. It shows that there is progress.

This year I also noticed that my blind tasting accuracy statistics is spotty at best. I make blunders like mistaking a grand cru Burgundy from a top-notch year as a northern Rhone. At another time, a top notch Cote-Rotie as a Cote-de-Beaune. More than once I mistook Gevrey for Vosne (a mistake spectacularly I never ever made before this year - something I used to be quietly very proud of). Plus I still suck at Bordeaux even in a narrow semi-blind setting - what's up with that?!

I had long resolved that guessing blind wrongly is no big deal so long as I learn from it. But some of these mistakes were so stupid my faith began to waver. Yet later on I decided what the heck. I was right to start with about focusing on the learning process as opposed to the statistics of spotting it right. And it's a good thing. This too shows progress.

On a more upbeat note I drank a whole lot more whites and champagnes this year than ever. My appreciation for white burgundies and knowledge about champagnes is steadily increasing. I'm still novice in the latter, but I'm happy with the progress. And I'm more than happy to keep drinking them.

I noticed as well that my early impressions on certain superb vintages (yet often latently so still) had just been reinforced and reconfirmed. My drinking associates who used to be skeptical about my overtly sanguine enchantment with these vintages started vindicating my initial thoughts. I have several other observations which are yet unshared by others but I am confident that it's but a matter of time. This shows I'm not yet going senile in spite of the many brain cells who had laid down their lives so that I could taste, and retaste these wines.

My drinking portfolio this year is still dominated by burgundies, in fact by a ridiculous, almost unfair margin when compared with the other wine regions. I longed for the thrill and joy of encountering another great Chateauneuf du Pape, Barolo, or a Medoc. I feel I badly need to redeem myself here. This almost sounds like a new year resolution. Perhaps it is, after all...

Wines will increasingly be more important in this coming year. The laid-back stance I took in 2007 will evolve. It doesn't mean more tasting and notes (although they're most welcome). But greater attention will be put into it to make sure the experience and learning will be shared with those who could bear to listen.

(I popped Cattier's NV Chigny-les-Roses Premier Cru tonight. It would be my last wine of 2007. I wonder what will be the first one in 2008? But it doesn't matter, I suppose, because more importantly I look forward to many more artisanal champagnes.)

And we're...back!

At some point or another, most people kind of slow down in their personal fixations and drift into motions which though not by themselves be devoid of thrills and enjoyment, just don't get committed into expressed actions.

And so it has been a year since this blog was updated. This does not mean that the pleasure of tasting wines has left my side. They are just uncommitted into written ruminations and tasting notes which used to decorate the past pages.

Have I been tasting new wines? Am I still fascinated by them? Have I incurred newfound wisdom in the journey? The answer is Yes, Yes, and Yes.

And so this posting marks a relaunching of an old habit, one that tends to grumble audibly about things which by general standards are frivolous but by personal one essential and important.

I have been privileged to be a part of many a good gathering featuring not merely great bottles, but also mind-boggling and personally touching ones. I will share them with you. (Thank God for the invention of paper and pen.)

Speaking of written notes, over time I realize I no longer write descriptors for taste, but rather gravitate toward texture, structure and impression of shape of wine in the mouth. It is not a conscious effort, by the way: it comes rather naturally. Is it useful? Well, I'm not sure I even care about that. I mean, it is definitely representative to me personally, though it may not be elucidative to others. But then again, my notes are personal documentation of impression, not a vehicle for instruction to others. We will see this in full effect once the postings come out.

I just came back from a very warm and memorable tasting. It's 2 AM. I think I will give myself a chance to shut down now. Zzzzzzzzzz...