Tonight we drink the Grange. This morning I removed the bottle from its cradle on the bottom shelf of our cellar where it has waited quietly for this day. After 6 or 7 years there it is suitably covered in a layer of dust. It would no longer be needing the little note it has worn around its neck all these years. The little note reading DO NOT TOUCH.
I confess there have been days where I have been in the cellar and touched the bottle of Grange. I would carefully take the Grange out of its bed and hold it lovingly, imagining the day we would carefully remove the cork and pour this great juice into our glasses.
I can't remember the exact year we won the Grange - 98 0r 99. It was the top prize in a Wine Options competition at the Auckland Club. We came away with several of the wines that evening after we won 5 out of the 6 rounds. I don't wish to boast - but - back then we won the Wine Options two years in a row.
Around seven this evening we will drive over to the home of our team mates from the evening, Peter and Linda, where they will have prepared a feast fit to accompany this great wine. Please Lord, don't let it be corked. Our back up wine is no where near as exciting.
