It was 2008 when your relationship really began, second semester of junior year, after Melissa had returned from her time abroad and was running for Vice President. As you tell it, it was Kevin who took interest first, with Melissa playing hard to get. A well-timed bouquet of roses, just after Melissa’s election victory, finally turned the tides in Kevin’s favor.

Just as Kevin didn’t give up (that first time, or on the marriage, I’m assuming, if you’ve made it this far), neither do Sagrantino’s tannins. One plucky upstart deserves another, don’t you think? This fierce competitor from Central Italy is tough as nails when young, but 12 years on its side will have mellowed it out some, though it’ll still need food to show its best stuff.

This Umbrian beast classically features bold flavors of dark cherry, pipe tobacco, warm spices, resinous pine tar, anise and mocha, but winespeak doesn’t do it justice. There’s also something here that’s hard to describe, a unique, special, even majestic aspect that separates this wine from others.

Pair with: pasta with meat sauce, pork with herbs & juniper, short ribs