My resignation from Microsoft

In 1992, when I was 22 years old I moved out to Seattle to chase a dream, a job with Microsoft, and the past 12.5 years at this fabulous company have been a fantasy. Nowhere else have I met so many intelligent, passionate, driven, meticulous, dedicated and conscientious people. Nowhere else could I help build software that is used by hundreds of millions. However, best of all, this is where I met my wife!

On Friday, after 5 months on 'personal leave', I decided it was time for a change, so I officially tendered my resignation. Today I spent the afternoon cleaning out my office, and on Monday I will conduct my formal exit interview. It is frankly bittersweet, as I have nothing but good feelings for the people I worked with and for the company. Since announcing my decision on Friday, I have received dozens of thoughtful and disappointed notes from people who worked with me, for me or who just admired and respected my accomplishments from a distance. That said, I know it was time for me to move on, even if I don't know exactly where I am going.

And so on a quiet evening at home with my wife I opened what I hoped would be an enjoyable bottle to peacefully sip and contemplate the end of an important and thrilling chapter of my life.

• 1970 Château Léoville Barton 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  This was a bottle acquired from Garagiste 18 months ago. There was a bit of crusted wine on top of the cork which was wet pretty much to the top, but the fill was solid, just barely below base neck. Upon opening the wine was clearly sound with no off aromas. The initial aromatics were mute, but the palate was ripe with a somewhat tight, acidic finish. I decanted 2/3 of the bottle and went to work. The wine was at its best from 60-90 minutes after being opened with loads of cedar and currant fruit on the nose and a hint of bay leaf. On the palate this is totally resolved and ready to enjoy with loads of pure, sweet fruit and fantastically smooth mouthfeel. The wine shows its age on the finish with a bit of astringency and drying tannins. Still, this was a gorgeous, mature claret that was a joy to sip for 3+ hours. Well done!

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I guess now I need to keep myself even more busy with CellarTracker!