Yep, it’s that time of year again. It’s that crucial period when I make financial and fitness resolutions which will certainly FAIL. This year I’m having my way with fates and simplifying things to one fitness and one financial resolution:
Fitness: In 2011 I will not lose ANY weight. On Dec 31st I will weigh the same or more than on Jan 1st.
Finance: In 2011 I will become poorer. None of this extra savings crap for me. Too many wines to try!
This financial idea brings me to my next divergence. In 2011, I am making WINE resolutions. They will be so much fun to accomplish that I will likely get there just by accident!
1. Use CellarTracker.com to actively manage my wine world.
This tool is amazing. I can house my cellar inventory, all my personal tasting notes and any pending deliveries all in one easy to use website. I can also see the tasting notes of the other 200,000 users which are tremendously more objective than only using pro reviews from the likes of Wine Spectator or Wine Advocate. It is even possible to tag users as favorite authors. For example, my username is "BMG Wine." You can search me and see every tasting note I write. I try to note each and every wine I have. This is handy when trying to decide how long to decant or if a bottle is mature or any number of other things you’d like to know before opening (or buying) a particular bottle. And…IT’S FREE for basic service. They ask that you make a voluntary contribution if you are tracking your cellar. After using the service for a short time, I can tell you that I am thrilled to pay them. I have finally organized my wine world.
2. Try more wines with professional ratings in the 82-86 point range and wines with no score at all.
I have to admit that I have fallen victim to the temptations of only drinking wines of higher than average scores. I know, this is exactly the kind of closed-minded ignorance I used to preach against but alas the real world is a cruel mistress. Time constraints and competing priorities have robbed me of some of my zeal for the unknown. The thrill of deciding whether I like a wine or if it should be used to degrease the lawn mower has been replaced by complacency. This leads directly to my next resolution:
3. Search for my wine Viagra.
This idea is not original. Recently I have been reading Matt Kramer – On Wine (Sterling Publishing). He includes an article titled “Wine Viagra” and it really hit home for me when I read it. I have lost some of the excitement and the, dare I say it…Joy of wine. I suppose, at some point, it happens to everyone who is truly passionate about wine. Too many failed attempts to open someone’s mind to a new experience. Too many failed attempts to teach someone to grasp the enlightenment that comes from a wine which requires thought in addition to a glass. Who knows? Could be just as simple as drinking only one varietal for a prolonged period.
Anyway, the real goal here is to seek out a new perspective which will reinvigorate the exploration side of wine for me. I want to seek out new regions and varietals to share with others. Perhaps I need to explore what a Sauvignon Blanc should taste like, or even attempt to figure out German dry rieslings. I need some "Wine Strange"....
Cheers to 2011!
BMG
Anyway, the real goal here is to seek out a new perspective which will reinvigorate the exploration side of wine for me. I want to seek out new regions and varietals to share with others. Perhaps I need to explore what a Sauvignon Blanc should taste like, or even attempt to figure out German dry rieslings. I need some "Wine Strange"....
Cheers to 2011!
BMG
