<![CDATA[NWCELLARS-UNCORKED

Years ago in 2004 it was my honor to give a toast to my much loved and treasured friends, my sister in law Annette and her husband Al, on their wedding day.

No pressure right? Annette, widely known to those in the family, had a borderline obsession with the movie Moonstruck starring Cher.

Knowing this, I held up my glass of wine and toasted the newly married couple with words of affection; including a reference to Annette being the “Copper” of the family.   She costs more because she is special and worth more.   Exactly what I said I can’t remember, but this was the overall sentiment.

My comments struck a personal and emotional cord thus etching themselves in our collective memories forever.  It is my deep seeded belief that in life we forever remember in the long-term, only the very best of times or comments.  For example, my only kindergarten memories are napping at my desk or when the Dentist came with the big tooth and toothbrush. There are very few times in a year, or a lifetime for that matter, when someone does or says something that touches a deep sentimental cord. This was one of those times for me.

We also tend to best remember when we make a comment that goes out of the park with our audience as it genuinely touches someone in a special way. Based on the bride’s obvious delight and my inherent narcissistic nature (aren’t we all), I still remember this moment eight years later.

To successfully ad-lib in front of a group where all ears are focused on you with a toast that was far from polished is not easy.  My ace in the hole was the fact that I liked these people greatly and knew that the copper reference was gold to the bride and groom.

How does this relate to a Northwest Wine website you may be wondering?

At this dinner I was given the honor and privilege of donating six bottles of wine to the wedding party.  It had to be good, as the bride and groom had great appreciation for wine, but not too crazy as most in attendance were far from wine aficionados. I presented two bottles of three different varietals the likes of which I cannot remember except for the one that most everyone liked the best (or was it just the bride and groom?).

That wine being the Columbia Crest Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, 1998, Columbia Valley, Washington State, at a whopping $11.99 per bottle.

I knew that this was a good wine but I wasn’t sure how it would hold up as it was now 2004 and this was not an “ager” as they say.

Well guess what, I still remember the wine, and I still remember the story some eight years later. I have one more of these Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 to drink. These are produced as drink soon best buy gems. This one is now a decade since its release and most likely past its peak. The one left will be enjoyed with the wedding couple, Al and Annette, this coming weekend. It won’t matter if the wine still holds up because I know the story of this wine and the wedding toast will last forever.

The classic scene(s) referenced above were written by John Patrick Shanley for the motion picture Moonstruck. The first scene is between Loretta’s (Cher) Pop, Cosmo, and his plumbing customers and it went like this:

The scene begins with Cosmo intently scratching the worn out pipes with his pocketknife in the couples outdated bathroom.

Couple: “Well Mr. Castorini … What do you think?

Cosmo: “$10,800”

Couple: “That seems like a lot.

[Cosmo chuckles and shakes his head from side to side.]

Cosmo: “Look” he responds “There are three kinds of pipe.
There is the kind of pipe that you have, that is garbage, and you see where that’s gotten you.
Then there is Bronze which is very good unless something goes wrong.   Something always goes wrong.

AND THEN THERE IS COPPER!!!!

Which is the only pipe I use.  It costs money. It costs money, because it saves money.”

Couple: Wife: “Ohhh.”
                Husband: “I think we should follow Mr. Castorini’s advice.

The next scene is the film cutting in to the end of the conversation between Cosmo the wealthy plumber and his girlfriend over coffee where Cosmo is retelling this customer encounter to Mona his mistress/girlfriend.

Cosmo: “….AND THEN THERE IS COPPER, which is the only pipe I use. It costs money. It costs money because it saves money.”

Mona: “What did they say?”

Cosmo: “The man understood me.  The woman wanted to be cheap, but the man saw I was right”

Mona: “ You have such a head for knowing. You know everything”

Cosmo nods pleasingly and states, taking a gift box out of his pocket, “ I bought you something. It’s a present.”

Mona: Opens the box and pulls out a bracelet similar to a charm bracelet but gold with birds and stars attached.  “Oh Cosmo! Oh my GOD!”

Cosmo:   “There’s little birds with stars. Birds fly to the stars I guess.” She smiles and he scratches his head.

Scenes from the motion picture Moonstruck; words written by John Patrick Shanley with comments based on my observations.

Go out and make a long-term memory with friends, or at least try.
Better yet do it over a Washington State glass of wine.
                                                                                                                        – Robert Gilpatrick (Guest Blogger)