WINE REVIEW | When Life Hands You Grapes, Make Wine

We’ve all heard the old adage “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade”…or in my case, when life throws grapes at you, make some wine! Life doesn’t always follow the blueprint we planned for ourselves, because as we know, even the best laid plans often go awry! I was having one of those roller-coaster kind of days recently so when the chaos was finally setting with the sun, I decided to relax and treat myself to a bottle I had tucked away.

I opened a bottle of Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Lail Vineyards) from Napa Valley. It boasted beautiful aromas of mixed berry preserves, cassis, pencil lead, and a hint of green pepper. Upon tasting, I noted juicy dark fruits, blueberry pie, and some oak. It was rounded, ever-evolving, and absolutely delicious. This bottle had great structure, generous tannins, and was rather hard to articulate as it changed when it breathed so I really enjoyed savoring it slowly.

That’s what I love about wine. I have so much fun pairing the right bottle with the food I am enjoying, the weather outside, and my mood on any given day. So even though it felt like life pelted me with some grapes today, this bottle helped ease the pain by reminding me that even when the blueprint of our life gets wrinkled once in a while, things generally work out. Sláinte!

ABOUT THE WRITER Eric McMillan, The Chicago Wino, is your source for lighthearted reviews of wine. thechicagowino.com also features links to fun tools like wine/food pairing, ideal serving temperatures, and "must try" bottles! Visit thechicagowino.com for a simple look at some complex flavors. "Like" Eric on Facebook–The Chicago Wino