Brute Rose Scharffenberger Winery

Happy New Year, 2019: We are old fuddy-duddies, because we stay home. Its’ been years since we went partying on New Years Eve. But we do keep an annual tradition. Every New Year, my wife has a sparkling wine, and I enjoy an estate Pinot Noir. Generally, we watch the ball drop in Times Square. This year the rains came pouring down over 2 million revelers. We are astounded that millions of humans would crush themselves in a tiny space to watch a lighted ball slide down a poll. (I can think of many-a- sliding pole acts that is more exiting.) Then add no port-o-potties! Each human, among the 2 million, is wearing a diaper. This year, folks got soaked by outside torrents of rain and their personal inside job. How romantic. Back to our sparkling wine: I don’t care for sparkling wine, but my wife thinks it’s the “cat’s meow.” The truth be known, it’s about the raspberries. She pours sparkling wine in a Waterford crystal flute, and then adds 3 ripe raspberries. She sips a bit, and eats her raspberries. Then she adds more berries as she enjoys this Rose Brut By midnight, I’ve nearly emptied the Oregon Pinot Noir, but her Brut is nearly full with raspberries disappearing like coins in a magic act.

Another tradition around here is midnight fireworks. There’s a neighbor who starts shooting big boys off around 11:45 P.M. Some year’s the fireworks approach Fourth of July festivities. The fireworks ran well after the stroke of 12. It’s a fun celebration, unlike standing in the rain peeing in your diapers.

Around midnight, I tried some of her California Brut Rose. The color was a clear pink. It had good bubbles; I counted over a dozen. But the taste left me running to the cheese tray. It was dirty gravel with a rusty finish…. On 01/01/2019, we poured 2/3rd of the bottle down the drain.