Today's MikeOfficer Story.....

TomHill · January 26, 2022, 11:00pm

One of the things us old folks like to do sitting around at the nursing home, besides talking about what meds we’re taking and our latest aches,
is tell stories from outta the past. Some of which are actually true!! This is one such story I recently shared w/ a friend that’s too good not to share here:

Tom:

Rick,
Glad you can make it. It should be a very good tasting.

The story Kendall related was a great one. This was before CarlisleWnry was actually founded. I had met Mike
at one of the FtMason ZAP events, where they had a table set up for home winemakers to show their Zins. I approached
the table w/ low expectations…how good could Ho-Made Zins be?? When I tasted Mike’s Zin (I should mention he had
a whole lot more hair than now!!), I was blown away by it. I told him his Zin was better than 90% of the Zins out there on
the FtMason floor. This poor/shy guy was sorta speechless by the compliment. He still doesn’t handle fame very well.
A few yrs later, I asked Mike if I could try some of his Ho-Made wine & they invited me for dinner at their home.
They seemed a bit aprehensive about having this “famous” wine writer as their guest. Rachel & Riley were pretty young then.
Kendall fed them first in front of the TV whilst Mike & I were out in the garage tasting wine, including his Mondeuse
that I really liked (he has made several Mondeuses since then. His Mondeuse inspired Carole & Steve Lagier-Meredith to make one).

After tasting, we sat down at table there in the kitchen/dining room. The dish was beef short ribs braised in red wine, I
distinctly remember. Their backs were to the kitchen & I was on the other side of the table. Rachel & Riley had gone off to
play in the kitchen. All of a sudden I started laughing my head off & they couldn’t understand why. I pointed to Riley sitting on
the floor in the kitchen. He had gotten out a whole box of powdered sugar, ripped that sucker open, and dumped the whole
box on the top of his head…he was covered in powdered sugar. Mike & Kendall were absolutely mortified about Riley’s behavior
in front of this “famous” wine writer. Gawd…I wish I’d had had my camera along…a sight I’ll never forget.
It was the start of a very long run together. 'Tain’t over yet.
Haven’t seen Riley in quite some time now…since I last watched him out on the hardwoods of a Jr.High BB game. I’ll have
to bring along a box of powdered sugar when I’m out there on my next visit so he can do an encore there at the winery!!
Cellar masters do this all the time I understand!! It’s part of their schtick.

See you & Deborah next Wed at P+F. I’m hoping Morgan will be able to join us.
Tom