It was Friday, I worked late and showed up to a dinner party way past what would be considered “fashionable.” I expected everyone to be well into their entree but instead, they waited on my rude a%# to make an appearance. Though embarrassed, I was so happy they were such patient hosts because the evening kicked off with the most amazing bubbles I’ve ever tasted – Equinox, Blanc de Blanc, Methode Champenoise Sparkling Wine, 1995, Santa Cruz, California.
I know some people go ga-ga over bubbles and consistently select it as their drink of choice, but I’ve never been that person. I don’t like the full feeling I get from bubbles and seem to have a lower consumption capacity than I do for still wine. This old vintage sparkling wine though has me re-evaluating my stance on bubbles.
The smell had a very distinct honeycomb aroma that made removing my nose from the glass an exceptionally difficult decision. Upon further analysis, aromas of fine aged cheese, and ripe yellow and green apples rounded out the bouquet. The palate was even more impressive. Perfect, completely uniform (both in size and space), tiny bubbles danced on my tongue in a well-choreographed mix of honey, apples, apricot, and pastry. The apricot became even more prominent and the bubbles again, perfectly placed when I drank the sparkling wine with dessert – apricot pie alongside vanilla ice cream. Seemed like a well-calculated pairing but think it was more extraordinary luck.
If you haven’t done the math, the Equinox was 23 years old. That’s almost as old as my marriage, much older than my 16 year old daughter, who seems like she’s always been in my life, and was made when I was in the 4th of the 15 houses I’ve lived in. The structural integrity was so intact and clean and precise it was absolutely mind blowing! If only I held up as well as those amazing bubbles.
by 
