The Winds Blog
Back To School
I enjoy telling my kids stories of the “old days”, when I was a kid. I use these stories to punctuate the casual, comfortable life they lead. They are astounded when I remind them, in our school, my classmates and I weren’t allowed to wear pants or shorts until 1970. Sure, we had exceptions, outdoorsy school field trips or the last day of school. I detail the horrors of playing jump rope or tetherball or in an uncomfortable dress. Boys didn’t have it much easier. They couldn’t wear T-shirts or undershirts as they were called. Most everything was a button-up shirt. All shoes were of the sensible, ill-fitting and inflexible variety. It was not an era of creature comforts. No high dollar Nikes or “bad to the bone” sports gear. My son loves to hear these stories while his sister rolls her eyes. Briefly she looks up from one of the books she’s constantly reading. “Mom, we’ve heard that story before,” she drools in the tone reserved for pre-teen girls. Suddenly, I see myself so clearly at that age…supremely confident, smart mouthed and indifferent. Those years of bravado disguised something unseen…self-consciousness, insecurity and an awareness of some drastic physical changes. Styles, clothes and technology may continually change, but when I look at my 8th grader (sometimes impatient), I realize this preteenager doesn’t have it any easier than I did in 1968.
Grenache, Syrah, , Mourvèdre, Counoise, Muscardin, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picardin, Roussanne, and Picpoul. You have to love a wine that’s allowed to use thirteen grape varietals. It doesn’t matter that most producers use Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. I love the idea that there are ten more grapes out there that can be included if a winemaker sees fit. I’m a little ambivalent about using Wine Advocate reviews to sell wine, BUT… I love Châteauneauf so much that I’m stooping to generously quoting the Wine Advocate issue 169. The 2005s are outta sight. My justification is Robert Parker is confirming my own glowing reviews.. Maybe between the two of us, you’ll be convinced to buy some of the loveliest wines the Rhone has to offer.