Every so often, a wine comes along that deceivingly defies categorization. It dances coyly from one palette experience to the next, yet with satisfying constants that show up with each deep inhale.

The Wine: 2004 Stags Leap Petite Syrah

The Company: The Mom & The Dad

The Meal: Rib roast, yellow potatoes, salad

In the case of this wine, those constants that kept appearing consisted of deep and dark red fruits, oak, smokiness, and tantalizing spices. Very little in the way of woodsy forest floor notes. This was a wine that belonged in a dimly lit mahogany room. A room that contained secrets — that contained wisps of conversations that rise and disappear as quickly as a puff of cigar smoke. A room that kept its cards close, but once you’re in. You’re in.

It’s a wine that extends an offer that’s impossible to refuse.

Duhh, duh, duh, duhh, duh, duh duhhhh….

A wine that refuses to be defined by its obvious descriptors and origin (red grapes, vintage year, producer), yet still yearns to belong.

Our conversation wound around for a while before this became the obvious conclusion.

I initially insisted on Humphrey Bogart.

“There’s a rough-around-the-edges feel, yet with a certain old-school classiness.”

Bruce Springsteen was also suggested.

“It’s that glass-in-the-throat realness that he brings, but still with a hopefulness at the end of the day.”

Names like Brando, DeNiro, Pacino, and Keaton rose to the surface. You can see where this is going.

The wine was still evoking something stronger than one personality could contain. A sense of timelessness but always offering new things to discover. Much like the classic film featuring all of those actors.

In short, this wine is The Godfather in a glass.

~ Keep Sipping, Keep Swirling