My latest passion – the wines of Burgundy. Particularly white Burgundy. It would be safe to say that I have an obsessive personality, but it’s unclear why all my interests have to be expensive. Insecure? Wanton? Exquisite tastes and palate? Hmm, that last one sounds best.
I’ve spent the last four or five years slowly learning about wine through reading, talking with friends, attending seminars, and of course drinking. My small collection is extremely unfocused, covering numerous grapes and countries, because until recently I don’t think I could have told you what I REALLY like drinking. It’s taken a number of years of drinking wines from all areas of the world, utilizing dozens of grapes, before I could even begin to tell you which styles of wine I’m attracted to, but I think that’s a natural progression. I’ve also been heavily influenced by what my friends are drinking, but I also think that’s normal.
There are many reasons to love Burgundy (great article on that on Slate), but I dig the subtleness, the search, the farmers (versus corporate BS), the minerality and terroir, the journey of learning the producers and vintages, wines that change over the course of an evening, white wines that taste better when they warm up, and the occasional Burg that just knocks your socks off with its complexity and finesse (see the ’04 Fontaine-Gagnard below)
On the downside they ARE expensive, somewhat inconsistent, and they often require cellaring before they will show well. So it looks like I only need money, patience, and time…..damn. I should have fallen for Malbec.
And now ladies and gentlemen, Johnny Cash…
