One frozen February night, just outside Carroll park in Brooklyn, I kissed a woman (a friend, and co-worker at the time). The kiss wasn't coldly received, but there was trepidation. Who falls in love in the winter? she asked. I didn't have a good answer for that. And this wasn't just any winter. This was 2010. The winter of Snowmaggedon in the Northeast. And a strange time for me. And for a lot of folks there, perhaps. Everyone seemed a little reckless, a little confused. Frightened maybe. But excited too.
But as the song goes, you can never hold back Spring. The world dreams. The sun comes out. She and I would kiss again, and carry on with more levity and leisure and warmth in the months ahead. Years later there would be a marriage proposal at the same spot, just outside Carroll park in Brooklyn. And the Spring before that, a proposal to open a wine shop in Oakland with our friends.
In Spring everything feels possible. Something palpable in the air. This past week there was a beautiful buzz about, and we were happy to see lively crowds popping in and out, and wandering the sidewalk outside. Folks stopping in for bottles or for glasses, some feasting on tacos, others running into each other unexpectedly here, exchanging hellos and hugs. At some point in the late evening, noting that the whole neighborhood seemed livelier than ever - the block bustling and bumping- I asked a young woman at the register if there was anything unusual happening that night.
She dropped her wine into her bag and looked up, grinning, her eyes lit up.
Oooh, I hope so... she hollered on her way out, beaming.
This weekend we welcome Spring and wish winter adieu. But we won't be pouring rosé all day quite yet. This is still the East Bay, with some inevitably cool evenings ahead. So let's sip and sample some hearty and earthy reds one last time (for a little while at least). A special spotlight on SYRAH and MALBEC this weekend, eight wines ranging from savory and satisfying to bold and balanced. Classic as well as 'hands-off' and natural expressions of these varieties- with some unusual and surprising delights in the mix - Syrah from Morgon? Malbec from El Dorado? Anything is possible.
But first.. Thursday Night Flights TONIGHT! 3 White selections from South America and 3 Italian Reds. New Spring arrivals and new vintages - and a couple old favorites. Flights just $12 from 4-8 and wines by the glass.
SATURDAY (3/16): Syrah Spotlight...
2016 Domaine Chambeyron Cuvee Clara VDP
2017 Laurent Combier Crozes-Hermitage
2017 Piedrasassi Syrah (unsulfured)
2016 Domaine Petit Perou Desir Syrah
SUNDAY (3/17): MALBEC from around the globe...
2016 Cosse et Maisonneuve Solis Cahors
2016 Don Carlos Calathus Roble Malbec
2014 Hinojosa H Malbec
2017 Windchaser Malbec El Dorado County
Weekend Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass until close.
See you soon,
Daniel
Oh, and a song for you.