I posted HERE about my pre-debate wine. I chose it for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that my wife has a big test tomorrow and I figured she would abstain. Well, we were engaging our boys in our nightly “Tell me three things that you did today.” I make them answer in French (they go to a French language school), which resulted in some brilliant nuggets offered by our two knuckleheads:
“On m’a donné un coup de pied sur la tête.”
“J’ai avalé ma gomme par hasard.”
“J’ai pêté.”
Translations:
“I got kicked in the head.”
“I accidentally swallowed my eraser.”
“I farted.”
Oh boy.
Then there was another voice:
“Whatcha drinkin’?”
Oh boy.
I hemmed. I hawed. As I was hemming and hawing, she grabbed a glass. She grabbed the bottle. She gave herself a full-pour (that is at least 6 ounces or one fourth of the bottle). Given this new challenge, I decided to compete.
So I chugged. And refilled (although I refrained from the full-pour party foul).
You might cry: “That’s real mature!”
Screw you.
This was survival of the drunkest. She countered quickly. Before we knew it, the bottle was empty and I was depressed. That bottle was supposed to last long into the debate.
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.”
It was minutes before 8:00 and I was out of wine. I felt like I needed just one more glass to sip while watching the candidates try to out lie one another. My wife went upstairs to study with a (perceived) smug look on her face. Clearly she did not realize that I knew my way to the cellar and I was not afraid to ‘go there’.
And I did.
I was already on a Pinot kick (albeit a rosé), the 2011 De Ponte Pinot Noir Rosé (which was fabulous), and I needed more Pinot. The Choice was clear:
2006 Fess Parker AMERICAN TRADTION Reserve: The Presidential Debate seems to have become an ‘American Tradition’–I am not sure if that is a good thing. Did the debate help to change your mind at all? Were you ‘undecided’ and now are ‘decided’? Be honest!
There also seems, interestingly, to be some debate about this wine. The Cellar Tracker reviews are mixed (there are only four, but I am trying to create some drama here), ranging from 81-90 points. For me, there is some heat on the nose (alcohol is listed at 14.9%), masking the fruit initially. On the palate, black cherry and eucalyptus, but the heat is still there, thus challenging the balance a bit. The medium to longish finish helps round out the wine, and I lean toward the upper end of the mixed CT ratings. Very Good to Excellent. 87-89 Points.
Being the political junkie that I am, I also enjoyed the debate, even though it too lacked balance, and given that I believe that wine is mostly about context the one glass of this wine was perfect. I considered having another glass, but I feared that if I did, the debate would also continue. I am looking forward to revisiting the wine tonight and will be curious if I will still find it as engaging without the candidates encouraging me to drink. I feel that I still will find it enjoyable for no reason other than the fact that this is available for purchase from their winery:
Coonskin Bottle Topper
the drunken cyclist 
that picture is perfect! And your new favorite stem looks very impressive : )
LikeLike
Sadly it is just a matter of time before I break it and try to blame it on my wife—but we will both know it was my fault.
LikeLike
I had so many broken to the date, that now I’m just going “oops, we lost one more” – that’s ok, I will get another one. This is why I used by Reidel radical Cab glasses only once or twice and I keep them in a box all the time – but I also know that they will unavoidably break, and it is only matter of time. Oh well… 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my my … For whatever reason, Fess Parker is one of my favorite wineries. At the Grand Tasting at a good Cincinnati wine event, I usually 1) try wines I haven’t had … and 2) try all the ones FP brings … BUT … they did not attend in 2012! ;( … BTW – it is also a great winery to visit. What a setting, thus a great place to stay a while, … and you can bring your own food.
LikeLike
It is really a great tasting room with a fantastic gift shop!
LikeLike
Cheers … as you have been there! Gotta love the coon skin bottle top covers.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Wine in Tampa and commented:
I loved this post . . . sometimes wine is for sharing, and sometimes you just want to keep the whole bottle for yourself. Don’t judge, you know at some point you have felt this way too.
LikeLike
Thanks for the reblog! A first!
LikeLike
This post is hilarious. There is some competitive pouring in my house at times, except I almost always win because he likes vodka, too. So I win by default for only liking wine, when the wine is limited. Or because I get pouty when I lose… 🙂 And I’ll be in Fess Parker’s neighborhood in 4 days!!!!!!
LikeLike
Competitive pouring can get ugly around here since my wife will ‘randomly’ over pour. It’s merely a coincidence that she over pours when it is a great wine…
LikeLike
Too funny! My husband and I have this same competition going on at times! I’m finishing up the last of a 2006 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir. Good stuff!
LikeLike
I am so glad to hear that we are not the only ones! I have not tried Carter yet–so much good pinot, so very little time!
LikeLike
Proof with wine and politics DO mix quite well. Laughing all the way through this recount. Thanks for the hilarity and the Fess Parker review. Cheers!
LikeLike
oops, that should be “proof that.” never letting the cat do my typing again.
LikeLike
People actually proof read their comments? My to-do list just keeps getting longer… Great to hear from you Kitten!
LikeLike