When you think of the words perfect and wine, what do you think of? Most people identify this with 100 point wines. These are wines that stand atop the world of wine. In human terms, they are comparable to the Einstein’s and Mozart’s. They are the exception to the rule. They include the likes of La Landonne, Latour, Insignia and Romanee Conti. They share immeasurable complexity, length, texture, aroma, flavor and make it hard to believe that a mere grape could produce something so transformative. Their presence in the mouth makes it hard to believe there is anything else that exists in the world at that moment. These wines come from highly specific terroirs, where grape is matched perfectly to site, where the human hand has acted as the perfect compliment to relay the perfect essence of the wine to the consumer. The perfect wines of the world are a minority, a product of unique circumstance and abilities, just as the Einstein’s and Mozart’s of our world are. But how do the masses experience this type of perfection in wine? Unfortunately, it requires enormous financial outlay beyond the reach of most.
The question for the rest of us is, are there other ways to experience perfection in wine? Can we find a way to match the sheer power of the 100 point wine experience?
I believe the answer is yes! Some of my most poignant experiences with wine were not the La Landonne and Latour’s of the world. They were perfect “moments” with wine. They involved a 92 point barbera, Josh Groban, egg noodles, a sage and butter sauce and good friends or a perfectly seared rib eye steak enjoyed in the comfort of a beautiful woman with a 90 point Malbec. While I have been lucky enough to experience perfect 100 point wines, where the wine commands total attention, the perfect “moments” where wine serves a supporting role can be just as powerful. Whatever the moment manifests itself as, the wine flows, the food simmers and passion burns. Caring, genuine conversation flows as minds escape the everyday to loftier purposes. Here, as wine plays the supporting role it weaves in and out of the conversation of friends and lovers. It is the lubrication to the experience. It allows us to let go just enough to let the perfect imperfection of our lives to be just enough for us in that moment. We don’t have to be Mozart to be part of something that is just as powerful. Not every wine can be perfect, but every wine can serve a perfect role.
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