The New Road

Put To The Test

Lori and I were put to the test last night. Along with four other friends we were each given four red wines. We weren't shown the bottles or the labels. The game was to pick the varietals. In the three years this contest had been running there had only been 12 people who had picked all four correctly. I didn't think I would win, but I wanted to get at least one right.

As the wines were poured I noticed they were all dark, almost brown in hue. Then the guy told us they were all common varietals and all different. So my choices were; Merlot, Cab Sav, Pinot, Shiraz and Zinfandel.

The first was was light and fruity. The second had a very bold and sharp flavor, but was a little off. The third was bland. And the fourth was strong, but refined. I went with my gut and wrote out Pinot for the first. The second I figured was a disappointing Shiraz (or Syrah as we say in metrosexual around here). The third was just a bland old Merlot, so I knew I had that one nailed. And the fourth I was about 90% sure was a straight up and down Cab Sav, a California classic.

I was confident in all but one of my votes. I was troubled by the first one, vacillating between Zinfandel and Pinot. I knew it was fruity and light, it was just a matter of how light, and how fruity.

After about thirty minutes the guy came in to grade us. I got the first one wrong right off the bat, it was a Zin and not a Pinot. Pinot is Zin's lighter skinned brother, and I should have known from the fact that I couldn't see through the wine when I held it against a light.

But then my odds started to improve as I nailed the second. Yes, it was a very disappointing little Shiraz that I'm pretty sure was off. It had a nasty smell to it. So sad, my favorite varietal and I didn't even want to drink it. Lori got that one too, as well as James, the guy next to me. In fact, without even realizing it James and I had written exactly the same thing.

I was right on the third, it was indeed a boring Merlot. Those are easy to spot since they are really little more than alcoholic versions of grape juice. And I got the fourth right, a good old Californian Cab Sav.

So I was three for four, my first time out. I was very proud of myself. If I had just remembered how light Pinots are I'm sure I could have gone four for four.