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As per last year thought it might be nice to have a conversation about what we’re all drinking (port and otherwise) over the festive period.

I’ll kick off with a very pleasant bottle of Kirwan 2002 last night. Drinking nicely now, but no need to rush to finish up.

Not sure what order these will be executed, but on death row we have-
Bride Valley Cremant
Bride Valley Brut reserve 2017
Morrison’s Best English Sparkling Grand Vintage 2010
Some undecided Riesling, Chablis and Pouilly Fume
Barolo 2014
Amarone 2015
Bride Valley Pinot Noir 2018
Chateau Musar Aana 2016
Chateau Musar 1998
Churchill’s 20YO tawny (hopefully)
Maynard’s 40YO Tawny
Graham’s 1980 VP
Undecided Sauternes

Now, if only there was more than just my dad and I able to drink some of that on Christmas Day... meaning it will put a bit of pressure on myself and Rosie to have all of that out of the way before reloading for a NYE celebration (for 2)! At least we have a turkey that would feed 10 people that will provide some accompaniment for a week or so in different guises.

Doggett wrote: ↑17:52 Sun 20 Dec 2020 ...a bit of pressure on myself and Rosie to have all of that out of the way before reloading...

Simon, I'm certain you will rise to the challenge!

With dinner this evening - Bonneau du Martray, Corton-Charlemagne 2004. Still excellent, but probably need to drink last two bottles within next 12 months.

Our holidays will feature two flights (a newer but much-loved family tradition):

Port flight - Cockburn Special Reserve, Noval Black, Cockburn LBV 2014, and a half of Pocas Junior 2015 VP
Scotch - Glenmorangie Original, Glenmorangie La Santa, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, Glenmorangie Nectar D'Oro

I'm hoping to convince my family members (or at least those in our very small gathering) to appreciate port more. With the illness and Pennsylvania's horrible liquor stores being what they are, we couldn't find any other reasonably priced VPs around.

On the port front I have lined up this year a Graham's '70 and a Fonseca '77.

At various times over the next week or so the following will likely be consumed...

Louis Barthelemy Brut Saphir 2010
Quentin Beaufort 2015
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Blanc 2013 Domaine de la Choupette
Xinamavro 1997, Markovitis
Touriga Vai Nua Fitapreta 2019
Chorey les Beaune 2015, Chapuis & Chapuis
Ridge Geyserville 2011
Lynch Bages 1970
Charmes Chambertin 2012 Domaine Odoul Coquard
Quarles Harris 1977
Warre 1983

Lucky for George there is a lockdown, or I might be loitering outside his house hoping for an invite to sample some of those bottles!

Contemplating them is indeed a cheery prospect, and some compensation for the sad fact that I have been working the dreaded 'extended hours' ((c) Mike) every day this month and will be doing so until close of business on the 23rd...

23/12/20 - Chateau Beaucastel CNDP 2005.
Still quite tannic (as evidenced by minimal sediment) but drinking nicely and stood up well to a rather lively Madras.

23/12/20 Xinamavro 1997, Markovitis - blind you might have thought it was a 1980s Pommard from an old school producer. Very funky. The curry served with it was rather more lightly spiced than a madras, but still quite 'warm'.

Selections for this evening and tomorrow made and recovered from cellar:

Xmas Eve
Dom Perignon 2000 (will hopefully pair nicely with monkfish) and opening a slightly leaky Taylor 77.

Xmas Day
A couple of glasses of Lustau East India to kick things off, then with dinner Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2008, Frederico Paternina Gran Reserva 1964, Groot Constantia “Grand Constance” 2003 (375ml) [a pre-kids holiday purchase direct from the winery], and maybe finish off the T77.

So... when I have left George’s dining room, I am heading to Neil’s for the paltry wine on offer. Next ?

Selections for this evening, after a little digging and thinking!

Magnum of Pol Roger NV
Domaine Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 2013 (hopefully will go well with the Lobster)
Chateau Musar 1997 (for non white drinkers)
Croft 1963

Christmas Day is looking likely to be the following,
Krug Grande Cuvee Brut
Mangnum of Domaine Alain Michelot Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Aux Champs Perdrix 2002
maybe a Claret of 2000 Langoa Barton (for the non Burgundy drinkers)
if there is any of the Croft 1963 left otherwise Graham's 1970.

