Everyone Needs “The Big O” on Valentine’s Day…

Valentine’s Day Eve saw the movie release of the erotic drama Fifty Shades of Grey based on the E.L. James novel, which traces the relationship between young Anastasia Steele (come on, who really has a name like that?) and a handsome and mysterious business magnate, Christian Grey (yet, another name out of a soap opera) who likes his encounters on the edgy side. The novel was a huge commercial bestseller due the combination of just the right amount of female erotica/BDSM and very few big words.  Described as an easy read and titillating bedside 'mommy porn' (remember Harold Robbins), writer reviews eviscerated the literary qualities of the book (hint: there are no literary qualities whatsoever).  I particularly liked Salman Rushdie’s commentary: "I've never read anything so badly written that got published. It made Twilight look like War and Peace."

Today, on Valentine's Day, the entertainment news was abuzz about the fact that the movie also disappoints. Liza Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly said: “Nobody in the movie has visible genitals. Christian in particular seems to do a whole lot of stuff in the playroom with his shirt off but his pants on, which cannot be comfortable for such an active young man. But even more frustrating to voyeurs, nobody sweats, nobody strains, nobody loses control or even fakes losing control by simulating an orgasm.” Josh Dickey, from Mashable, agrees. He praised Kelly Marcel's script, but concludes: “There’s not nearly enough sex in it. That’s a shame, because Marcel performed nothing short of a miracle here, turning hapless, unreadable fan-fiction rubbish that somehow caught fire into a capable, slow-building script.”

Sexual disappointment gets ‘writ large’ on Valentine’s Day. How fitting. Fifty Shades of Grey frustrates after all that build up and anticipation!  A perfect metaphor, no doubt, to describe many Valentine’s Day experiences all over the world. But I am not a curmudgeon! I am a hopeless romantic. So, I will offer this counterpoint – a review of a lovely, rich, and juicy wine that, like it’s name, is a sure thing!  It satisfies and delivers as it promises.

Unionville Vineyards 2011 “The Big O”

Unionville Vineyards 2011 The Big O is a Bordeaux style red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.  Medium to deep ruby in color (the Petit Verdot gives additional inkiness and depth), I get dried berries and some baked cherry on the nose, as well as light baking spice  -- nutmeg and vanilla.  The wine is full bodied and rich on the palette with jammy red fruit first and foremost, followed by some cedar and pepper spice notes. There is good acidity and the tannins are firm, giving the wine nice structure, which serves to complement the fruit forward nature of the wine.  There are some vanilla notes on the finish.  The Big O is a rich red montage blend that gets the palate whetted and primed for what follows. It is very well crafted, if not particularly complex.  This wine would be great with a pan-seared strip steak with a little fresh ground pepper, or a high quality burger with a dollop of gorgonzola dulce on a toasted brioche roll.  Juicy and delicious, The Big O is just as advertised... a big "ohhh!"  The wine is sure to please! Drink this with a lover. Happy Valentine's Day.

Unionville Vineyards 2011 The Big O $31.00

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