When I was in Rosarito Beach last September, I bought a bottle of one of the best Zinfandels I had ever tasted – the 2001 from Baron Balche – a winery essentially built in a cave underground (check out the photos of the trip).

There was no specific reason I can think of for the occasion, but the weather was beautiful and I was (am) excited for the next few weeks.

Mostly though, I think I was tired of looking for a reason to drink the damn thing.

It’s funny how we do that – put things off until the future.

I’m glad I came to my senses – a few more weeks and this bottle may have been ruined.  Check out the photo below of the cork – it smelled like vinegar.

The wine was fantastic, thankfully – everything I remember and more – and I only wish there was some sort of technology that would allow me to pass on the smell – I wanted to stick my whole head in the glass (I’m not big on tasting notes – so I’ll save you the ultra-vague description).

As I drank, I was thinking back about 2001, where I was, what I did.

I was a sophomore in high school, had no idea I would go to Virginia Tech, no clue I’d ever live in California.  I was even able to remember exactly what I did, where I was, and who I was with on New Year’s Eve 2001.

I believe that’s what they call a journey in a bottle.