Wine short story: A black fly in your Chardonnay

My second wine short story is inspired by the song “Ironic”, written and performed by Alanis Morissette. An elegant chardonnay from South Africa to pair!

17A. While queuing at the gate, Mr Play must have checked his boarding pass at least one hundred times. It was almost like if he didn’t check the digits with sufficient frequency, they would magically disappear from his boarding pass.

Standing in the mastodonic hall, Mr Play was a funny sight for whoever happened to pass by that long queue. Alone and middle-aged, he wore tattered jeans and an egg-shell coloured shirt, two sizes too big. Looking rather confused, he kept fidgeting between the boarding pass (to remind himself of the correct seat number) and the dark jacket held in his other hand. All the time adjusting his round old-fashioned glasses. The wait seemed interminable.

Flustered, Mr Play finally sat on seat 17A of the plane. His first flight ever. A bit late, he thought, for a forty-seven year old man.

Allowing himself to relax for a few seconds, Mr Play slowly leaned back. He took off his glasses and wiped the sweat on his temples with a tissue. Then he started to mess around with the security belt (for no real reason) tightening it way before it was required. What a cramped space he thought. If he had more experience on the matter, he would have known that these proportions were normal for an economy flight. But again, this was the first flight of Mr Play’s entire life.

Being uncomfortable was not a major concern for Mr Play. He checked the fastening of his seatbelt again. While he fiddled (this time between the worn belt and the creased magazines in front of him) he thought about the reason he was there…

After spending more than twenty years doing the same job, in the same old little town, Mr Play had decided to take a big step. He had applied for a job. This decision had arisen from years of thinking, considering, evaluating his options. The nagging of his wife who had tired of listening to his daily rants about his job and their stagnant life. It really had taken Mr Play ages to get out of his comfort zone. It wasn’t surprising. Mr Play both loved and hated his comfort zone in equal measures.

Mr Play had almost forgotten what a job interview was like. Yet somehow he had passed the interview process for a prestigious company in the City. With a strange mix of pride and bewilderment, Mr Play had packed his suitcase, kissed his wife and children and headed to the airport to embrace this new chapter of his life. Why had I waited so long? He asked himself.

As these thoughts whirled around his head, they almost distracted Mr Play from his fear of flying. Well, it wasn’t real fear. He was apprehensive more than frightened. One could say it was the fear of the unknown. It was his first time being so many metres up in the air. He just didn’t know what to expect. Were planes safe? How regularly were they checked? How good was the company he was flying with? These questions stormed his mind before take-off.

It was unusual for Mr Play, so accustomed to certainties, to embrace a circumstance where almost everything was unknown. He listened carefully to the flight attendant’s instructions on how to behave in case of an emergency. His anxiety increased further. Astoundingly, he noticed he was the only one to pay attention to the flight attendant’s instructions.

Finally the plane moved. After a few manoeuvres on the ground, that huge aircraft gradually lifted off the ground. He was flying!

Mr Play’s apprehension gave way to amazement. Since 17A seat was a window seat, Mr Play was able to watch the city become smaller and smaller. Ribbons of thin clouds interposed between the plane and the fanciful miniaturised landscape. What a view! Mr Play mused.

He had always liked thinking ahead. As he sat, Mr Play pondered how he would go about finding a suitable accommodation for him and family while he worked in the City. Chill Mr Play, he muttered to himself. This is not something you have to decide now. You have time. Now try to enjoy this flight – this is a new experience for you. So many new first experiences for you in the time to come. His sudden joy eclipsed his fear of flight to such an extent that it almost disappeared.

Swiftly, the flight attendants moved up and down the gangway, collecting orders from the passengers. Mr Play grabbed the flyer in front of him. He took a deep breath and decided to order something nice. After all, he deserved a treat. He settled on the most expensive Chardonnay on the menu. He nodded. This wine would be the perfect way to christen the start of his new (and better) life. He tentatively pointed out the expensive white to the attendant. A wide smile spread over her round face.

Mr Play stared at the glass of Chardonnay in front of him for a while. He was like a child beaming in front of his favourite toy. The density of that fluid was something magical. The colour brilliant and magnifically hued. He closed his eyes. A strange sense of relaxation seemed to undulate through his body. Everything was at peace. His past life faded like a bad dream. The boring and disappointing past gave way to a future full of new opportunities in the City. He felt so exhilarated. His eyelids felt a bit heavier. Without realizing it, a single tear crossed Mr. Play’s cheek. He opened his eyes again and chuckled. Drying that stupid tear with the back of his hand.

