“You really are Mephistopheles!”
Me? Really?
This, the playful accusation hurled at me last night by good friend, B the Elder, at a dinner party co-hosted with Mrs. B the Elder, at their home.
His remark may have been playful, but I think Mrs. B really thinks me to be The Heathen Incarnate.
We sometimes refer to B the Elder as the Demon Deacon, owing to his affiliation with the church combined with his wicked sense of humor and penchant for practical jokes. So I am Mephistopheles? Dude, I only place temptation in thine path! Yours is to choose to drink the nectar I place before thee.
I arrived, as I often do, with my wine luggage in tow– a small black leather clad box with a handle for ease of transport, that can hold up to 3 bottles. I did what a good friend does when invited for a meal at another’s home– I bring a vino or, in this case, three suitable to the occasion. Two Barolos– Younger and Older. And since I was requested to bring dessert, a Moscato d’Asti and some fluffy lemon-blueberry cookies from Food Safari. So easy to make. So damningly delicious.
Consider this your exorcism by wine.
An who knows, it may lead to good things– perhaps even a very satisfying Don Giovanni moment.
But I digress (yet again!).
Oddero Barolo 1998 ($40). Coming out of an excellent vintage for Barolo, with its Old School approach this was redolent of sweet black licorice with fennel, scented flowers and refined tannins on the palate. This just exhibited an elegance on the palate that is very memorable. A gorgeous example of why the wait is worth it. Rated ***
Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis 2006 ($42). Given it’s youth, we decanted this for a couple of hours. With more of a New World approach, this released magnificent aromas of cherries and black licorice. On the palate it exhibited a certain muscular power. But it was an iron first in a velvet glove kind of thing. Buy a few drink one now to satisfy your curiosity and lay the rest down for another 6 years. Rated ***1/2
Elio Perrone Sourgal Moscato d’Asti 2010 ($14). This is a time-honored favorite in our household. A lively effervescence combed into the essence of lemon drop. Young, lighthearted and sure leave you with a giggle in your throat. With only 5% alcohol, this is the perfect beverage to finish off a Barolo dinner. Rated ***
Conversation during dinner shifted among various topics– the most interesting being about religious beliefs and its place in our lives– past and present. Perhaps not a good idea, since some of us have notions about organized religion that are at odds with the belief structures of our church-going dining companions.
But being well into the second bottle of Barolo, we could not resist. I won’t bore you with those details, but somethings really are more clear (at least to me) when wine is involved. It reminds me of a quotation from Oscar Wilde, regarding absinthe (though I substitute a word here and there):
After the first [bottle], you see things as you wish they were.
After the second, you see things as they are not.
Finally, you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world.
sybaritesauvage 
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Dear Mephistopholes,
I will not dispute you on the beauty of those barolos – paradoxically, a hedonistic as well as a spiritual experience to experience the fruit of the vine in such exquisite libations!
My only dispute is your reluctance for conversation around religion and spirituality. To me, there is nothing that cannot or should not be discussed between and among friends with open minds and respectful good will.
Recall the old latin phrase: ubi caritas, deus ibid est … where there is charity, there is God. Charity being defined as “benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity”, we experience that in spades in good friendship and in the prodigal generosity of one who brings two barolos to dinner!
Dear Demon D,
Reluctance? That’s almost as off-base as equating me with Mephisto.
As I may have implied on Saturday, my spirituality stops with my new favorite toast from Jonny Quest’s Hadji: “Sim-sim Sala-Bim.”
So you had a Spiritual Barolo Experience? Cool! Those wines were pretty f***in’ good, right?
So after we left on Saturday, were you Don Giovanni or the emasculated Don Ottavio? You may recall that I was humming this little Aria [click to link] from the end of Act 1:
Finch’ han dal vino calda la testa, [Till they have got some wine and are hot-headed,]
Una gran festa fa’ preparar. [let’s prepare a great party.]
Se trovi in piazza qualche ragazza, [If in the piazza you find some girl,]
Teco ancor quella cerca menar. [try to make her come here with you.]
Senza alcun ordine la danza sia, [Let the dance be wild,]
Chi ‘l minuetto chi la follia, [a menuet, a folia,]
Chi l’ alemanna farai ballare. [and an allemande you shall lead.]
Ed io frattanto dall’ altro canto [In the meanwhile I shall have my own fun]
Con questa e quella vo’ amoreggiar. [making love to this or that girl.]
Ah la mia lista doman mattina [Ah, my list tomorrow morning]
D’ una decina devi aumentare. [shall have at least ten new entries.]
And as I awoke the next morning, I had added at least ten names to my list:
Ms. R, Ms. R, Ms. R, Ms. R… You get the picture…
Wow, what an interesting blog! Just happened upon this with great surprise at just how much fun you’re having and how you share that fun with your readers; your reviews are great too. I’ll bookmark this and I’ ll ist zurück!
Sincerely,
Dennis
Dennis, Thank you for your very kind comments.
Come back anytime and check out some of our older shennanigans!