I’d Rather Have That on the Plate, Please
My flawed wine luck has been off this week. The other night I opened two wines with a friend. The first, I might or might not talk about later. The second, I’ve had before and enjoyed. I even think it was on some Top 100 list (just checked Wine Spectator—not there), though it might have been a different vintage. It was the 2004 Vinum Cellars Petite Sirah, usually a great value at $11 or $12.
But when I put my nose into the glass, all I got was cooked cabbage. My friend, being Irish, threw in ‘corned beef.’ Whatever it was, it wasn’t pleasant. Trying to remember what flaw that indicated, I came to this page, where I found that, yes, there’s something afoot: dimethyl sulfide…which can atrribute fruitiness and roundness at low levels and at higher levels, well, something I’d rather have on New Year’s Day for money (or is it good luck?) than in my glass of wine.
I asked our winemaker the next day, and he didn’t seem to think it was that bad. However, I told him I didn’t trust him because he hasn’t been drinking lately. Another co-worker confirmed my assessment. But I still didn’t take it back for several reasons: 1) I forgot the bottle at work 2) I couldn’t find the receipt 3) I was being lazy.
You can’t win ‘em all, I suppose…
flawed wine, 2004 Vinum Cellars Petite Sirah, dimethyl sulfide
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