Festive Drinking 2023

[Justin K]

We have now settled into a pattern at Christmas with our house wines and Port. Starting off with 2018 Rathfinny (Sussex sparkling) and finishing with the always beautiful (the Catherine Deneuve of the Port world) and still deceptively youthful Taylor’s 1970 (Irish private bottling). What to have with Guinea Fowl and whiskey,honey,apricot,blackberry and apple jam glazed organic ham (highlight of the day)? My new found grape this year is Tannat so we had Bodega Garzon 2020 from Uruguay; delicious.

[rich_n]

Christmas Day drinking started off with cremant - Simpsons of Servian Blanc de Blancs, which is rather delightful and very good value - and a rose sparkling that I didn't love and forgot to note down. I provided some beer in the form of Verdant's People, Money, Space, Time, which for my money is the best sub-4% modern pale on the market. The port came somewhat later as I forgot to decant it before breakfast and anyone who has cracked a bottle of 2000 Warre recently will know it can take plenty of time to be ready. I should have decanted the night before, ideally. It was delicious and very much appreciated by everyone who tried it.

[winesecretary]

Up in Rutland now. Last night, with Leeson's finest hand raised pork pie, salad, and cheese we drank three reds - Domaine Ragot 1er Cru La Grande Berge 2015 (bursting with juicy fruit), Domaine Bouard Bonnefoy Chassagne Montrachet Vielle Vignes 2015 (a little more austere and earthy, as you'd expect), and a half of 2017 PJA Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert (nicely warming and with a bit of attractively sweaty saddle starting to appear). Lovely uncomplicated wines with a sense of place, with all three of us present wittering away about anything and everything for three hours, every drop enjoyed, and a completely clear head this morning after nine hours of solid kip.

Plus one glass for me of the Fonseca 1985 which has been sustaining me admirably throughout Christmas.

With lunch today, after a strenuous morning's clearing things up, a half of Caronne Ste Gemme 2016. Lovely cabernet fruit, once given twenty minutes in the glass to warm up from cellar temperature.

[winesecretary]

This evening, Jean-Marc Burgaud’s Morgon ‘Grand Cras’ 2019 which just sort of evaporated with the crudités. To come with the chicken curry, Thomas Haag’s Schloss Lieser Heldenstuck Trocken Riesling 2021.

[winesecretary]

@rich_n - I am now some way through a second case of halves of Warre 2000 just because you can pop and pour it and drink it on grounds of deliciousness even though it would be better with a few hours to breathe.

[MigSU]

I too have some of those halves of Warre's 2000, they're quite delicious!

[nac]

To accompany dinner (steak) later this evening have just decanted a bottle of Jim Barry "The Armagh" 1998. Immediately glorious. Must not start drinking it yet...

[winesecretary]

This evening dinner for 8 - of whom six are not serious port drinkers.

Alfred Gratien Millesime 2012 en magnum
Macon Aux Scelles Domaine Marcel Couturier 2021 x 2 with the celeriac remoulade and the York ham
Nuits St. Georges Domaine Audiffred 2016 x 2 with the chicken chasseur and Mediterranean roasted vegetables
PJA Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2010 en magnum with the cheese
A sole bottle of Sainsbury’s TTD 2003, to see if Alex’s positive note meets with general approval, with the chocolate cake

Tomorrow - washing up day!

[nac]

This evening dinner for 8 - of whom six are not serious port drinkers.

Alfred Gratien Millesime 2012 en magnum
Macon Aux Scelles Domaine Marcel Couturier 2021 x 2 with the celeriac remoulade and the York ham
Nuits St. Georges Domaine Audiffred 2016 x 2 with the chicken chasseur and Mediterranean roasted vegetables
PJA Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2010 en magnum with the cheese
A sole bottle of Sainsbury’s TTD 2003, to see if Alex’s positive note meets with general approval, with the chocolate cake

Tomorrow - washing up day!

Report required on Thalabert.

[winesecretary]

Needed its three hour decant. Very fine for a port drinker but very much a fruit and tannin balance wine. Old school? In bottle, ready. In magnum needs another 6 years.

[Alex Bridgeman]

This evening dinner for 8 - of whom six are not serious port drinkers.

Alfred Gratien Millesime 2012 en magnum
Macon Aux Scelles Domaine Marcel Couturier 2021 x 2 with the celeriac remoulade and the York ham
Nuits St. Georges Domaine Audiffred 2016 x 2 with the chicken chasseur and Mediterranean roasted vegetables
PJA Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2010 en magnum with the cheese
A sole bottle of Sainsbury’s TTD 2003, to see if Alex’s positive note meets with general approval, with the chocolate cake

Tomorrow - washing up day!

And how was the Sainsbury TtD 2003?

[nac]

This evening taking Musar 2002 and Rebello Valente 1970 to dinner with some friends (whose surname is Robertson, hence the RV).

[winesecretary]

The TtD 2003 (bottle 2 - bottle 1 was subtly corked) was a fairly full-throated wine in early maturity. I would say a touch below your Christmas bottle - perhaps 89 points on your scale. But it was bottle 12 of the evening (there having been some Georgian Quevri Saperavi red, a bottle of Domaine Vincent Perrin Bourgogne Rouge 2012, and a bottle of Distant Noises Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, in addition to the anticipated wines above) and may have suffered from a lack of attention. It all got drunk, unlike the cabernet sauvignon. The best wine of the evening was the truly glorious NSG, of which I am pleased to have another three bottles, although some guests quite reasonably said that they preferred the Rhone.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I am impressed that after 11 earlier bottles, your palates were still able to pick up a subtly corked bottle!

[Alex Bridgeman]

We’re seeing in the New Year with a load of leftovers plus a bottle of Penfold’s 1998 RWT.

Happy New Year!

IMG_5849.jpeg (36.95 KiB) Viewed 145086 times

[MigSU]

The wine in the decanter is a Warre 1980.
Looking forward to the Vesúvio DOC Douro, have had good times with it.

[Alex Bridgeman]

The wine in the decanter is a Warre 1980.
Looking forward to the Vesúvio DOC Douro, have had good times with it.

What’s the vintage of the Kopke VV?

[MigSU]

The wine in the decanter is a Warre 1980.
Looking forward to the Vesúvio DOC Douro, have had good times with it.

What’s the vintage of the Kopke VV?

2016

[winesecretary]

@Alex - being able to identify it is a genetic gift (or, Glenn would argue, disadvantage…)

This evening a 2003 Tesco Finest Chateauneuf du Pape that was both stewed and oxidised - oddly impressive to have both present in one. Smelled of prunes, tasted of copper pipes. Happily, I had expected it to be bad, and we have just finished a lovely lithe Nuits St Georges 1990 from Maison Champy. 13% and perfect tertiary drinking now.

[winesecretary]

@ nac, @ Alex - notes on the 1998s appreciated. Possibly the last vintage of Aussie wines before the alcohol got crazy?

[Andy Velebil]

Happy new years!

[Alex Bridgeman]

@ nac, @ Alex - notes on the 1998s appreciated. Possibly the last vintage of Aussie wines before the alcohol got crazy?

Posted in the "other wines" thread - but wasn't very impressed.14.5% alcohol.

[rich_n]

A little late but I shared a couple of bottles of the Quevedo "Oscar's Blend" with friends on New year's eve with a bottle of 2000 Graham to follow. Both options went down very well with my friends although I forgot to take notes of the Graham - other than briefly noting that it's delicious!

Another wine of note is a bottle of 2018 Vergelegen Cabernet-Sauvignon/Merlot that was recommended as a Lidl bargain by someone here that is really very good right now.