A Collection of Thoughts on Wine
By ansel Ashby
This short collection of poems represents an incomplete list of important wines or experiences in the author’s life. The poetic form, to some degree, has been matched in a symbolic way to the style or ethos of the wine. Some liberties have been taken with form or meter. Each poem is represented by one (or two) wines the author had the great pleasure of drinking.
A series of Haiku on Beaujolais and its Cru. Georges Duboeuf Jean E Descombes Morgon 196x
‘Le Nouveau’
In history, Joy
Le Nouveau est arrivé Forgotten, today
‘Fruit’
Youthful energy
Something playful, a delight Tastings first passion
‘Depth’
Sweet, cherry ripe Frivolous, sans consequence Hidden depths persist
If I should find a perfect glass? Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Rabaja 1999
A stoic from the north, harsh hard tannic
In history, austere, acid bracing
And then, come youth ver’s old, fighting, racing
In time, sense won over, ended panic Now, cherry, tar, roses, dust – so romantic A fine length – ages of power lacing palates with clean purpose, all embracing I lift a glass in remembrance, and forget
For this glass demands attention, focus
First rapture, then thought, understanding next And last, pure unadulterated taste
This glass I sought, I seek this locus
And now content, I set back lost from effect Such a journey from a glass, boundless grace
Ode to Champagne and Celebration. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc 2006
Oh melding blend, fair just ripe
Acid, nerve, crisp apple, so bright Springing forth, for excitement’s hype You lend us joy, a sponsor for celebration
We raise you up, ting ting, an ablution
And yet, you are so much more than just tonight Subtle complexity hidden behind the act of creation So hard to make, such power and precision
I think back to great bottles, a vision
Was it memory? Or wine that caused delight
No, I think. Neither memory nor wine, but both in division I praise you now, and thank you for such elation!
Reflecting on the Monks of the Côte
Bouchard Chevalier Montrachet 2008
Fourrier Chambolle Musigny 1er Les Gruenchers 2008
At once the great land of farmers, a rolling hill Gold cresting the ridge, twinkling in the vines Rooting in deep soil, a land of ancient will
The monks, delineating, marking down with skill A map, detailed, precise with sharp lines
At once the great land of farmers, a rolling hill
From light cherry rendered with skill
To taught earth, delicate fruited wines Rooting in deep soil, a land of ancient will
High price be damned. I beg you, be still
The apogee? Perhaps, it shines
At once the great land of farmers, a rolling hill
But sometimes disappointment kills the thrill For vintage plays games and climate confines Rooting in deep soil, a land of ancient will
And yet, return again regardless the bill
For such is the delight, the thrill of these great shrines At once the great land of farmers, a rolling hill Rooting in deep soil, a land of ancient will
An Elegy to Sherry, Young Again. Equipo Navazos ‘I think’ Manzanilla
To think, days past yours was all to glory
A fine dram, served to queen, nay king
Written of, one of Poe’s, a fine story
Alas, no more, barely mentioned barely drunk thing Ah, Sherry your best days, long are they gone
Stoic, eternal, wooden, now sad casks
And fewer solera filled with each day
The sun has set, leaving a dark mask
Toasted nuts, pith, raisin, saline fey
What happened, were you no more than a pawn?
English ships, in times past, surged forth You travelled the world, from cape to horn And now? Barely you find your way North Sad, sad, today I seek you and yet mourn A trickle now, but still some finds
And yet, something grows again – a new flor Youth, how funny, find again what was old Revive spirits, fundamental, to its core
That sharp fire – with age tamed, but bold Hark, new days, slow and subtle, dawn!
Small bars, a passionate critic, amateur
What was old is young, a phoenix revived Flavours and taste, perhaps once called demure I say come strong, for they have arrived! Hark, new days, slow and subtle, dawn!
‘Where do you hail from?’
-Tyrell’s Hunter Valley Semillon ‘Vat 1’ 2004
you confused me
at first – Riesling – petrol, TDN, toast but then more and acid wrong
from heat you come – not cold
not sharp slopes and sunbaked hills rain, humidity, heat
everything wrong with wine
in youth, battery acid sharp but growing, softening
a duck becomes a swan
all the more rare
from where
where do you hail from?
One more glass Littorai Anderson Valley Pinot Noir ‘Cerise Vineyard’ 2007
I’m thinking this wine is too good. Convention, right, it dictates these things. The new world has its boundaries. So does the old. And this? What is this – it ignored them. Stuff it.
This shouldn’t come from there. They cheated, brought grapes in. you can’t make wine like this...
i mean, come on – wat’d you do – fly ‘em in? Tha lick o’ oak – nailed it
And an’ where you fin’ tha depth n’ complex geez
migh’ hav’ ‘nother
a’nt burg but ‘ll git behind it...
MOSCATO Bera Moscato d’Asti 2018
Many think you
Over the top
Sweet, sickly so Contrary to that Acidity, and lovely Turkish delight makes Over the top, delicious