Sure, if the world were looking to end in 2012 thered be a few particular never-tasted wines Id love to have a last-minute tryst with. But if I was staring death right in the face, Im afraid that it would be regrets more than anything that Id find myself trying to drown out.
Chief among them would be all of those bottles Ive had tucked away and been saving for years and years for some yet-to-be-determined special occasion. Two scenarios more likely than enjoying said bottles at the perfect time are either holding them until theyre well past their prime or the ultra-dangerous situation of thinking itd be a great idea to open one as the fifth or sixth bottle of the night with friends when youre not of the best, uh, analytical mind.
Case in point, for this piece I decided to dig a little deeper into the cellar than I usually would on an idle weekday, when dinner will be no more adventurous than ordering in pizza. Nothing wrong with celebrating mid-week with something special, right?
The bottle I dusted off is widely acclaimed as a local gem. Osoyoos LaRose 2001 Le Grand Vin Red out of Oliver retailed for $35 when it was released in 2004, scored 88 points from Anthony Gismondi and was the first vintage of a tag-team venture by Vincor and Group Taillan of Château Gruaud-Larose, Bordeaux. The vintage was pretty decent it was a long warm summer and the wines blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc was widely touted for its solid example of Okanagan terroir and potential when it came to Bordeaux-style reds. Most tasting notes boast all the words youd want associated with such a wine: black currant, chocolate, coffee, cherry, cedar, mint, good tannins, great minerality, well crafted and so on.
But now?
It seems in holding this bottle for years and years, Ive missed my window of opportunity. More bluntly, its just not that great anymore. Im impressed by the structure and how well its held up. Theres still some lively acidity and the tannins are still a touch grippy, the sort you may find in a more youthful wine. The fruit, though, is tired. There are mild oxidative notes right off the bat, the kind that start to appear when youve left a bottle open a day or two too long. Cherry and currant flavours are still apparent, but its as if you left a fruit basket in a dank basement over some humid days. The wine has gone from being a fresh and fizzy, icy bottle of Coke to the warm, flat stuff that you forgot on your kitchen counter the other day. Really a shame since Ive been told that all of their wines from 2003 onward are still singing.
In short, take heed. Maybe its time to reach a little further down in your wine cellar or cupboard. Apocalyptic year or not, you might want to make tonight that special occasion.
