Love and Wine

By Jason Feulner, Finger Lakes Correspondent

I was a man on a mission.

On the morning of Friday, November 13 I left my driveway in Syracuse, New York at 7:30 a.m. and headed west. My goal? To find a bottle of wine vinted before I was born.

This adventure was not so much the product of a whim as procrastination. The 13th of November was my wife's and my 5-year wedding anniversary, and I had decided a few days prior that this yet-to-be-discovered bottle of wine was to be the special treat.

For each anniversary, Kathleen and I do something we've never done before, albeit something cute and simple. On our first anniversary we stayed in a bed and breakfast. For our second we took a cooking class.

The old wine idea had been on a list of possibilities for some time. Kathleen was born in 1981, I in 1980, so a bottle from 1979 or a prior year was in order. The oldest wine I had ever consumed was a 1985 Dr. Frank's riesling.

The challenge: Find a 30-year-old bottle of wine for less than $150.

I had called every Syracuse wine shop with no luck. The Syracuse region is devoid of wine establishments with old collections for sale. I reached out to Evan, the New York Cork Report's purveyor of crazy old wines, and he suggested that I hit up Century Pittsford Wines in Rochester. I called ahead and they assured me that they would have something in stock.

On the morning in question, I burst through the door of Century at 9:07 a.m., seven minutes after they opened, and inquired about their selection of 30-year-old or older wines in my price range. Despite what had to be the unexpected nature of this odd request at such an early hour, Century's wine expert on duty brought me back to the climate-controlled room. He thought there might be at least a wine or two that would match my query.

We found nearly 15 specimens of Bordeaux and Burgundy that were 30 years or older and priced around $150. The selection of older wines at Century is exemplary and I could not recommend the store or its courteous staff enough for those looking for a superior wine shopping experience.

On the advice of the knowledgeable wine expert I settled on a bottle of Burgundy, a 1978 Remoissenet Père et Fils Volnay-Clos des Chênes. The bottle came to $145 with tax. I walked out of the store, stashed the wine in the car, and drove east so I could get to work in Syracuse before noon.

I unveiled the Volnay-Clos des Chênes that evening and it was a delight. The nose of ash and earth brought forth layered flavors of dark cherry, cocoa, tobacco, and dried chili peppers with a brilliant mouthfeel and a long, long finish. I can say without qualification that this Burgundy was one of the best wines I have ever consumed. Kathleen felt very much the same way about this incredible wine.

I cannot afford to drink like this very often, but in this case it was more than worth it. I've been a very lucky man for five years running, and I am grateful that I have a wife who is excited to share these simple pleasures that make life together so much fun. 

So, here's a toast to love and wine, a pairing that stands above all others.

Comments

[hotels healdsburg]

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[Evan Dawson]

Jason - I'm glad it worked out. Sounds wonderful. There is something special about discovering a wine after it's moved well beyond adolescence and into the wisdom of its full maturity. Care to share what other bottles caught your eye? It's a nice selection there.

[Jason Feulner]

Nothing specific comes to mind from my hurried visit except for a sprinkling of Bordeaux first-growths and other such very high-priced items. You can't forget a $2,500 bottle of Petrus!

But, overall the selection was very diverse in terms of prices. The sheer number of 30-40 year-old wines available for less than $150 was impressive, and I think such prices make it possible for those who have not sampled an old wine to give it a shot at least once.

Century's selection was impressive in many ways.

[Lenn Thompson]

Wish I had a local shop that had such a selection of older stuff.

Happy belated anniversary Jason and Katie.

[Jason Feulner]

Thanks!

I imagine that wine shops of this caliber are a bit rare in most places.

[Kathleen Feulner]

So, who exactly gave you permission to publish my year of birth?

[Evan Dawson]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh my goodness, Jason is so owned. This is the biggest fail of all time for someone attempting to do something nice!

[Lenn Thompson]

Ooops...nicely done Jason ;)

[Michael Gorton, Jr.]

Jason,
What an awesome Idea you and your wife have. I think I may adopt this idea for Melissa and I. We celebrated our first anniversary this September.

To do something that you have never done before, together is very romantic.

Age is just a number it's what you do with it. I will just make sure not to list's my wife's age on my blog...but that would not even matter, I don't think she reads it.

Happy Anniversary!

[Lee Drake]

LOL Kathleen pwned you man :)

[Jay]

Very cool idea, but even harder for those of us born in 1950/1951, and married in 72!!!!

[Jason Feulner]

Oh, Kathleen is just kidding everyone. Trust me, it's fine! She's very happy, so happy in fact I'm convinced that she'll soon regret changing the locks. She was really nice to leave my suitcase and a warm coat in the driveway when I got home from work...wow, oh, wow she is delighted with me.

[Evan Dawson]

Jason - Cheers for your sense of humor. And I think it was fairly clear that she was kidding. ;)

[Jason Feulner]

Thanks, Evan. I'll comment more later but I'm on the phone with her lawyer right now...man these guys are demanding. Do you think she wants 1/2 of my school loan debt too?

[Cyclist]

Best wishes on your birthday and anniversary! I should warn you that once you get hooked on Burgundy that is it. Unfortunately, my birth was during an incredibly bad Burgundy vintage, so I never even tried to track down a birth year bottle.

My love for Burgundy is why I hope the Finger Lakes or Niagara can get a handle on Pinot Noir, because it can make some transcendent wines.

When I lived in Rochester Century (this was several years ago, when they were on Ridge Rd. near Kodak) always had some relationship with Remoissenet, with many older vintages at great prices. Despite the checkered history of that producer, they sold some good juice. Century always had a great selection good German rieslings before they were popular, too.

[catering]

I absolutely love this,keep posting!

winnie