Right in the corner of his vision, Mr Play noticed something was wrong. He looked back at his lucent glass of Chardonnay. Floating on the surface was a huge black fly. And he hadn’t even tasted his wine! How on earth was it possible for the only fly on the plane to be in his glass! He was flying thousands of feet in the air. How had the fly collected on the ground before take-off, ended up getting drunk in his untouched Chardonnay glass? Isn’t that ironic?

Mr Play shook his head and placed the glass on the small table open in front on him. He didn’t know whether to be amused or pissed off.

In that precise instant, Mr Play’s attention was caught by a sudden red and yellow flash of light. Rapidly turning his head on the left, he stared at it. Through the little window, Mr Play saw a clear vision of his destiny. The people surrounding him started to utter terrible cries and screamed desperate requests for help. Chaos burst in a fraction of second.

Both the engines on his side of the plane were on fire. They emanated a light that was so bright and dazzling; it was hypnotising.

Mr Play froze. He was the only one not yelling or crying. He glanced at his Chardonnay glass, yet undrunk. The black fly was still there. He wasn’t sure if the insect was alive while floating on the light golden surface of the liquid. Unmoving, he kept staring at the wine glass for a few timeless moments, apparently unconcerned by the turmoil of the passengers around him.
The plane started to bend slightly. The forty-seven old man began to chuckle. Then guffawed. His whole body was shaking, his chest spasmed. Eventually, his cackles exploded into a ravishing, uncontrollable, almost maniacal, laughter.

Are you curious about the wine Mr Play ordered before the dramatic finale? In my wine short story, that is a Hemel-en-Aarde Chardonnay by Hamilton Russell Vineyards.

Hemel-en-Aarde is a small area in the Walker Bay wine region of South Africa. In Afrikaans, Hemel-en-Aarde means “Heaven and Earth”.

To be honest, it’s unlikely that a low-cost flight company (like the one Mr. Play used) would serve a wine from this region. However, “Heaven and Earth” seemed to me perfectly appropriate to the destiny that Mr Play dreamt for his future. Hence this choice.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards - Hemel-en-Aarde Chardonnay, 2017

Country: South Africa
Region/appellation: Walker Bay - Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Wine style: Dry white - Buttery and Complex
Grape(s): chardonnay
Average price:  £28
The history of Hamilton Russell Vineyards began in 1975, when Tim Hamilton Russell bought 170 hectares of land in one of most southern and coldest districts of South Africa.

Today, his son Anthony runs the wine business. He registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as an Estate, thus committing to work only with grapes grown on their plots. This is not the norm for South Africa. Most South-African winemakers buy grapes from several small producers – even those in different areas.
The philosophy of Hamilton Russell Vineyards is indeed closer to the Old World than to the New World. They narrowed down their production to only two grapes (pinot noir and chardonnay) and they focus on a pure expression of terroir. Anthony clearly states his aim: “we are not so much using Hamilton Russell Vineyards to make Pinot noir and Chardonnay as we are using Pinot noir and Chardonnay to express the beauty and personality of Hamilton Russell Vineyards”. It’s not a coincidence that their wines are often described as “Burgundian”: elegant, restrained, and complex.

Tasting notes
(tasted on:  03-Nov-2018)
This chardonnay has a pale lemon hue in the glass. On the nose, it reveals a pronounced yet refined intensity. It opens up with candied lemon curd, pear and a pleasant savoury accent. Followed by notes of acacia, honeysuckle, cardamon, white nectarine and kiwi. The aromas are delicately wrapped by a well-integrated toasty and nutty aura. Very complex and classy, with a tight mineral note lingering.
On the palate, the wine is medium to high in body, revealing a great texture. Ripe flavours of lemon, pear, quince and nectarine harmoniously combine with a smoky presence and a sweet-nutty accent. In the background, hints of nutmeg, baking spices, almond and even a touch of dairy aromas. A great dry minerality pleasantly cuts through the wine. The intense flavours are greatly balanced by a high acidity. Juicy, fresh, zesty but above all classy and perfectly balanced. The flavours are very precise and focused. In the very long finish all the different nuances coalesce splendidly. Great cellaring potential.

Wine and other Stories rating:  9.3/10