Costing under $9.00 back then, with 12.7% alcohol, the 1987 Poppy Hill Chardonnay from Napa, scored a fine 15 points on the Dionysian scale of 20.

It was all amber, but wasn’t cooked or maderized; it had caramel and baked apple pie on the nose. The years added a load of complexities to the wine.

Served with an apple-butternut squash soup with crusted warm French bread. It made something so simple so interesting and delightful.

I bought it on September 8, 1989 for $6.50 . It’s names after the state flower, the Golden Poppy. Low alcohol once again proves to be able to age. At 34 years old, it was a great experiment. In Vino Veritas.