With eager eyes, luminous really, she asked me, 'so what do you think?'
'Delicious.'
She was polite, patient. 'Great. Great. I like it too. Here's what I taste.'
She went through the tannins and just where they should hit. She described the mouth feel, legs, and rich color. She told me about the complexity of Fuji apple, honeysuckle, melon, Meyer lemon and minerals coming together in a glass. She broke down rich combinations of coffee, plum and Bing cherry, with subtle notes of smoke. She told the seductive stories of earth, vine, grapes, age, and people. Virginia Madsen would have been proud; Paul Giamatti would have made out with her. She described the perfection in ratios - 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Gris. 75% Cab Franc, 25% Merlot. 65% Zinfandel, 25% Pinot, 10% Cabernet. 100% amazing.
I took another sip and made one more verbal contribution. 'Very' was added to 'delicious.'
As much as I love the precise vocabulary dedicated to the art of wine consumption and as much as I respect the careful marriage of varietals and history to create an idyllic wine, when I find a glass that I really like, that's all that matters. It tastes amazing; I'm drinking it; and it's part of a moment that I will remember forever.
The same can be said for other things that have made bold statements in my life. Say the blend I found when I walked through the doors of the Mendoza College of Business for the first time in August of 2007. High-waisted black pants, green tank tucked in, black stilettos, Furla tote. I took one look around and quickly assessed a ratio that was too good to be true; 75% single men, 15% single women, 10% married; a balance that was better than any meritage I tasted this past weekend. I didn't waste any more time thinking about it - I was in a place and position that felt right. Delicious, really.
I often get asked if getting an MBA was a good investment. While I could probably pull facts and figures that would demonstrate an outstanding ROI: list companies and jobs, preach values-based business models, weigh salaries, impact, published articles, products developed, products launched, stocks traded, bonds sold, and problems solved: the one thing that made my MBA experience so valuable was the dating meritage that put the odds in any single girl's favor.
So when my questioner is a woman, the answer is always an overwhelming, 'yes,' with the hint that she might just end up with a duel degree: an MBA and an MRS. And I bet at least eight other women I went to school with would say the same thing. Including my friend Carrie who radiantly walked down the aisle this past weekend to say 'I do' and create her own perfect B-school blend.
After a wonderful weekend, a wonderful wedding, and a whole lot of wine, I can safely say that some of the best blending I've ever tasted is in Sonoma. And we will definitely return. But for now, onward toward finding a more realistic meritage; that of work, family, and of course, wine.
Lo.
