Long time readers will know the 24th of January is when I hide most of the day in bed and write a miserable tasting note that wouldn’t fool a deaf and blind whelk into thinking I’m enjoying myself. This is because today is the anniversary of me first slashing my wrists in the bath and then getting sectioned in the loony bin for three months. But it’s not going to happen this year!
I’ve been seeing a clinical psychologist for psychotherapy purposes and she has taught me some techniques for dealing with anxiety and overwhelming emotions. I am going to explain one set of them here. They are called Gottman’s tasks, and they are four little activities derived from dialectical behavioural therapy to help one regain composure when things are getting unfortunate.
The first task is to do something to alter your body temperature. I’m sure all the ladies in the audience will be happy to picture me as I’ve just stripped off all my clothes and I’m typing this stark naked. With the window open this should alter my body temperature and encourage efficiency in my writing as it’s bloody arse-bitingly freezing.
The second task is to perform a repetitive task that is engaging. Writing out these four tasks, that I’ve committed to memory ready to be deployed at any moment, will fit that description quite well.
For the third task I’m doing two things. The idea is to avoid negative behaviour patterns that can cause destructive activity. Firstly I am typing this in the cat’s room so I’m not tempted to wallow miserably in bed. Kisu the normally social cat is distinctly irked I’ve not only invaded his domain but also significantly lowered the temperature. Secondly, I am drinking out of my most expensive Riedel glass so I am in too much financial fear to smash it and slash myself up if I should find myself feeling excessively distressed.
I doubt I’ll get too distressed, though, as the last task is to do something in line with your values. I’m sure it wouldn’t take a mind like a steel trap (which is to say ‘sharp and fast’ rather than ‘dangerous and illegal’) to realise one of my values is immersing myself in the joys of delicious Burgundy. I shall indulge in that now and give you my tasting note for this scrummy little number.
Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru Les Lavieres 2009, Domaine Chandon de Briailles
Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru Les Lavieres 2009, Domaine Chandon de Briailles
Cripes, this smells quite ripe! Blackberries and cherries mixed in with the strawberries I’d expect. Quite a lot of personality here with all that hedonistic fruit and rich, pretty complex earthiness. There is even a suggestion of alcoholic warmth to the nose, which must be the first time any such thing has been reported about a Savigny. It smells absolutely delicious, but even though it’s from 2009 I didn’t expect it to be quite so BIG. Ah now the palate has plenty of focussed acidity, that I would expect from a Savigny. Yet, because of the abundant, gloriously attractive fruit, this has the fresh flavour of fun rather than a tart taste of terror. Tannins have some rigour, but not tough by any means. There’s alcoholic sweetness here too which, in this case, is a good thing – it’s quite warming me up as I sit here naked. I’m rather warmed to this task too. I don’t often drink Savigny, it can be harsh, miserable and insipid, and, even though I like them a lot, Chandon de Briailles wines can sometimes lean a little too far toward the angular: bugger me if this one isn’t spot on! So drinking this is very much in line with my values. It’ll age and improve for a while longer too; amazing! However, I feel my bones ageing and deteriorating as I sit in the draft from the window so I will draw this tasting note to a close and go and adjust my body temperature to something warmer in a different part of the flat.
A success, I feel, for Chandon de Briailles, Gottman’s tasks and me. It’s my main time-tabled misery day for the year and I have managed to avoid getting caught up in unhappy memories and remain cheered whilst consuming a cheeky charmer. Best 24th of January I can recall (up until 7:45am anyway)!
I tasted this at Chandon De Brailles in Oct 2011, and thought it quite weighty. But never over extracted. Looking at my tasting note, I was a bit perplexed as to how it would turn out. Not SLB was one of the comments I made. I love that light weighted not so serious quality to SLB. Mind you my Nicolas Rossignol and Javillier SLB’S have come out the same way. The Rossignol more so. So a product of vintage?
Really glad to hear you so cheerfully chock of chipperness… Keep it up!
…btw, is it national alliteration day, or something? 😉
Yes, Dids, I definitely think a product of the vintage. I’ve got some Chandon de Briailles Pernand-Vegelesses 1er cru Ile de Vergelesses from 2009. This wine can be harsh, thin and green in even fairly good vintages but the 2009 is a wondrous entity of charm and attractiveness. After this success I’ll pop a bottle soon.
Thank you, Alex! It’s nice to be more in control of my emotions than I have been in the past. ‘National’ alliteration day? I don’t follow the pack, I lead!
Can’t think of a better burg to be drinking while nude in a cold room…
Congratulations, Mike, you win the prize for funniest comment of the week! The prize is being allowed to make encouraging comments as we drink a Chorey-les-Beaune whilst naked in a cold room together.
Bravo for the NHS! I’ll bet our American cousins are cursing themselves for having a system that doesn’t offer creative nudism and burgundy appreciation advice. Good to see you are on good form!
As a matter of interest, what do you think the future of the 2009’s might be? I know you prefer them at an earlier stage, but was wondering if you had any longer-term insights.
Hello Ian. I think there is a lot of future for 2009s; indeed some wines are completely untouchable now and need serious cellar time if you are going to enjoy them in a giving state. Despite my love of young Burgundy most of my 2009s will be tucked away for the long haul.