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THE STORY
In today’s post, I’m taking a brief hiatus from Central Coast wines to talk a little bit about my personal Dry January journey, the fine Bordeaux wines I left it for, and a Mollydooker Australian stunner.
MY DRY JANUARY
Due to a planned and much welcomed surgery, I had to give up alcohol for most of January. Post-surgery, I was prescribed a lot of acetaminophen (aka Tylenol). Acetaminophen and alcohol do not mix – unless you are very aware of your dosages and quantities of both. As I learned through a lot of reading (and I am no doctor), they both make demands of the same functions of your liver and too much of both, especially sustained high dosages of both, can be fatal. I read the bottle: taking over 4,000 mg and drinking more than 3 glasses of alcohol per day is not ok. And I wasn’t doing either.
Before the surgery, I dabbled with some non-alcoholic wines. I tried a red – a hard no. I have a bubbly nonalcoholic rose to try sometime in the future. Have any of my readers tried a non-alcoholic wine they found to be acceptable? Please leave me a comment! I’m open to trying some more.
I honored Dry January for 3 weeks. I really didn’t mind it, since my body needed to recover from the invasive surgery. I could hear wine being opened and enjoyed in my house. Instead, I allowed myself the baked treats and chocolates received from neighbors and friends. And I began a new habit of drinking water all evening instead of wine. I would have made it to January 30 but, when our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners offered to bring a happy hour to us, that sounded like a good reason to cut it a little short.
To better determine what would be safe for me, I researched the acetaminophen/alcohol/liver issue many ways. As my dose became smaller and smaller – and not daily, I wanted the clearance of my doc to be able to have a glass of wine. I asked my surgeon and my primary care doc. They both pretty much said that my dosage was small enough to enjoy a glass or two. Yay!
But don’t think I am just saying goodbye to Dry January and not looking back. I do believe new habits have been formed. I like my evening water as a healthy habit. And I look forward to saving wine consumption for more special occasions, such as the events driving the wines I’m posting about today.
THE BORDEAUX
I broke my dry January with 2 fine Bordeaux during the happy hour provided by our Decanting Monterey Wine Pod partners:
2016 Château Giscours, Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, France, 13% ABV, $80
Wine Enthusiast – 96 points: “This nearly 200-acre estate lies in the south of the Margaux appellation. The wine is another great success in a series of superb years. It is rich but the structure and finely textured fruit give it style and longevity. Drink the wine from 2026.” May 2019
2010 Château Léoville-Poyferré, 2nd Cru Classe de Medoc, Saint-Julien, 14% ABV, $175
Wine Enthusiast – 98 points: “A wine of architectural strength and classical proportions, this has straight lines that mark the packed, concentrated fruits, which are sustained by its tannins. This is certainly the best wine that Léoville-Poyferré has produced, sumptuous while so finely structured.” *Cellar Selection* (RV) February 2013
A “DOWN-UNDER” WINE CLASS
My virtual wine class with old DC friends selected a January theme of Australian wines but no 100% Shiraz wines. I found it quite difficult to find Australian wines – my grocery store had a couple of whites, and Costco had one Shiraz and maybe a couple of whites. Total Wine had their Australian wines spread throughout their store, organized by varietal, not country. I finally found today’s red blend in the Syrah section!
2022 Molly Dooker Two Left Feet, South Australia, 16% ABV, $30 (#70% Shiraz, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot
Winery Notes: “WHAT IS TWO LEFT FEET? Two Left Feet is what can happen when you dance after a glass or two of Mollydooker…The 2022 Two Left Feet wine stands out for its lively balance. The Shiraz grape adds depth, while Merlot and Cabernet contribute fragrance and lifted notes. On the palate you’ll notice the dominant plum and mocha notes with a touch of toasty oak. The red fruit flavors feel silky due to the soft tannins. The taste journey continues with hints of licorice and blackberry jam, creating a joyful experience that celebrates the blend’s diverse elements.”
My Review: Medium purple in the glass. Rich, yummy dark berries with a touch of eucalyptus on the nose. A full palate of brambly dark berry fruit, wrapped in caramel notes, with a touch of cassis on the finish. A little harsh upon first opening, but, once this wine opened up, I liked it very much. January 2025
© Decanting Monterey 2025
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[…] of the first places I went when my Dry January ended was to see Sal Rombi @rombiwine in his Carmel Valley tasting room. He said he had something […]