Stuart wrote here that he stopped with the 2005 vintage and that it’s bittersweet. Today is my last day of wine “shopping.” I hope forever. If I buy any more wine it will be a targeted bottle as opposed to, let’s browse and see what Premier Cru has, or what Acker/KL/Heritage/Wallys/Winebid/Hdh auctions have. No more browsing.
Wine lists I will stay on: Thomas, Ridge reds only, House reds only, and one lot of Napa cabernet a year if made by a friend.
Other actions:
Organize and catalogue; reduce some cases down to four or sixpacks but otherwise sell as little as possible. Sell no bottle of a wine I have fewer than five of. Unless I really dislike the wine.
Drink old first. Drink some of the whites.
Finally put wine acquisition energy into filing a lawsuit regarding the Truchot fiasco on Commerce Corner where I have heard nothing for weeks and information is still being withheld. I am naming as defendants in the suit everyone associated with the transaction, possession, or storage of the wine who both (1) knows I paid for the wine but (2) knows I dont have it and (3) could easily help but won’t.
When I am in DC next week instigate a criminal prosecution but, unlike the lawsuit, only against the seller, and ask police to identify and interview who has the wine. I dont even have that name after all this time.
Have more impromptu local tastings at informal local restaurants.
Go to Ridge and House events. And my local cafe. And host four tastings a year in SF.
Figure out a rule for drinking alone. Never?
Grieve the loss of an exciting hobby I’m good at: shopping for wine, including hours of window shopping. It became a compulsive avoidance activity, like watching TV (which I dont have) when you know you are avoiding doing something productive but painful.
The timing is because I really splurged on two significant bottles this weekend, and today just won a midrange KL auction lot that was symbolic. I was going to go out on one bottle of negociant Musigny but then I discovered auctions.