Visited a friend (former next door neighbor of my Dana Point house, for those OC folk who had BerserkerFests there) who is soon to pass. A bittersweet visit, filled with reminiscing, good humor, but also sadness to lose ‘one of the good ones’. I will see him again on Tuesday, and hopefully more thereafter until he passes, but I know he has made such an impact on this little world that his visits are plentiful, so much so that the guard at the gate need only know you are going to see Don - no names, no IDs, no ‘on the list’…just go bring him joy. Oh, to live a life such as this, to be adored as broadly as he is.
On a day such as this, it’s time to break out a wine that you are ‘saving’ as there is no better reflection of ‘why wait, do it now!’ than reflecting on lost time with a friend, one I missed many opportunities while he still had his health. To this I turned to Sylvian Cathiard, a producer who, when I purchased these 2008’s, was quite reasonable…but, as with many producers in Burgundy, has gone out of reach for my purchasing abilities, so I have been saving the bottles for the perfect time. No time more perfect than this.
Perhaps a bit past its peak, squarely in secondary phases, and losing a bit of the ‘flint’ I so loved when drinking these early on, it still rewards with a gorgeous, lush nose and crunchy but plush, satiny texture - the texture only Burgundy can deliver - and as with so many bottles those of us with a bit of ‘drinkability panic’ such as me, once it is open, and you are enjoying it, it’s the most perfect time imaginable.
Yeah–this is wonderful, but the message should also be, do it now–don’t wait. You’re saving this stuff for what?
I did this with a good friend two days before his death. It was great, but he could only get down about an ounce. Far better was a dinner with spouses 6 months before (before his diagnosis) where he and I effortlessly cruised thru a bottle of red burg and two very nice barbarescos. Lots of fun, wines were great. His wife actually walked the two miles home because she was done and he wasn’t (we thought she had gone to the bathroom… Where’s Shelley??)
We were able to do this twice with my dying wine merchant and drinking buddy while he could still drink like a fish and tell stories because we started early enough. (We had heard most all of the stories before, but that’s not the point).
I’ve unfortunately popped up with a lymphoma in the past year. My wine buddies have done a good job of squeezing in drinking events between my chemo, scans, doctor visits etc, and are pulling out stuff they’ve saved. We’re all of the same age and all accumulating medical issues, so I think everyone understands where we are. Sunday will be 99 Rousseau CSJ, 05 Dujac and Drouhin Charmes Chambertin, 05 Drouhin Amoureuses, and a 10-15 year old Dauvissat GC. There are various Giacosa red labels lined up, and and otherr gems for future events.
So figure out who the important and fun folks are, and just get at it.
John, I am sorry to hear this and I wish you well. My wine buddy was diagnosed with lymphoma many years ago and modern medicine has been very effective for him.
I am certain that others reacted as I did to Todd’s post (and John’s): empathy, compassion, and a shared sense of pain. We have all been in similar circumstances.
When my best friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I was determined to provide as much support and make as many memories as I possibly could in his remaining time with us. It meant a lot of travel but I can’t tell you how much I cherish every one of those memories–even the ones toward the end when he was barely responsive.
my aunt, who guided me through my early days of learning about wine and spirits, died of pancreatic cancer…To this day, I regret not having spent more time with her…
