Welcome to the Wine O'Clock Report!

This otherwise nondescript bag contained one of the bucket list items I never thought I'd actually obtain unless I won the lottery. OK, so maybe that's extreme, because I'm sure someday one way or the other I would have obtained it, but it was quite elusive for many years.

A long time ago, I read a Jackie Collins novel called Rock Star. The people in this book drank champagne like it was water. As a matter of fact, this particular brand of champagne was once known as (maybe it still is) Rock Stars' Mouthwash because apparently they really do drink it like water. Cristal. Ever since I read that book I wanted to try it. But at $250+ a bottle, I never could justify it. Until recently.

Sadly, I almost bought a bottle a few years ago when I received a milestone promotion at work. Unfortunately, I dragged my feet until the moment passed and it didn't feel right anymore. So I told myself, next promotion. Next promotion. Next promotion.

So badly did I want a bottle of this (hopefully) magical elixir that I would avoid coming into contact with them at the wine shoppe. I'd look at the bottles of Dom Perignon (which I have also not had, but have it on good authority it's not worth it), but wouldn't risk a look at the Cristal. Yeah, yeah, I could have foregone a couple of cases of less expensive wine and just bought a bottle, but the point was now that I could only have it if I reached special goal. It was an incentive for my continuous improvement and achievement.

And so, today, March 1, 2017, I reached that milestone. It was not a promotion, but it was work related, and it was a point that I never thought when I started my career that I would reach. I'm not going to tell you precisely what it was, but let's just say when I got the news, I teared up in front of my current boss and my former boss, both men, and felt like a silly girl, but I was so amazingly happy!

Not wanting a repeat of my missed opportunity a couple of years ago, I was determined to get to the wine shoppe and bring a bottle of Cristal home. Got there, asked the lady if they even had any (they did!) and she even chilled it for me. Bonus - it was "Wine Wednesday" so I got a 15% discount. How Walmartian of me to get a luxury champagne with a discount. A $40 discount. Bargain!

I cradled my bottle swaddled in brown paper all the way home. Then I started to worry - what if this really doesn't live up to the hype? I quickly set that thought aside and, along with Chris, began the Cristal experience.

It comes wrapped in a golden cellophane bag, which the lady at the wine shoppe had to remove to chill it, but that was OK with me.

The bottle itself is gorgeous. Maybe a little over-the-top. Golden everywhere. Royal crests. And the color of the champagne itself is quite golden. Regal. So much what I expected. And this bottle is from 2007. It's not just rare that I have high-end wine, it's rare that I have wine over about 6 years old.

Even the cork is special. Side-note: Chris opened the bottle and had the nerve to toss the cork into the trash can! I made him retrieve it post-haste.

And finally, it's in the glass. Look at those bubbles! A toast, then a taste. When the liquid first hit my tongue, it was delicious, but I'll admit I feared that it wasn't $250 more delicious than say, Veuve

Cliquot. And then it happened. The flavors and complexity I never expected from a champagne unfolded in my mouth like a rose opening. Fruitful flavors like pear and meyer lemon, the joyful texture of the bubbles, the lingering smooth finish! None of the headache-inducing alcohol overtones from cheap champagnes and sparkling wines at all. By far the best champagne experience I've ever had - of course the reason for the celebration was likely a contributing factor.

Now I want to be a rock star more than ever, if I could have Cristal every day! Although, in all honesty, that might take away how special it is to me. So, never mind. Cristal will be mine only when it's truly an occasion.

Love,

Colleen