Festive Drinking

Anything to do with Port.
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nac
Fonseca 1980
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Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

In a spirit of promoting some festive conversation, wondered what members of the TPF family are planning to drink over the next few days?

To kick things off...

Tonight (Christmas Eve), having a Bordeaux theme - Blanc de Lynch Bages 2010 followed by Ducru Beaucaillou 1997.

Christmas Day - Starting with Lustau East India Solera (bit of a tradition), then Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 2004, Vega Sicilia Valbuena 1999, and finishing off with the all important Noval 1963.

At present undecided about Boxing Day.
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flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by flash_uk »

Started today with an R Prüm 2018 Solitär Riesling. Now sipping a Rioja.

Port for Christmas Day will be GC80 and TV67. Also a Dr Loosen 2017 Erdener Treppenhen Spätlese, Chateau Musar 2001 and a Rioja Gran Reserva.
akzy
Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by akzy »

I've got a Fonseca 85 (we've got some young kids who will be up early - great for a long decant) and a Royal Tokaji Birsalmás 93 for the big day. Haven't thought too much about the table wines, that's a problem for my parents.

As for now (Xmas eve), we're currently sipping on a Malvedos 06 and we had a Quinta de la Rosa 20 yo tawny earlier. Both of them, lovely stuff.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Vino Rosso u'Ranaci a Marinella e Riccardo 2014, Monaci della Terre Nere (made by Franck Cornelissen) with a pork pie for lunch today. Jolly good fun.

Supportive of Neil's Bordeaux theme this evening- Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 1995 with turbot. Just savouring the last mouthful of the wine now, rare a bottle of white lasts three hours between the two of us but this was sipping not gulping fare. Astonishingly alive still.

Both of these were wines I was given! But I bought the half bottle of Gould Campbell 1980 I decanted at 7pm and am now going to serve with the cheese...

Tomorrow: Monthelie Mons Helios 2009, Domaine Florent Garaudet, with venison. Dow 1980 with the cheese. C'est l'enfer.

Like others, Boxing Day has not yet been considered...
idj123
Morgan 1991
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by idj123 »

Around at some friends for lunch and I have been entrusted with the wine and Port. Nothing to OTT- a magnum of Rioja gran reserva 2005 followed by Ck70 and a 40yr Pocas tawny.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

I delight in the fact that 'nothing too OTT' in TPF-world consists of a fine 49-year old VP and a 40-year old tawny...

The abovementioned demi of '80 GC was delightfully figgy and ready to go but no particular hurry. I am just embarking on the Dow '80 which ( not news to any here but this is the first time I have opened a bottle from this OWC for home consumption) is absurdly young by comparison, literally aging at half-speed. 90% opaque. Lots of mint on the nose, massive weight of tannic red fruit on the palate, long peppery finish. A pleasure to drink, but in only earliest maturity, and that barely. Needs another 20-40 years.
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DRT
Fonseca 1966
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by DRT »

A wonderful, traditional turkey dinner prepared by my mother-in-law accompanied by Coates & Seely Brut Reserve, Ch. Haut-Batailley 2013 and a fabulous bottle of Dow 1960.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

We've been somewhat restrained, which is quite normal for us. A bottle of Coates & Seely NV Brut was opened at the weekend and finished on Tuesday evening, followed by a little Graham 1977. The Graham 1977 was further consumed (but not finished) on Christmas Day, accompanied by a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino (2014 from Oribitali), brought by a guest and copious amounts of Bailey's. I concentrated on the G77.

Today, so far, has been dry but will probably see the Graham 1977 decanter being emptied plus whatever others decide to drink. There also appears to be an opened and partially emptied bottle of Altano Branco in the fridge.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

There are some gems being consumed here! Apart from the ports, a tasting note on the Bonneau du Martray, please... this evening chez winesecretary is featuring a Beronia 1996 Rioja Riserva, which is a little more woody than perfection would require, but went adequately with the partridge. The rest of the Dow '80 will follow with the cheese, and I strongly suspect it will be better.
Christopher
Niepoort LBV
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by Christopher »

We turned out to be less constrained than expected
Coates and Seely NV Brut Magnum for after church
Then after lunch a Graham 1966 and an Unknown port that turned out to be Martinez 1908.
The Graham was really young more like an 85, needed more air.
The Martinez was a leaking bottle mid shoulder , just purchased at auction so thought might as well have it for Christmas. It was wonderful, still rich in colour most of the fruit had gone but not all, it really was first class for a port of that age and a great way to celebrate the last Christmas of the decade.
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nac
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

Burgundy on Boxing Day.
Laroze de Drouhin Bourgogne Chardonnay 2012
Maison Roche de Bellene Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2016
Domaine de la Vougeraie "Terres de Famille" Pinot Noir 2006
Nicolas Potel Gevrey-Chambertin 2006
...and finished up the N63

