Last night, I picked up a bottle of Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir for a friend's birthday. It's not an expensive bottle of wine, but the label is beyond fabulous and, as you might recall, I buy my wines based on the fabulousness of their labels.
I stood on the wine aisle with Michelle for far too long, debating the Red Bicyclette. Did she think the label was fantastic? Did she think I was imposing my love for all bicycle things on other people who may not love bicycle things the way I do? Should I buy a more pricey but less cute bottle? After much more debate than reasonably necessary, I bought the bottle.
And then I got home and saw this headline:
Fake Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir: French Swindlers Found Guilty
And then this one:
Pinot Evil: French Court Finds 12 Guilty in Gallo Faux Pinot
Oh dang! The Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir is an impostor! Even though not one American consumer complained or likely even knew the difference, I obviously can't give an impostor wine--a plain ol' non-fancy French table wine--to a friend for her birthday.
Shame, I guess I'll just have to drink the bottle myself.
I heard about that on NPR. I guess it's a big deal, but I don't think I can really taste the difference.
In any case, the label is truly fabulous, and that's one of my wine criterion too.
Posted by: Leah | February 19, 2010 at 05:40 PM
French table wine sounds pretty damned fancy to me.
Posted by: Operation Pink Herring | February 19, 2010 at 05:53 PM
I choose my wines the same way. Which led me to discover Fleur Pinot Noir for Christmas dinner. It's a California wine, but very pretty.
Posted by: Allyson | February 19, 2010 at 06:18 PM
Oh, I would have given it anyway. They probably wouldn't have noticed, (and the label is WAY too cute for such a fancy wine!)
Lindsey Petersen
http://5kidswdisabilities.wordpress.com
Posted by: Lindsey Petersen | February 21, 2010 at 08:08 AM
um, this was for ME! Fake or not, that label is the cuteness. Thank you SO much, but like I said, the best gift was that you + Will came down to participate in Operation: Decorate Oakland.
p.s. I'm burning the verbena candle as I type!
p.p.s. will you send me your mailing address, please? ♥
Posted by: Sarah | February 22, 2010 at 06:58 PM