jZepp: One of these days...

Hello, JZepp readers. I'm Tim and I'm a wine geek. Nope, not somewhat new to the party like my blogging buddy Beau, but a guy who got the wine bug 25 years ago while in college near the Napa Valley. But that's not why I've decided to blog here for the first time tonight.

When I finally said I wanted to contribute here, almost a year ago, I thought I would write my first post about music and wine. At the time, a new CD from Neil Young - an artist I've followed almost obsessively since 1976 - was just out and my plan was to blog about each song and pair a wine with them. How wine geeky is that? Well, so much so that I thought better of it until this evening.

You see, the CD in question is the great, "Prairie Wind," and today the movie version was released entitled, "Neil Young: Heart of Gold." As I blog this entry, I'm watching the DVD (well sort of, anyway) and listening to an impassioned live performance of all the songs on the CD (or "album" if you are as old as me). Not only is Jonathan Demme a great film director and music lover, but he has reinforced his reputation as the best concert film practitioner. Yea, I know, he's only done two concert films, but both are the high watermarks of the genre along with the controversial Martin Scorsese picture, "The Last Waltz" (ironically featuring a coked up performance by Neil from back in the day).

So what wine goes with such viewing? I'd have to give the nod to the great grape of Burgundy, Pinot Noir. The particular example I'm enjoying as I watch this performance is from Willamette Valley Vineyards, their 2004 "Vintage Selection" Pinot Noir that will set you back about $22 or so. It's got everything you would want or expect in a fine Pinot Noir: the brilliant ruby color, black cherry and earthy 'Pinot funk' aromas and satisfying, if not a bit tight, black cherry and raspberry flavors with sleek tannins. I'd give this one a bit more time in the cellar and drink up the 2003 while I wait for this one to smooth out. Somehow, the aggressive attack and slightly closed flavors seems just about right for Neil right now... pick up both if you are so inclined.

Cheers!