Belltramos – How I got a lot of wine
In the early years of my career, and at several points along the way, I negotiated some remarkably rewarding trade arrangements with clients. One of the most memorable was with a renowned wine shop in Menlo Park: Belltramos. This respected establishment had been serving connoisseurs since 1882, founded by Italian immigrant Giovanni Beltramo.
The team there possessed an extraordinary depth of knowledge. They catered to a discerning clientele and offered some of the finest wines in the world. At the time, the shop owed me about $4,000. An amount I assumed would go quite far. As it turned out, not quite as far as I had imagined when you are getting expensive wine.
They assigned a specialist to guide my selections. A professional who was both a sommelier and an oenologist. In short, I was in very capable hands.
Among my choices was a case of Sauternes. A rare, elegant, and beautifully sweet dessert wine. I still have one bottle left, patiently waiting for the right occasion to share it. He also helped me select the perfect bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne, which I had intended to save for the millennium celebration. Unfortunately, my ex-wife had other plans. There are, as you might guess, reasons she is now my ex.
There were also several exceptional red wines from around the world. Each one memorable in its own right. But the most intriguing recommendation was a case of Chardonnay, accompanied by very specific instructions: do not open it for 20 years. Twenty years!
I remember asking, “Are you absolutely sure about that?”
His answer was unwavering: “Yes. Twenty years.”
Since I had more than enough wine to enjoy in the meantime, I decided to trust his expertise. And so, I waited.
When I finally opened the first bottle two decades later, it was extraordinary, the finest Chardonnay I had ever tasted. It was a classic expression of the varietal: slightly rich in texture, with a subtle buttery note and just a hint of sweetness. It bore no resemblance to the lighter, often overly sweet Chardonnays so common today.
To this day, I find myself wondering: how did he know? How could anyone predict that 20 years would be the perfect moment? That kind of aging goes well beyond the typical life expectancy of a white wine. And yet, somehow, he was exactly right. I can’t explain it. All I know is that the wine was exceptional.
What I did learn, however, is this: when a true oenologist tells you to wait 20 years, you wait 20 years. It will be worth it.
Sadly, I no longer have any of that particular wine left to share. So, if you’re a friend hoping to join me for a taste, you’re about two decades too late. That said, I do still have a few other remarkable bottles tucked away. And truth be told, since the stroke, I don’t drink much these days anyway.
