Heather McNeil – amusements for your mouth

"Everyone grab a bottle," were the words I heard getting out of the car.  If you knew who was driving this automobile, you would understand the excitement I felt in this moment.

First...a magnum of  the 2007 Amuse Bouche.

Second....a magnum of the Sinatra Family Estates.

Third...a magnum of the 2007 Pharoah Moans.

Really? AND we're dining at Bottega?

[Now, I'm moaning!]

Sometimes I think, "Can it get better than this?"

If you've never tasted these wines, well...

lucky you!

Many, many times, I have thought there is contentment in not knowing what you're missing.  Either unfortunately or fortunately for me, I now know.  Bye bye contentment...

Let's face it, these are not my house wines. Ohhh, but wouldn't that be nice?

I have had the pleasure of drinking  the Amuse Bouche and the Pharoah Moans in the past. They are truly spectacular and always, always make it difficult to return to everyday wine.  I'm not joking when I say this...I won't be drinking wine for a few days.  The memories of these will sustain me and hopefully fade a bit, making other wines not pale so much by comparison.

As they say, "time heals all wounds."

I'm injured.

Feeling sorry for me?

Well, it gets worse!

Tonight was my very first taste of the 2007 Sinatra Family Estates. I have some strange feelings about when famous people add their names to restaurants and I was hoping this wouldn't translate to the wine side of life. I could go into a few examples of this, but suffice it to say...it's not what's in the name, but what's inside that counts. The Sinatra Family Estates, in true Sinatra fashion, did not disappoint.

Frank Sinatra and I could have been great friends.[in my mind]  If he was about 50 years younger and I, well a little more famous, we SO could have met!  The whole bad boy thing, those shockingly good looks and a voice that could make you misbehave...yea, pretty much someone I would have wanted to hang out with.

The wine? A blend of Cab, Cab Franc and Pertit Verdot with aromas of freshly baked cookies and flavors reminiscent of tabacco. As I sniff and swirl and taste this strong, yet elegant wine, I imagine the man...[did he smell like this? taste like this?]

ohhhh, and those eyes..

ohhh, and that  voice....

What a legacy! What a gift he was!

Generations away, eras apart and yet the experience of drinking this wine, can make anyone feel connected to greatness.

I have, on very good authority, heard of a little tasting room in the works for this amazing wine.  It's early, but I can already say, I hope to be spending lots of time there. With this vintage, comes the original recording of  the"Come Fly With Me" album.  Every year after, will include some recording or other Sinatra memorabilia per 6 bottle purchase.

I can almost hear it now....

"It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away"

To Frank,

I wish I could have flown with you...!