Hi, it's with great sadness I announce the departure of my bottle of 1999 Ravenswood Mendocino Zinfandel.
It's been with me for 23+ years, through moves, pets, birth of child, deaths. Never was the occasion special enough to crack her open.
Last night, a clearly alcoholic houseguest and relation only through marriage, decided it was the perfect bottle to drink on my couch in his underwear. A corkscrew was not available, so the cork was just pressed into the bottle, filling it with cork bits among the sediments. Upon finding the scene this morning, the bottle seemed like the wine was in surprisingly good condition still, as evident by there only being a trace left.
She is survived by her friends Borolo, Amarone, Chateauneuf-du-pape, a lovely Super Tuscan and a newly acquired Primativo recently picked up in Puglia who have all been relocated to a safe space to avoid the same fate.
Yes this bottle wasn't fancy and it was weird I still had it, but I got it when I first started drinking wine. It was a core memory, and it was mine. Someday I was going to open it and see what it was like for fun, but never with this person who decided that she was a better choice that the shitty fruit wine someone had gifted me. (I expect that fruit wine to be drank today by this person)
by Quiet-Pollution3180
20 Comments
Sorry man, that’s sucks. Was it in a wine fridge or just on the shelf?
I would not be friends with this person anymore. So sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss, and I hope that person is able to get the help they need
I’m sure it was chugged with all the love and appreciation it deserved.
I can relate. I hide my shit ahead of visitors and parties if I don’t want it touched or opened. They can bring their own or select from the cheaper table wine I might have bought for the crowd.
My condolences. i’m sorry you had to experience this. All of wine lovers have a special bottle(s). 1993 Spring Mountain Cab for me.
you may be able to procure a bottle from the vineyard or search online .
I’m sure there are wine hunters out there that perhaps you can get in contact with who may be able to find you a bottle
This person deserves that bottle broken over their head. Absolutely disgusting behavior, regardless of the material possession that was stolen/ ruined.
A coupe hundred or less for a wine fridge that lock is a great investment and keep your wine at ideal condition and more importantly safe. Sorry for you loss, this was my gateway wine at a local bar and grill, it was $4 a glass.
I’m always surprised by the audacity of some guests…really sorry to hear that and can fully relate. It’s not about the wine specifically, but the circumstances how you get it, how long you store it, etc. I’ve got a similar bottle of Penfolds which I’m really not looking forward to drink but still highly value it.
Have you ever seen the TV show Black Books.
The wine episode is hilarious and might help get you through
Spoilers this is halfway through
https://youtu.be/1NidYtydueg?si=krZRAGrfLKoy961J
Have you started a gofundme?
That really burns given that Ravenswood is no more. Sucks, I had joined their wine club as I began getting into wine because I feel in love with their Zin.
ABV 15 3%?! Holy shit.
If you aren’t already on the Once and Future email list, it would be worth signing up for. Joel Peterson does some library releases of the old Ravenswood wines on occasion, every year or 2. I know it won’t be that bottle but might give you the chance to taste one of its brothers.
Bedrock will also produce from some of the old source vineyards of Ravenswood.
I feel your pain
This makes me think of having a decoy bottle of Yellow Tail for such a situation like this
RIP.
Some of my earliest and best wine memories in grad school involved your friend, Mr. Ravenswood. That bottle tugged at my heartstrings.
I have looked but the 1999 isn’t a vintage I can find in stock anywhere. I’d have seen if I could get it signed by Joel for you, I’ll probably see him in early November.
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