At an Age

The night was a celebration.  It was my birthday, and SWMBO took The Young One and JoLo off to one of my favourite eateries.  We were allowed to take one bottle, as the right thing to do was to buy off the wine list, this bottle fitting in between a Champers and a sticky.  The red was a 1991 Te Mata ‘Coleraine’, the same birth year as JoLo and the year of conception for The Young One.  And to cap it off, it was the year that I’d worked vintage there.  I’ve tasted it on a number of occasions, and it has been rated well each time.  It was the right time to broach the bottle.  It was at an age to fully enjoy it.

Our Bar Man Sam took great care of it and decanted it accordingly, and served it just before our meaty main courses were served.  Dark garnet-red in colour, this looked soft and warm.  The nose was gentle and using an overly used word, ’elegant’.  Gentle and mellow dark red fruits, currants and plums harmoniously combined.  Nearly ethereal.  Then clean, fine and determined on palate.  Not a blockbuster.  No sign of undue age.  Quite seamless and all together, but with an undercurrent of drive.  It was all too easy to drink.  Just as you thought it would slip down too easily, it firmed up.  A little more tannin grip and structure to slow you down.  A little more interest with game notes.  Yes, that dreaded brett.  But very much in control.  Even SWMBO could enjoy it.  It was perfect to drink and at the right age.