Big Time!
I’m going to contradict two common words of wisdom: less is more and younger is better. Less is more when it comes to making wine from beautifully grown grapes or cooking thoughtfully raised meat. And younger has its advantages with produce, seafood, and dairy. But a big bottle of wine makes a good case for more… and for giving it time. A magnum rewards patience, with enough to share with friends over a leisurely dinner.
Winegrowing comes down to knowing when to leave things alone. Grow it well and let it express its true nature. That takes care, attention, and the restraint to resist fixing every perceived deficit. When you chase an ideal, you can lose something in the correction: the distinctiveness that defines character. It is easy to confuse a wine with no flaws with “perfection,” when what you really want is a wine that has something to say and inspires conversation.
A big bottle of wine is an ideal social lubricant and an antidote to the isolation and stress of these always-on times. It gives us an excuse to slow down, gather, toast, celebrate, reconnect, and share our dreams, aspirations, fears, and opinions. They say therapy is a growth profession; I say we wouldn’t need so much therapy if we gathered more with friends and indulged in the ritual of opening a special bottle over a meal. In this instance, more is more.
We make wine, and much of what makes the work worthwhile happens after the bottle leaves our hands. That big bottle travels across the country to be shared by families and friends, many we will never meet. They break bread and open a magnum. Someone tells a story. Someone else has heard it before and lets them tell it anyway. Dinner runs long. The wine reveals itself while all the guests reveal a little more of themselves. Everyone leaves satiated, happy and content.
It’s been nine years since the 2017 Three Amigos Vineyard Pinot Noir was harvested. It has had time to come into its own. Elegant and supple, yet still bright and youthful, it belongs at the dinner table, where its character can unfold alongside the meal while you and your friends unwind.
Ideal with dinner. Better with friends. Make a good night a Big Time great night!
Rob Sinskey
