Wine Giques

The Wine Guys

Yesterday was the first time I waited on "the wine guys" after hearing about them for the past six months. I had heard lots of stories - about how they preferred male waiters, pinched women's behinds and behaved disrespectfully towards the opposite sex. I had also seen their waiters swirling and gulping and generally hoarding the tastes of wine bestowed upon them. Part of me wanted to wait on them - to drink their wine and collect my tip - and part of me could give a rat's ass.

So it was with a mixture of feelings that I went to their table and gave them the only thing I know how to give - good service.

What I got was some excellent wine, Ramey Chard, Twomey Cab, Heitz Cab, and, my favorite, an older vintage, 1997, Whitehall Lane Merlot... and a fifty dollar tip on an $120 tab.

Consolation Wine

You are asking yourself what bottle of wine would ever be a consolation prize - unless it was a bottle of schlock (and not everyone thinks that the two-buck Chuck stuff is schlock). Wine is a real prize. First place. A bottle of wine will never make you feel like you came in second.
What I call a consolation wine is one that consoles - like mashed potatoes, lots of pillows, and warm jammies. When I am crampy, or grumpy, or feeling blue it is a bottle of (red) wine that makes me feel a bit better about life and what it is that's bugging me.
Today's wine was a perfectly serviceable little Syrah blend from the Rhone, Parallele 45 from Paul Jaboulet Aine. A couple of glasses later I feel infinitely better...