Within the space of two days I helped two friends celebrate significant birthdays: one was turning 40 and the other 21. They’re hardly at opposite ends of the age spectrum but there was a “party like a teenager” aspect to the 40th festivities in recognition of the best and most vital years having already been enjoyed, while the 21st was full of sentiment, anticipation and a distinct bittersweet note because the birthday girl was dumped by her long-term boyfriend 10 days prior to the significant event!
What has this to do with wine – other than that lots of bubbly and wine was consumed at both events? Well, reflecting on the 21st, someone remarked that there was poignancy to the event because of the circumstances surrounding it. It’s the traditional coming of age, a marking of a rite of passage into adulthood – and as much as it was a vibrant, joyous event, there was the recognition that sadness and pain are mirror images of great happiness.
There are those who advocate simplicity in wine – getting away from overly complex descriptions or explanations of technical processes. But just as much as Marie-Antoinette exhorted the starving masses to eat cake because she was oblivious to their utter frustration and poverty, so deconstructing wine is not as straightforward as it appears. If wine was all ripe fruit and no acid, it would pall rapidly. Some wines – particularly reds – benefit from time in wood in order to either tone down the excessive nature of the fruit or to bolster its structure by providing a framework for it. White wines need acid to bolster their charms and add interest. We’ve all experienced wines at some stage of our lives which have been unbalanced and clumsy – and enjoyment is not a character associated with those drinking events…
As a samurai sword is forged by fire, folded and tempered umpteen times to become a fearsome blade, so these two remarkable women faced up to their celebrations with courage. One recognising the life that has been lived large over two decades since her coming of age, the other with the knowledge that she can handle future pain and adversity with equanimity and the loving support of friends and family.
Without Yin there can be no Yang. Perhaps that’s why Thai food works so well. What would a Tom Yum soup be without that delightful tension between the salty fish sauce, acidic lime twang and the sweetness of palm sugar? (I’ve just had an involuntary Pavlovian response… my mouth filled with saliva at the mere thought of those flavours!) And that’s before considering the role played by lemongrass, ginger, chilli and garlic!
Wine, too, needs that tension of opposites to truly be great.