By Nicholas Harary
There is a healthy competitive spirit going on between my son Nicholas and myself.
When we play games, I usually allow little Nicholas to win – most of the time. On rainy day Mondays (my day off), we often play tournaments of different sport games on the Wii. A few months ago, I felt Nicholas was getting a bit too cocky about all his “winning” and I decided not to let him beat me anymore. That’s when I realized that I wasn’t actually letting him beat me.
Here I am, 41 years old, trying my best to beat my 6-year-old at a video game and he just toyed with me. This went on for a few weeks until Father’s Day rolled around. First thing, Father’s Day morning, I beat him at Madden – first time in weeks. The whole game, Nicholas had an odd smirk on his face. Wait a minute! Did he just let me win for Father’s Day? How did that turn around so quickly?
My Father’s Day “gift” got me thinking about the competitive natures to other father-son relationships. As the offer for the 40th anniversary vintage of Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon crossed my desk, I couldn’t help but think about Charlie and Chuck Caymus, arguably two of the most successful producers of Cabernet in Napa Valley history. Charlie founded the winery, producing the first vintage in 1972. His son started alongside of him, right out of high school. The rest is history: Their partnership produced one of the most successful brands in American Cabernet, really in the entire wine world. They did it by consistently turning out hedonistically rich, velvety Cabernet, as delicious in its youth as it is as it ages. As luck would have it for these guys, their 40th anniversary is from a top-notch vintage, the best since 2007. The 2012 is textbook Caymus, concentrated to its core, with loads of mocha chocolate-tinged black fruit. Full-bodied, intense and impressive as hell. Don’t miss the 40th anniversary of an American classic.
Now available through Nicholas Wines store, www.nicholaswines.com. All wine orders can be shipped or picked up at the restaurant.
Nicholas Harary is the owner/executive chef of Restaurant Nicholas, located in Red Bank. It is New Jersey’s highest Zagat-rated restaurant. Nicholas Wines is an online retail wine store that commits to storing wine at 56 degrees and ships nationwide.
