The Case

THE CASE

Of Merlot

It is a full flight on a small plane. People are engulfed into their own conversations. A mother is cooing her wiggly child to sit still before take off. Then the overhead announcer interrupted updating cabin policies. Seat belts clicking away and the flight attendant paced down the aisle with a lead foot to make sure that luggage was properly stowed away.

So much excitement in the air. She was sending her last text message to her sister reassuring that she’ll land in about 6 hours. Airplane mode ‘off’, the icon goes dark. Seat belt sign flashed ‘ON’. There are in-flight texting, but she’d rather focus on the fluffy clouds with hues of pink and purple. Take off is at sunrise. Golden hour. Words could not describe the depth and beauty. The light hits her face at the right angle while a gentleman approaches her. “Hey pretty lady, I think you’re in my seat.” She was bashful and more shocked to be called “pretty” than to actually be mistakenly in someone else’s seat.

For a second there she doubted herself. She got out of her seat to check her seat number labeled under the overhead compartment, she got up only to realize that he was the one who made the mistake. He was awfully close in the cramped space and she could smell his faint cologne while he shoves his carry on overhead. She clears her throat timidly to speak up with a straight face. Shrugging and saying, “I just checked. This is my seat.” She sat back down quickly but couldn’t help to notice his muscular build. He wasn’t particularly well dressed, but wore these circular framed glasses and had that vintage t-shirt casual look that she liked. He looked like he had just rolled out of bed. Maybe he did. It was an early flight after all.

The flight attendant approached. “You need to be in your seat, sir.” He frantically sat down at the aisle seat next to her before he got a chance to confirm. He sighed with relief thinking at least he made the flight. He ran from the TSA checkpoint and had almost missed his flight. It was because of a bottle of Merlot he had forgotten to check in with the rest of his luggage. It was worth it to hang on to his bottle of wine from visiting his folks in California. Mom and pops kept it in impeccable condition in their climate controlled wine cellar. He had received a case of Merlot from his grandpa for his college graduation. 2009 was a particularly good year for Merlot from Napa. He wanted to bring a bottle back to his condo in Boston.

It meant a lot to him that grandpa had hand picked this exquisite Merlot. Especially coming from a family that really enjoys wine. Grandpa was a trained sommelier when he was still courting nana. Something about drinking grandpa’s pick made him feel like it’s a rite of passage and he’d only crack open a wine from the case on really special occasions. Grandpa engraved a plaque on the wooden wine case saying, “To my dearest grandson: Cheers to the brightest moments of life and love.” The last time he had this special Merlot was when he decided to toast his parent’s 25th year marriage anniversary. It was a big deal because his parents even renewed their wedding vows with the most sincere and earnest vows. Grandpa was still alive. He was so proud of them and it was just the most heartwarming wholesome little family gathering. It was that moment he had formalized that he wanted to have the love and respect that his parents have for each other.

She couldn’t help noticing his T-shirt, not because of the embarrassing pit stain from running through the airport, but his alma mater. She had gone to MIT too. He seems to be the same age and she wondered if she had seen him before. It dawned on her that she had definitely met him before from one of her ‘Agriculture and Technology’ classes. She recalled wondering if he had been cheating off of her because he would always take a seat behind her. She’s one of only 3 females and the brightest in the class. Although she was quiet, she was very determined and often engulfed in the subjects that she studied. One thing that fascinated her was learning about soils and how it impacted the world of viticulture, wine making.

She grew fond of good wine at the tender age of 15, when she spent a summer in Bordeaux, France, with her host family from her high school foreign exchange program. You see, it is common for young adults to drink wine at the dinner table. Not too much to get drunk, but just a petite glass to pair with a meal. She remembered the moment she had her first taste of wine. It tasted velvety and rich with hints of preserved sweet berry jam when the wine had hit her palette at the dinner table. She didn’t realize that she was tasting one of the best Merlot in the world.

Thinking back, she had meticulously compared food taken with and without the wine everyday throughout the month she stayed in France. Living with her host family opened a whole new world to her. By the time she returned to the states, she couldn’t figure out why wine was so different. Especially when she thought all wine would be the same. It was a rude awakening when she had a swig of her older sister’s wine cooler. Or even during communion at church with her family. Father Joseph gave her a look, but never called her out for taking the wine for “grown ups” instead of the kiddie grape juice from the less ornate chalice.

