Rednecks and Red Rhones

The concept for this tasting was born out of sadness when Bastardo unscrupulously decided to abandon his Red Rhônes and instead drink Red Italians while watching his beloved Red Wings. Not only could he conceive it, but he had the audacity to then admit so in print! As a budding young Rhône enthusiast I simply had to call him on it and suggested he send all his poor, neglected Rhônes to me for a tasting to be held around the Daytona 500. Alas, the cardboard boxes never arrived from Day-Twah and I fear the worst for those bottles.

Bob Couzzi Preparations began fairly early in the day with Colonel Bob Cuozzi (left) at command in the kitchen. Lamb stew was to be the main course and the good Colonel was in his element. While Bob was in the kitchen, Jim Cowan (Florida Jim) was busy arranging the bottles from South to North in the appellation and preparing to take the notes.

Michael Ross (L) sporting his 'Rusty Wallace' attire, Brian Newman (restorer of violins - bigtime), Scott Spears in his 'Elliot Sadler', and Rashell Wright

Michael (don’t call me ‘Mike’) Ross was up and, in true redneck form, was looking quite rough from indulgences beyond wine the previous evening. Scott Spears was looking for work to do and we’ll be sure to find some for him next time he comes! The stage was set and the rest of the cast were on their way.

When Shane Angley (left with Dena Morris) arrived the cast present just couldn’t hold out any longer and began opening bottles. Many, if not most, wines were tasted prior to the beginning of the race. Since many of the attendees had never truly experienced a NASCAR race I fleetingly considered a friend’s suggestion of how to get the experience without attending a race. His recipe for ‘Instant NASCAR’ was:

Turn the grill on ‘High’. Come back in and turn every radio and television to the race with the volume all the way up. Run back out and dump 10 pounds of rubberbands on the grill. Bring the grill inside. Sit in front of the television with chicken wings and longnecks. Throw chicken bones at the screen for full effect.

And if it wouldn’t have messed up the bouquet on some lovely wines…….;-)

Ah, what could be better? The beginning of a new NASCAR season was at hand. I was surrounded by many friends and fine wines. Dodge was returning to NASCAR. A new aerodynamics package would likely make this one of the most competitive races in a long time. So what else could a redneck want? Not much. If it was up to me, someone other than O-Town would have sang the National Anthem. Who booked them? Roseanne? And what, pray tell, were they thinking when they made Terry Bradshaw the Grand Marshall? Minor points, to be sure.

A few of us settled in to watch the race as Bill Elliott led the Dodge front row to the Start/Finish line for the beginning of the crown jewel of the NASCAR season. Commercials provided much needed breaks to fill glasses and allow partaking of the Colonel’s efforts in the kitchen. There were many lead changes and few cautions until lap 174 when a 21 car collision eliminated many of the competitors from the field. Most of the group were in finishing off the wines while a few watched as Michael Waltrip crossed the finish line as Dale Earnhardt Sr. crashed into the wall. None of the crew at the tasting learned of Earnhardt’s death until later. It proved a somber finish to an afternoon of fine food, fine friends, and fine wine. I can only hope that you have such good company during the good and trying times in your life! We shared a bit of each during and after this tasting.

Enjoy the notes and do drop in on the Southeastern Contingent should you travel our way!

Cheers,

Greg