What are you saving that perfect bottle of wine for? Don't let the time to enjoy it pass
We’re all guilty. Every last wine-loving one of us. Myself included.
We go to great lengths to get a prized bottle of wine and save it for a special occasion, only to end up hoarding it for years − or perhaps never opening it at all.
Thank goodness for husband-and-wife wine columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, who came up with the idea of Open That Bottle Night in 2000. This night is celebrated on the last Saturday in February, encouraging wine lovers everywhere to finally open the special bottle of wine they have been saving since, say, LeBron James was in grade school.
Ironically, 2000 is also the year of the bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape that still remains unopened and covered with dust in my cellar.
It was once a trophy bottle. The same wine was named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine in 1999. Wine critic Robert Parker hailed the 2000 vintage better than the previous year.
I worked so hard and pulled a lot of strings to acquire this French gem but never found the proper occasion to open it. Now, it's way past its prime, just like the guy who bought it so long ago. It remains in my cellar as a humble reminder of my "pour" decision, and to never let another good bottle go to waste.
I can't celebrate Open That Bottle Night with my wine buddies on the designated Saturday at the end of the month, as my good friend Frank Mancini works in the Cleveland Guardians clubhouse. So, we get together with our special bottles when our schedules permit.
This also gives me a chance to celebrate OTBN twice in February.
Mancini started off the night by uncorking a bottle of 2017 Ace of Spades Brut Champagne given to him by former Cleveland pitchers Kory Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. The $300 bottle of French luxury bubbles were made famous by rapper Jay-Z’s 2006 "Show Me What You Got" video.
It was a tough act to follow, however, I was confident my contribution of a 2010 Viberti Barolo Cannubi would pair nicely with my homemade pasta and meatballs. We clinked our glasses to our good friend and wine importer John Bee who drank wine with us last year and sadly passed away a few weeks after our gathering.
More: A toast to my good friend John Bee | Phil Your Glass
My pal Brian Bennington's bottle took the cake. He managed to squirrel away some precious bottles in his cellar from his days running Sirna's Market and their awesome wine shop in Aurora. Lucky for us, he decanted a 1995 bottle of Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
Spanish artist and sculptor Antoni Tàpies designed the label of this amazing French First Growth, the highest classification of Bordeaux wines. The 29-year-old wine had amazing ruby hues in the glass with no sign of tiredness along the edges.
I'm not sure if this was the first time a French First Growth was paired with a tuxedo chocolate mousse cake from Costco. Quite spectacular, I might add. It was a memorable way to celebrate wonderful friendships, past and present.
Eclipse wines from Ferrante
Ferrante Winery in Geneva has released two limited-edition Eclipse wines to sip on in honor of the total solar eclipse happening in our area April 8.
The $20.24 Eclipse white is a blend of traminette and gewurztraminer, while the $24.08 Eclipse red is a blend of mostly pinot noir with a bit of chambourcin and de Chaunac grapes added.
"The 2024 solar eclipse is going to be truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us, so why not have a wine to enjoy this special moment in 2024," said winemaker Nick Ferrante.
These wines are available for purchase at the winery or online at ferrantewinery.com. Acme No. 1 at 1835 W. Market St. in Akron has placed an order for Eclipse wines, but it's not yet known when they'll be available for purchase.
French wine dinner
Join Brotte Winery liaison Jerome Jeandin and me at Beau's on the River on Feb. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. for a sit-down French wine tasting. Five wines from the Rhone Valley will be served with hearty small plates prepared by Chef Erik Pierce. Cost is $70 per person. Call 330-920-7530 or email Chelsea at cramsey@sheratonakron.com for reservations.
You can reach Phil Masturzo at philyourglass@gmail.com and follow him on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Here's the perfect excuse to drink that special wine | Phil Your Glass
