Kakao Brunchbook 6th Publishing Project Special Award Winner
Wine flows into the Glencairn glass -- deep ruby radiance, bewitching color. Swirling the glass gently. A vibrant aroma flies into the nostrils. Thirst rushes in. Lifting the glass to the lips. Slowly tilting. Wine flows over the tongue. Sweetness and smoothness. Closing eyes, sketching an image. "Where are you? I will run to you right now." Commonly when someone heart-racing appears, you want to see them more and more. You find yourself being impatient to meet them. The wine waiting parallel: great wines require waiting -- a Barolo from a great producer may be nearly undrinkable at release and requires 10-15 years of cellaring to reach its peak; a Burgundy grand cru opens in waves over decades; the person who cannot wait and opens the bottle too early gets a harsh, tannic, closed wine that does not represent what it will become; patience with wine is accepting that the best experiences are not always immediately available and that forcing premature consumption destroys potential. Love and waiting: the same impatience that ruins wine ruins relationships -- the person who rushes intimacy before trust is established, who demands depth before connection has developed, who cannot tolerate the uncertainty of the early stages of relationship is like the collector who cannot resist opening a precious bottle before its time; the wine will eventually open to its full potential; the relationship will eventually develop its full depth -- but only if given the time and conditions to do so naturally.
