HBD 2 ME š
by Megan Jones
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Whatās up winos,
Thatās right, itās my birthday - or itās nearly my birthday (3rd of December, if youāre interested) but itās also my Parched birthday. Two years ago I was reborn into the wonderful world of wine, plucked from the barren lands of the publishing industry, set on the path towards greatness, striding into pastures newā¦ etc. Can you even remember what your life was like before me? I sure canāt remember it before you. So this email is going to be all about ME. Self-serving? Perhaps. A great read? Absolutely. Iām gonna take you on a little journey down memory lane, through the wines that shaped me into the encylopedia of knowledge I am today (lol). I have a feeling this is going to be like when someone wants to tell you about a dream they had, i.e., only interesting to the person talking, but whatever. This is my email and youāre just living in it.
Letās begin at the beginning.
Ah, the first time I ever came to Danās. The Italian restaurant candles, the eclectically named by the glass offering, the vibes. The VIBES! I knew nothing whatsoever about wine when I first stepped through those doors, and as such, was recommended a spanking bottle of fizz by the owner himself -Ā this Aligote pet natĀ from Burgundy with a very amusing name, if youāre into puns, which Iām not. Bottle number two was everyoneās stalwart easy skinsy, theĀ Tragolargo Blanco, which frankly still slaps to this day. The board was set, the pieces were moving, etc. The following week I started working at the bar, and was immediately called upon to start recommending bottles to customers even though I didnāt know what Pinot Noir was. TheĀ Chasing Rabbits GrenacheĀ was my calling card. There was no situation I wouldnāt recommend this wine for, even if somebody was asking for Champagne. It got me through the first three months of employment, before I started actually knowing what I was talking about, and I stand by the sentiment that it will get you through any situation too.
My first day of full time employment was the pleasantly easy to remember Beaujolais Day (what a night, guys, hope youāve all recovered from this yearās) and I was tasked with selling the wines of a certain Daniel Bouland. Not that they need any selling. TheĀ Chiroubles āChatenayāĀ was the bottle that kept customers coming back to my table over and over again. Well that and the fact that I didnāt (donāt) understand what a tasting pour was. Oops.
April of the following year, I was honoured to be invited on my first ever wine buying trip, to the most iconic of regions, a little place called the Jura. Domaine Ratte was the first winery I ever went to, and the firstĀ SavagninĀ I ever tried. Previously I thought that Dan had just spelled Sauvignon wrong and went through correcting all instances of it on the website, lol. Ratte is also our first ever direct import, and has set the tone for what I personally (and unbiasedly) think is a pretty cracking portfolio. TheĀ TrousseauĀ also has a special place in my heart.
2023 was a year of gadding about Europe as I was inundated with offers of jaunts abroad (I guess I must be really good company? Idk?) and in July I headed over to the Mosel. Iāve written extensively about my time in Andreas Benderās tasting room (some say I never actually left and am still there steadily tasting my way through back vintages until I reach the year that wine was invented) but my standout was Clemens Busch. After a brisk 90 minutes of sleep it was going to take something special to keep me peppy, and having lunch on the banks of the Mosel while tasting through what are still some of my favourite Rieslings was the only way that was going to happen. HisĀ entry levelĀ is up there with the most valuest of value. Clemens is also a certified king, when I smacked my head on a low hanging beam (I SWEAR I wasnāt even that tipsy, it was hanging extremely low) he patted it better. Iāll be telling that story on my death bed.
A few months later I was called up AGAIN to go and be my best self abroad (canāt catch a break), this time to Sicily, which was among the most special three days of my life so far. Hard to pick a highlight (although being pushed into a swimming pool at three in the morning is up there) but if pressed Iād say it was having dinner at Baglio Occhipinti, sitting across from Arianna, drinking her 2011 Frappato (which Fionn asked me to have her sign, which she did, and which the sommelier accidentally recycled before I could squirrel it away. All that debasing for nothing). Sadly I canāt offer you the 2011, but have a go at theĀ 2022, itās smashing.
Are you sick of me wanging on yet? Fine, Iāll leave you with just one more. This summer I went to a barbecue at one of my favourite importerās house and I knew it was game on in terms of which bottle to bring.Ā This Massa VecchiaĀ was the winner, and luckily for you, it just landed back on the shelves. And by āitā, I do mean there is one bottle. Thereās also one bottle ofĀ thisĀ and one bottle ofĀ this. Just do it.
OKAY. Thatās enough flabby prose for one Tuesday morning. Please make my birthday extra special by giving me loads of orders to pack, itāll keep me humble.
Love u xoxo
Megan