Just enjoyed a beautiful rib eye steak, organic green squash, (sautéed in organic olive oil and butter, seasoned with pepper, ginger, salt and tarragon), and simple organic mashed potatoes. However, as good as dinner was, there was no comparison to the awesome bottle of cabernet that I finished with it, and the powerful spirit it held.

20 plus years ago, I inherited an extensive wine cellar from my Dad. He and I had spent quite a few years searching out old package stores and buying up vintage wines( only if they had been stored in a stable environment, well most of the time.) He kept a major portion of them in his home, I kept a good stash at my home and my bar, Billy Wilson's, Connecticut's oldest saloon.

Over the years I have opened many of these bottles, always smiling at the many memories of our discoveries of amazing wines from the 60's, 70's and early 80"s in mom and pop liquor stores, and the wonderful characters who had collected and guarded them for so many years. One of the clearest memories that sums up those years, and the camaraderie, adventure, and love Dad and I enjoyed, took place one Spring afternoon. I had located an incredible stash, 100 plus bottles of French and German wines stored by a wine connoisseur and collector who no longer was able to drink, but enjoyed sharing his wine knowledge with me.
After months of buying and drinking wines at his shop, and sharing my "tasting notes", so he could vicariously enjoy them, we discussed my purchasing all his wines, and then he could rest easy knowing they would be cherished and enjoyed long after his passing.

Of course I shared this discovery and deal with my Dad, The date and time was set for the purchase and pick up. I rolled to the rendezvous Early; to meet him.
I arrived to find the monster Chevy wagon he cruised in, loaded to the roof with all the wine, paid for, and dear old Dad sporting a shit eating grin.

He was grabbing the stash for himself! I said hey; he grinned, I smiled, he smiled. I jumped in his car, yelled thanks for loading the wine and drove off laughing hysterically. Of course we both new it was part of a game that we never knew the rules to, but played good heartedly, as only lifetime friends and "Pickers" could play. We both knew that the wines were shared booty, but it brought great enjoyment to see the look on his face as I jumped in his car, and with a grin, wave and whoop, gunned it..

To the point of this story; the cabernet. I never know what I will encounter when I open a bottle from that specific stash, for some did not survive the conditions of the liquor store. However, many times and sometimes, the bottled opened is a gem, and no matter what, all have that joyous memory attached. Such was tonight's Alexis Lichene unknown cabernet. Unknown for the cork was unmarked and the label disintegrated after 40 years.
The fill level in the bottle was well up the neck, unchanged these past 40 years.
I carefully decanted it. The color and clarity was brilliant. Poured.
Enjoyed, and like so many beautiful things in life, now gone.