“Don’t Half-Ass It”

Half-ass (v.): To do something poorly due to lack of care or effort.

Sometimes elegant elocutions and poetic phrases seem to lack the punch needed to get people’s attention – at least when I see what people drink.

The phrase above is from actor Matthew McConaughey’s father, James Donald McConaughey, who passed away “in action” so to speak (research will show you how, but there are worse ways to go).

Dedication

Enjoying Burgundy wines requires dedication; care and effort are the key words here. This is a passion, even a lifelong project for some, in which understanding the vineyards, the history, and the vignerons melds into the seamless enjoyment of wine.

You need to care deeply about what you are drinking, and not shy away from the effort needed to get a bottle that you love or have the urge to try. That said, distinctive Burgundies are not easy to find (this is not a sport for the lazy), although I do try to help.

I hope you enjoy your efforts to understand the vines, vineyards, and vignerons of Burgundy; to reach the ultimate experience; to regularly taste and enjoy great vins d’émotion. I hope you find wines with the energy to move your mood and mind into a state of hedonistic enjoyment. Emotional Burgundies will do so effortlessly, leaving you with an empty glass and the need for another bottle. When you achieve this state of mind you can never go back – and you will crave this feeling.

Addictive? Oh yes. This is the essence of a vin d’émotion: wines that touch, enthrall, caress, and stir your emotions.

So please: Don’t half-ass it. Go all in!

Start on the top shelf

Burgundy is not the place to settle for second or fourth best, as most of the wines produced here are at best harmless, without any point of interest or ambition.

You should start on the top tier, where the best and most exciting wines are. This is expensive, I know. But this is Burgundy, and you know that as well. Start little by little building a small cellar of the great Burgundies, the big vins d’émotion. Find them here on Winehog; prices are no guarantee in Burgundy.

You also need to take chances and seek out wines from new and upcoming makers. This is a specialty of the Winehog, and many wine merchants and traders seek their inspiration here.

Without taking those chances, you will get stuck with the same 10-20 producers. Expensive? Yes. Boring? Perhaps.

Finding producers that challenge the status quo is important, as this will give you a new understanding of your favourite 10-20. Burgundy demands constantly renewed interest and understanding.

Stay curious, and challenge yourself. Go all in, and don’t half-ass it!