VACATION WINE

I've heard said that everything is better on vacation. The air is cleaner, you sleep better, the food is better, and so is the wine, for that matter. All of which were proven to be true last week while in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming.

This was a family affair; nine of us total. The guest ranch (Triangle X) we stayed at allowed the guests to bring their own adult beverages. And since my wife and I were driving, I packed a few bottles of wine (and a bottle of bourbon--I was a Cowboy, after all) to have during our stay.

*Side note about Triangle X. This is a wonderful place. The people bend over backwards, you eat like a king (or queen), they cater to families--offering different activities for all age groups, and the scenery...well, words don't do it justice.

Okay, so back to the wine.

I brought a bottle of 2006 Dark Horse Winery, "The Gunfigher", Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley. I thought the name was appropriate considering where we were and how I was dressing (alas, I was not armed). I've had this wine on multiple occasions, and it has always been good juice. However for some reason, maybe it was the altitude, maybe it was my attitude, I don't know...but it went up a notch, from being good, to being great! The wine showed such lovely dark fruit characteristics; blackberry, blueberry and cassis, with hints of chocolate and coffee, and even some liquorice and tobacco. It was rich, succulent and enticing. I wish I had brought more than one bottle. It paired great with the pulled brisket we had for dinner.

The next wine was also a California Cabernet, 2005 Field Stone, Alexander Valley. Again, something I've had several times, and have never been disappointed. I've always found this wine to be very elegant, sleek and sophisticated. And it was all that, and much more. The fruit, which has always been evident in this wine, announced itself in a profound and definitive way. Loads of dark cherry, raspberry and blackberry jumped out of the glass. It also showed hints of spice, earth and finished with well-rounded, juicy tannins, while keeping that silky elegance I've come to really enjoy. And the price is hard to beat at $18 a bottle.

Last, but certainly not least, I brought a bottle of 2004 Montes Alpha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile. This was actually one of Dad's wines, and I figured this would be an ideal time to open it (more on that later). It had some bottle age on it, and I believe it greatly benefited from its time in the bottle. I had not had this wine before, but was thoroughly impressed. A number of Chilean wines show some bell pepper, or other green-like characteristics, but this was one was showing gorgeous dark fruit, damp earth, some stewed tomato and had a long, lively finish.

Part of the reason for our family trip was to scatter some of Dad's ashes. He loved Wyoming, and we took several trips there while my sister and I were growing up, and he and my mom continued to visit there after we were grown. So, I was compelled to bring a bottle from his collection to enjoy while we were there.

We shared old memories and created new ones. And it is true; the air is cleaner, I did sleep sounder, and the wine was definitely better. Not a bad week at all.

"A man cannot make him laugh - but that's no marvel; he drinks no wine."
~WM. SHAKESPEARE, Henry IV Part 2