It felt like the time had come for the Matanzas Creek Journey 2012.

The Sonoma County merlot based red wine would be uncorked for a night of taco eating and family guitar playing. The 2012 iteration of Journey was ready to drink and rewarded us for the wait. It was still a medium to full bodied red but time had softened the texture and there were plum and blueberry pie flavors that had had risen to the forefront.

When tasted in 2017, the powerfully built Journey had more dark chocolate flavors. But, time had pulled away those layers and an elegantly-smooth mouthfeel framed the blue-fruit flavors which were now revealed.

It was a trip back in time to an overcast day where my girlfriend, we’d get married in a few years time, were smitten with each other and the beauty of the blooming Matanzas Creek lavender garden. We were so taken with the walk through the sprawling purple blooms that we’d purchased a pack of greeting cards featuring various beauty shots of the fragrant flowers.

While waiting to open the bottle offered a reward, it also offered us the opportunity to reminisce about the trip. Our very first trip to California to visit wineries as we were still getting to know each other. We’d find a shared passion for trying new wines, eating new food and getting lost on the road as we familiarized ourselves with a new place.

There was joy in rediscovering the wine and in the conversation that followed.