Waiting

It can be tough waiting sometimes. You have in your mind when a wine is going to be at its prime to drink. Against this is when an occasion arises and you can't wait to open a bottle. The advantage of not waiting is that it can be better to have a wine too young, than too old. But then you may miss out on the full 'glory' of what a wine could be. It's a tough one.

Such was the case last night. Good friends, one from the deep south, the other from town. Both worthy of something special. The 2008 Seresin Gewurztraminer was in reality too young. Dry, concentrated and fine textured. We could have waited, but it was very pleasurable. The 2001 Von Kesselstatt Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett was perfection. Wonderful honey, custard and toast, all in a subtle, stylish framework. SWMBO loved it. Our town friend had waited to catch up with us to share it. We're glad he waited. And also for the fact that waited to let it develop well. A good example of how a great year has matured so well.

Then we pulled out two reds to go with the simple, but flavoursome dinner that SWMBO prepared. It seemed right to have the 2003 Trapiche Malbec 'Tributo - Filipe Villefane'. I was going to wait another few years for this one. But it was sublime. Rich and ripe, with classy silkiness. But wait....we're talking about Malbec, the weed vine that can only make coarse, broad wines! Those critics are wrong. It was a sumptuous, almost decadent number. Good job we didn't wait to open this one. Following was the acclaimed 2002 Henschke 'Mt Edelstone' Shiraz. Powerful, tight, dense, concentrated. Some VA lift and shiny oak in spades. All that stuff that suggests long-term cellaring possible. While drinkable, we should have waited - another decade. Damn.