The thought of being in that class back at MIT excited her. She mustered up her courage. “Were you in that class when Jean Francois-Hamel gave his guest lecture?” She had calculated her risk of error to be 51% accurate and took the shot to ask. Now that she had studied his facial features, unless he has a biological brother, she was fairly confident, he’s the same guy. He paused, likely searching in his archives of ancient history. His reaction was alarmed and amused at the same time. “Wait, do I know you?!”, he asked with a grin. “That question is so specific, but why yes I was! He's that biochemical engineering guy that researched yeast. He’s a pure genius. I heard he put Pinot-Noir back on the map for American wine.” A light bulb went on in his head, “Ah! Now I remember. You’re the smart girl that I was intimidated by.”

“I can’t believe you remembered!”, she answered enthusiastically as she glazed over the intimidation part. She noted the awkward moment. “Uhhh...I mean I had NO idea that I intimidated you. I meant I’m in disbelief because you remembered that lecture. Wasn’t it great?” That was a nice save. She had always thought he was a slacker and never really paid attention in class. There’s one time she caught him with his hand shielding the side of his face looking down pretending to read. She knew he wasn’t because she heard his faint snore.

However, this time around, her perception of him changed. She’s really impressed with his up to date knowledge on Francois-Hamel’s work. He continues, “It was such a great lecture and the subject was right up my alley. In 2018, he finally figured out how to control the level of alcohol in wine with yeast.” Delighted, he showed that he is captivated and in awe with her being as interested in wine as he is. He wasn’t kidding when he called her pretty. It really was his first thought when he saw her on the plane and it just rolled off his tongue earlier. Now he hoped, he didn’t come off too ostentatious, or worse yet, a sleazy schmooze.

The bumpy plane finally settled and the seat belt sign turned off. Ding! “You are now free to move about the cabin.”, the flight attendant announced on the overhead speaker. She was curious and asked, “You almost missed your flight. What happened?” He chuckled and said, “You can blame it on a bottle of wine. Long story.” He unbuckled his seat belt. She felt bad that she was so stern earlier when he had accused her of being in the wrong seat. She offered an olive branch. “If you want. You don’t have to move to your assigned seat. I don’t mind the company.” She was having fun catching up on good old undergrad college days.

She’s gotten more serious as she got older. She couldn’t remember the last time, she would strike a conversation with a stranger, let alone a man that she found attractive. It was brazen for her. “So tell me about this wine! It’s a long plane ride. We’ve got time.” He goes on to describe the Merlot, getting her nostalgic about France. Then they proceeded with friendly banter about whether Merlot from Napa, California or Bordeaux, France is better. She felt liberated. Talking to this guy was easy. They were having such a great conversation, at one point, the lady with the toddler even kindly asked them to simmer down. They awkwardly froze, apologized, looked at each other and quietly laughed it off. He seemed kind and courteous to have kept the volume down afterwards. He was confident and convincing about his Merlot. It was refreshing to her that he is clear about what he wanted in life.

He looked down at his phone and realized how time seems to be fleeting while talking to her. He wondered why he had never asked this amazing girl out in college and was a little nervous on how to ask her out before this flight lands. Ding! “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Please return to your assigned seats and put away your electronic devices. Seat belts on and tray tables up. We are landing in Boston on time at 12:20pm. In just about 20 minutes. It is clear skies and sunny, but a little bumpy ahead with high winds.” Suddenly, the plane got really turbulent while everyone was getting back in their seats to buckle in. She was nervous and wished that she had taken an adult beverage when the cart came around earlier instead of an orange juice. She gripped on the armrests so tightly that her knuckles were white. He noticed how nervous she was and wanted to reassure her. On the next bump, he blurted out as a fight/flight response, “Would you like to go on a date with me?” Somehow she had heard “Would you like to trade seats with me!” It was the fastest “Yes!” anyone could respond to. He raised his arms and whisper-screamed, “She said yes!!!” She was confused and laughed along. As she got up to trade seats, their eyes met and their bodies were so close. It was electric! He planted the sweetest kiss on her! She grinned from ear to ear.

Well, that’s how he asked her out! They had their first date that evening at a cute little neighborhood restaurant in the South End, near Victorian Row. It was a warm evening and they sat outside under the starry lights surrounded by beautiful climbing hydrangeas. He had arranged for the waiter to bring his Merlot while they were having their meal. He knew that she was worth it and that grandpa would have loved her! She looked even more gorgeous under the evening light. As she took her first sip she gasped, “Wow! The wine....”

“Cheers!”