This was one of those Christmas holidays when our entire family was together. Katherine, her husband, Tom, plus two boys, one girl, and two labs {Rummy and Leeloo] and Stephen and wife, Robin, plus 3 girls and two French bulldogs [Cleo and Pearl]—all the grandchildren are young adults.

While I treasured all of the Christmas gifts I received, one gift sticks out as irreplaceable. I don’t expect to have it ever again. I’m a wine lover, an affliction I share with my son, Stephen. (And I must admit that his wine cave is bigger than mine.)

My favorite French Bordeaux is Château Cheval Blanc from the Saint Emilion Region. Stephen brought a 1964 bottle as my Christmas gift, however, to be shared. That is a 58 year old bottle of wine. The wine was older than anyone gathered for Christmas with the exception, of course, for yours truly and wife, Martha. One of the characteristics of an old Grand Cru is that it has a bit of the earth in its nose and taste. You know that this wine was made from grapes that grew out of the earth because they bring a little of their “terroir” with them—some call it the taste of the forest floor, Virginia tobacco or leather. It was a remarkable, beautiful wine with a hint of cherry. The experience brought with it the knowledge that we were enjoying what could be the last bottle, or certainly one of the last bottles, to exist—forever!

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