From the “it’s Friday” department (more on Sir Robert’s blogging to come next week)…
Above: Friend John Rikkers brought me and Tracie B this bottle of 1996 Fleury to celebrate our engagement. He knew that I liked it so much because he had read my post on drinking it with BrooklynGuy, who had turned me on to this killer wine. We opened it last month at Jaynes.
Today is a special day. Money is tight, times are tough, and I’m struggling, just like a lot of friends of mine in the food and wine biz. But today is a special day. I woke up today and was reminded of all the good things and goodness I have to be thankful for.
Thinking about the events of the summer, I remembered that a friend I made through blogging brought me and Tracie B a bottle of 1996 Champagne by Fleury to celebrate our engagement when she and I visited San Diego last month. I had first tasted that wine when another friend I made through blogging brought a bottle of it to our first (and only) in-person meeting a year ago last August. (The wine was fantastic both times, btw, toasty and nutty, with white fruit and caramel flavors, a great vintage and a great value from a great producer, a “grower producer” of Champagne, or so I’ve been told; but don’t quote me to the Grower Champagne police!)
Above: Me and Tracie B earlier this year at one of our favorite spots to watch the sunset in Austin. We both have a lot to be thankful for: the love and support of our family and friends and a good, happy, and healthy life here in Texas. And who would have ever dreamed that a beauty like her would fall for a schlub like me? We met through wine blogging, too!
Tonight is the first night of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. The Jewish calendar follows a lunar cycle and the new year begins at the time of harvest. Just as in the cycle of life, this is a time for new beginnings and starting anew. May your names be inscribed in the tablets of heaven and may your new year taste as sweet as apples and honey.
L’shanah tovah ya’ll!
Check out this really cool story I read this morning with my coffee about a soldier turned cantor on the battlefield in WWII.
Do Bianchi 
What a fantastically positive post…went great with my bowl of bran flakes ;)
Bubbly sounds great, I will have to seek it out…oh, and Happy Rosh Hashanah!
You are not a shlub, Jeremy, and the two of you are simply beautiful together. Ricambio gli auguri. I will bake something with apples soon.
I now drink Vetrice Chianti Rufina weekly thanks to your recommendation. Great value play, thanks dude.
In Houston,
Andrew
“And who would have ever dreamed that a beauty like her would fall for a schlub like me?”
…I ask myself the same thing with my fidanzata! Sometimes guys like us just get lucky, right?
ah-so awesome. Thanks for the gift. I now can more easily open vintage wine as well as complete my Wolverine costume for Halloween. Hopefully I’ll put it to use when you come to town. Clearly you can see I’m working here.
Happy Rosh Hashanah Jeremy. By the way is there a definition for schlub? If you ever were a “Schlub”, although I find that impossible, you lost the right to that designation when you found my little girl and ya’ll hit it off. When you became a part of our family you got an instant upgrade to being loved like a son!!! Have a great day, great weekend because they are the next days of a great life. We are looking forward to seeing you guys again soon.
schlub?! don’t be a putz, 2b. you’re NO schlub :)
happy new year!
and hi dad! come see us soon, pls.
thanks for all of the kind words and good vibes, Dr. J. And I’m glad that ’96 Fleury was even better the second time around. You had the ideal company the second time! happy new year-
@Vinogirl thanks for the kind words. I have really been enjoying your blog: Tracie B and I wanna try that Chenin Blanc!
@Simona thanks for the kind words. I’m looking forward to the upcoming apple recipe!
@Andrew so glad you like that wine as much as I do. The riserva is awesome and their olive oil is considered by many to be the best Tuscan oil.
@Peter when’s the big day? Mazel tov!
@Benoit so glad you will be putting that ah-so to good use! We’ll have to find some crumbly old cork to try it out next weekend.
@Rev B what a wonderful year this past has been and what an exciting year we have ahead of us! :-) Thanks for making me feel so welcomed and part of the family. Can’t wait for more family sing-alongs in Orange and at the Lake. Love ya’ll.
@Tracie B it’s SO cute when you speak Yiddish. We might have to rent some more Woody Allen flicks!
@BrooklynGuy I’ll never forget the way that wine tasted that first time, nor will I ever forget the second. It was literally almost a year to the day. Like the arc of a story was complete. Thanks for the friendship and blogger camaraderie man!
@all of ya’ll happy and healthy new year! “Let’s hope it’s a good one,” as John used to say… :-)
Congratulations again to you and Tracie B! Glad you enjoyed the Fleury. And Happy New Year. Looking forward to seeing you sometime soon.