In response to George, the Bonneau du Martray now fully mature and definitely ready to drink. Lots of nice tropical fruit. Not as good as a recent bottle of the 2002 which is still very fresh with plenty of time left.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I've just rescued a bottle of Rust & Vrede Estate Wine 2004 from off-site storage. That will be tonight's wine since the G77 has been finished.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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RonnieRoots
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by RonnieRoots »

I thought it would be fun to see how some of the smaller producer's ports were doing at around 20 years of age, so that was the theme for Christmas ports. At two occasions, we drank:
- Quinta do Javali 2001 LBV
- Quinta do Vale D. Maria 1999
- Kopke 2000
- Quinta do Crasto 2000 (from half bottle and badly corked)

Both the Javali and Vale D. Maria were fully mature and showing lovely, the Kopke is still a bit chunky, but I wouldn't hold very long term.

Other wines included Niepoort Conciso Dao, VIncent Paris Granit 30 Cornas, Ca del Baio Vallegrande Barbaresco, Montez Cuvee du Papy Saint-Joseph and Baumard Quarts de Chaume (2005 and still youthful). Nothing too exuberant, but all drinking very nicely.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

@nac: thanks for the note on the 04 C-C. I am interested and impressed to know the 02 C-C is also still going strong. But, you are right, it's probably the best white wine vintage of the millennium so far, so...
@ronnieroots: that Granit 30 is a gem, isn't it? Great rapport qualite/prix

Last night: Beaune 1er Cru Les Reversees 2010, Domaine Jean-Claude Rateau, with some beef stew. Unfashionable vineyard producer and vintage but fine wine and a fine pairing. Needed, and got, a five hour decant. I do love the nose on beaune reds.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Tonight: Red Newt Cellars Dry Riesling 2015 from the Finger Lakes. Splendid with a chicken biryani, as rather more going on than its Rhine equivalent. The bottle of Seneca Shores NV Tawny (actually, a blend of 05, 09 and 14, from memory) that I acquired on the same visit to the US I will however save for a future blind guessing event. The owner suggested I should leave it for as long as I felt able...
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nac
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

After a few relatively wine-free days, service resumes later today with some Musar loving friends coming for dinner. As such, the following have been pulled from the cellar in readiness:
1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires
1989 Chateau Musar White
1989 Chateau Musar Red (the "standard" cabernet sauvignon, cinsault, carignan blend)
1989 Chateau Musar Carignan
1970 Croft
PhilW
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by PhilW »

nac wrote: 05:02 Mon 30 Dec 2019 After a few relatively wine-free days, service resumes later today with some Musar loving friends coming for dinner. As such, the following have been pulled from the cellar in readiness:
1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires
1989 Chateau Musar White
1989 Chateau Musar Red (the "standard" cabernet sauvignon, cinsault, carignan blend)
1989 Chateau Musar Carignan
1970 Croft
That sounds like a fine line-up.
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RonnieRoots
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by RonnieRoots »

winesecretary wrote: 12:01 Sun 29 Dec 2019 @ronnieroots: that Granit 30 is a gem, isn't it? Great rapport qualite/prix
It sure is. I love the Granit 60 as well, but can't beat the 30 for the price.
PhilW
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by PhilW »

Xmas eve/day we had a Croft '55 (following our tradition of a vintage Croft at Christmas) plus a good Riesling and a lovely Crement de Loire.

Have just taken out a Rebello Valente '63 for new year, along with a Pol Roger NV brut.
Andy Velebil
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by Andy Velebil »

So far during holidays I’ve opened a 40 Yr Quevedo Tawny and a 20 Yr Ramos Pinto Tawny and a bunch of dry wines.
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nac
Fonseca 1980
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

Guests at the Musar dinner brought along 1/3 bottle of 2013 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos and a 1/2 of 2015 Disznoko 5 Puttonyos to have with dessert. Both excellent but the Disznoko came out slightly ahead.

The Croft 70 with the cheese was superb (following 6 hour decant) but I was unable to make any sensible notes by that point.
Will W.
Taylor’s LBV
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Re: Festive Drinking

Post by Will W. »

I schlepped a 1966 Kopke colheita along with a 1936 garrafeira particular - the only 1936 that I have ever been able to find - to the New World, these being the birth years of my sister and mother. The '66 was superb, as ever; the '36, which I had likewise tasted in the past, had assuredly been in the bottle for some time and was correspondingly a touch light in acidity. At the risk of exposing myself to a charge of sacrilege, I shall confess to having added a mere hint of the '66 to each glass of the '36, which rendered the latter rather nice without creating the impression that any of the '66 was being wasted.

For supper on New Year's Day encompassing a handful of friends - a family tradition - back on this side of the pond, I have pulled a 1960 Burmester VP, 1970 Graham's VP and a 1951 Krohn colheita from the cellar, additional to a range of Portuguese still wines. I have yet to try any of these, so one is hopeful that the guests, and indeed I, shall find one or more of them to be agreeable.
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