I have been going to the same barber since I was in Junior High. At that time they were the first “salon” for men and they were located in Downtown Detroit. They have since moved out to one of the northern suburbs, following their clientele. I don’t live that way, but I have still followed my barber. I guess it is just a guy thing. In one hour I can have a haircut (style), manicure and a shoe shine; it is one of the most time efficient trips that I can make, and still be in an old world atmosphere.
Barbers, like Bartenders are known as authorities, ask anyone. They can also be confessors and counselors. Through the years, one learns about him, and vice-versa. We discuss restaurants and wines sometimes with passion and sometimes just as an aside. One day while he is cutting my hair, he tells me that he tried a wine at Trader Joe’s called Chariot Gypsy and that it is a red wine. He tells me, I have no idea what type of wine it is, but he says it has a great flavor. He goes on to tell me that he didn’t like it paired with food, but that it was great to have with cheese, crackers and assorted munchies. Then he tells me that it is about five dollars a bottle. We start joking that it must be “Two Buck Chuck” on steroids. He is insistent that I try a bottle.
Later that night after dinner, I tell my Bride about this exchange on wine that I had. She says well let us go and get a couple of bottles to try, because she had to pick up some other items that she always gets at that store. I went with her. There in the middle of the wine area was a huge display of cases of the wine on display and at the price I was told, we bought three bottles as well as the items that my Bride had gone there for and we went home. I cut up some cheese and arranged some crackers and opened up a bottle. It was a robust, full wine that perplexed me as we were sampling it. It was not a Cabernet Sauvignon, it was not a Merlot and it was not a Zinfandel. The more we sampled it, the more I enjoyed it, and we had to agree that it was a pleasant wine to drink at leisure but not with dinner.
My curiosity was piqued and I had to figure out why I could not discern the wine for what it was. It was a delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel and Sangiovese from great vineyards in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, San Joachin, and Monterey counties. All of this was learned after I did a “Google” search. After reading this I felt better that the wine was such an amalgamation of wines and areas that I would never have been able to pick it apart. Needless to say, we went back and bought about six more cases of wine, even taking a case to my in-laws in Louisville, who have a cellar that makes mine appear minor league. They enjoyed it as much as we did, with the same discussion that it was a good wine to relax with.
The following year, while shopping we found the 2009 Chariot Gypsy Red Wine on display. This time my Bride didn’t even bother trying some; she bought another six cases and came home elated. My thoughts on this vintage, was that it was not the same as the last vintage. It was a different blend all together, with a more pronounced “jammy” taste. I am not a follower of sweet red wines, especially after experiencing the more robust taste of the 2008 wine. I have to admit, that the wine is growing on me, and that at the price it is a very well made wine. The new vintage should be out about now.
Like I say, this is one time where my Barber gave me a tip.
The Wine Raconteur 