shawntomwylie

I was sitting beside Tom Wylie’s wife as she told us that he was going to have
a triple bypass heart surgery. The doctor was doing an exploratory procedure
on Tom that day. They thought he might have a partial block in one of his
lower arteries, but it turned out to be worse.

Let me tell you a little about Tom. I have served him at Covino’s, the Italian
restaurant I’ve worked at for three years. The first time he came in, he
looked me in the eye as I talked to him and he treated me like a person. The
second time he came into the restaurant; he looked me in the eye, shook my
hand, and asked me how I was doing. Remember, I was the one who was
supposed to be serving him. Through the years our friendship grew through
wine, Italian food, and our love for the New York Yankees.

Only a week earlier, I had been sitting with Tom on the porch of his summer
home in Long Island, Maine gazing out at the ocean view, while sipping on a
glass of 2001 St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon. Tom’s family and I were
performing our nightly ritual of watching the moon rise over the ocean. This
was to be the last event on the final day of an amazing Fourth of July
weekend.

As I stood up to get a better view I began to realize that I had become a part
of this family. I looked over to the cove where Tom’s brother Jimmy had
taught me how to drive a four wheel A.T.V.. I was touching the screens on the
porch that I had helped Tom’s family install earlier that day. Then I walked
over to the steps where the family had there portrait taken for the year and
was told by the family that I should be in it. I walked into the house and over
to the dinning room table to refill my glass and stared at the table where I had
sat for all the family meals and that’s when it hit me, I had truly become a
part of this family.

Just then, I felt a hand pat me on the shoulder. “Are you having a good time
or what?” Tom smiled and said. I was having a great time!
I turned around and headed to the wet bar announcing to everyone, “time for
the port.” I had purchased a bottle of Old Benson Tawny Port from
Rosemount Estate at a local liquor store before we got to the Island. This was
the description of the port from Rosemount:

Old Benson Fine Old Tawny Port is an outstanding example of
this distinctly Australian style. By using traditional winemaking methods but
following Rosemount's philosophy of sourcing the best possible fruit from the
ideal region, subtle oak maturation and careful final blending, Rosemount
has been able to create a contemporary expression of this classic style.
This fine wine is named Old Benson in memory of and as a tribute to the
loyalty and devotion of Benson, who was Sandy Oatley's faithful dog for over
15 years.

I gathered Tom’s family together and I handed out a half dozen small glasses
full of the Port to raise for a toast. I dedicated that Rosemount Port to him
with these words: “Tom your are an amazing person. Your friendship means
the world to me. This weekend was filled with the love of family and that is
what you are all about. I am honored to be your friend and I dedicate this
bottle to you. “Here’s to you.” Then I raised my glass and toasted to Tom.
This was one of the finest ports I have ever had. The color was deep amber
with a slight red hue and the nose had a sweet vibrant fruity aroma with a
slightly earthy tone. The taste was a full-bodied with a variety of complex
flavors like raisin and spicy toffee undertones. It had a dry finish that almost
pushed the lips together as if your mouth was proclaiming it can’t taste
anything else now because it has had the best. The feeling of warmth just
trickled down my throat like sweet maple syrup. This port really made the
dedication special.

The next time I gave Tom a bottle of Old Benson Port was about two weeks
after his surgery and he was doing great. I pulled out the bottle and his eyes
twinkled as he grinned from ear to ear. I talked to him about what a wine
bottle dedication means. He was excited and couldn’t wait for the next
opportunity to open it.

My friend Tom has a zest for life. He loves his family and his friends. He also
loves his wine. I am honored to have dedicated this bottle of port to my friend,
Tom Wylie.