WTN: Chateau de Beaucastel CNP 1998

[Carema]

Today, at 2pm my son jumped off the schoolbus and into the arms of his father, who he hadn't seen in three years. How vicious and angry we were back then, and how he has suffered and now we are trying to fix it.

I bought some lamb, because I remembered he liked lamb and later all three of us sat down at the dinner table for the first time in four and half bitter years and had...dinner.

Simple. Potatoes will dill & rosemary, lamb ribs & and raw carrots with balsamic. I opened a few samples of Calabrian wines that I had been given for a tasting then went downstairs, returning with the 1998 Beaucastel, given to me by someone really wonderful.

The Beaucastel is unbelievable a seamless stream of fruit so focused and perfect, balanced with delicate tannins, sweetness and weight. We finished the bottle in about fifteen minutes, and I looked at our little son, so happy to be near his Dad, how much they looked alike and felt a softening of hearts, that first melt of forgiveness...

It still didn't make any of those nasty Calabrian wines any better (and lord know I love Italy) but the Beaucastel is now forever hinged in my memory. We will be able to sit together at graduations and I will be able to call Seattle when that tender heart is adolescent and first broken and it seems that as long as there is lamb and good wine we will submerge all our stupid anger and finally be able to call ourselves parents.

[Chris Kissack]

Carema

Thanks for posting this. There's obviously a lot of history behind those few paragraphs. I hope you have many more good bottles, over good dinners, as a family. The dinner table is such a good place to talk.

BWs

Chris Kissack

[Florida Jim]

How vicious and angry we were back then, and how he has suffered and now we are trying to fix it.

Understood.

Thank God kids are so adaptable.

Best, Jim

[Scott]

Sounds like a wonderful evening, augmented with a lovely wine.

isn't it great how things and people can come together with a good bottle.

[Brad Ballinger]

Echoing the sentiments above -- great story. How wonderful for you and your family -- and for the person who gave you the Beaucastel. Little could than person have known at the time on what occasion the bottle would be opened.