Great Wine: Chateau Bourgneuf Pomerol

By Johannes Marlena

And darkness fell across the whole land. And weeping could be heard throughout the land. Varied depictions of Jerusalem after Christ’s crucifixion can be found within the New Testament.  The events of Good Friday and Easter are at the very core of Christian faith, but the Saturday in-between, formally called Holy Saturday and sometimes referred to as Silent Saturday, isn’t the center of much focus. For the devout, this is the day caught in-between the unbearable sorrow and tragedy of Good Friday and the elation of the resurrection miracle of Easter Sunday. What happens on Saturday? As sparsely noted in the scriptures, it’s a time of weeping and great silence. Many faithful make it a practice to speak very little if at all on this day. In that silence, by going deep within and reflecting and contemplating on the significance of what has occurred, lies the great promise of inner transformation the next day. The light of Sunday cannot be fully gained without traveling through the dark of the prior two days.

Wine has long been an essential part of sacred ritual, and the 2009 CHATEAU BOURGNEUF Pomerol is a suitable wine to accompany a reflective and contemplative journey such as the one that occurs every springtime in Holy Week. 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, the wine’s most outstanding characteristic is its quietness. While calm and placid and delicate in texture, there is great inner depth in the expressive dark boysenberry and plum fruit at center and savory spices such as nutmeg and anise on the finish, as well as an aroma of violets sprinkled throughout. Certain wines have such a distinct character they have the ability to create a mood. The mood here is somber but uplifting, peaceful but invigorating, restrained but passionate.  –J.M.

 

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April 4, 2015