Doggett wrote: ↑16:03 Thu 24 Dec 2020 So... when I have left George’s dining room, I am heading to Neil’s for the paltry wine on offer. Next ?

Simon, you're welcome to brave the Tier 4 Zombie Apocalypse.

Chez moi, we have among others, the following to consume:

Louis Roederer 2012
Domaine Roger Belland Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru 'Les Champs Gains 2015
Warre 1970
Taylor 1985
Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva 2011
Ruinart NV Rose
Noval 10YO
Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2019

nac wrote: ↑10:39 Thu 24 Dec 2020 23/12/20 - Chateau Beaucastel CNDP 2005.
Still quite tannic (as evidenced by minimal sediment) but drinking nicely and stood up well to a rather lively Madras.

Thanks for this note! I’m about to pull a case of 2005 Blanc out of storage,... doubt it will be primary...

Doggett wrote: ↑16:03 Thu 24 Dec 2020 So... when I have left George’s dining room, I am heading to Neil’s for the paltry wine on offer. Next ?

Spoken like a Doty Cup Champion!

Chris Doty wrote: ↑00:45 Fri 25 Dec 2020

Doggett wrote: ↑16:03 Thu 24 Dec 2020 So... when I have left George’s dining room, I am heading to Neil’s for the paltry wine on offer. Next ?

Spoken like a Doty Cup Champion!

Off to Harry’s for Boxing Day and then will see if I can sneak into NYC for some Figeac!

Fonseca 1985 opened and in progress for today.
Potentially a Dow 1977 to follow later in the week.

Taittinger 2013 too sweet and too young for my palate. Lynch Bages 1970 happily absolutely splendid, proper claret from the days when growers were unafraid to include green grapes in the press to give structure, for the 55 minutes it lasted from opening and decanting before, on the last mouthful, it called time on us.

Tignanello 2005 just de-cellared for this evening.

Simon i hope that you enjoyed the wine at Lunch today!

G&T pre lunch,
then the Clarets as we were having Beef
1978 - Cantenac Brown
2001 - Batailley
2002 - Batailley

a glass each of the G70 which was left. a new port need for later and tomorrow or maybe something a little different like Domaine La Tour Vieille Banyuls - 1989

Bahans Haut-Brion 1999 selected for dinner this evening (last bottle from an EP case of 12 - ).

Touriga Vai Nua Fitapreta 2019 - smells rather like a young Niepoort VP. Tastes unexpectedly more delicate than that nose would suggest. Delicious both with the Bradenham ham and salad, and with the cheeses and fruitcake that followed it.

A very pleasant bottle of Enrico Santini’s Montepergoli 2001 with dinner this evening, followed by a surprisingly good, low shoulder bottle of Mackenzie 1948 (tasting note to follow).v

Clos des Lambreys 2004 this evening.

Auxey Duresses 2015, Domaine Coche Dury tonight...

I missed this thread! Clearly drinking too much and not paying TPF enough attention.

Since Wokingham went into Tier 4 lockdown on 19th December, we've opened the following bottles which pale in comparison to the wines drunk by others who've already posted above:
19 Dec - Saint Armandus Eiswein 2004 (50cl) - an Aldi special from a few years ago
21 Dec - Feuerheerd 1963 - very pale, oxidised and tired
23 Dec - Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019 - I still like CBSB after falling out of love with them in the early noughties
23 Dec - Offley Boa Vista 1960 - the only bottle of this Port I have ever owned; probably the best Vintage Port I drank over the festive period
24 Dec - Torres Gran Coronas Mas la Plana 1982 - magnificent
24 Dec - Torres Gran Coronas Mas la Plana 1983 - cork failed, this was red vinegar used to clean the sink. Shame.
25 Dec - Fairmile Vineyard Classic Cuvee NV - from a vineyard just north of Henley, our second closest local vineyard
26 Dec - Graham 1966 - mid-shoulder and compromised but still enjoyable, just not as good as it should have been
26 Dec - Morrison's 10YO Tawny - like drinking liquid treacle tart
27 Dec - Graham 2015 LBV and you all read what I thought about it!
29 Dec - Blandy's 10YO Bual (50cl) - a delicious cellar defender

If it doesn't rain, we are having a bonfire a deux in the back garden to bid farewell to 2020 tomorrow night and will probably start with a magnum of Coates & Seely la Perfide 2011 and follow that with another bottle of Morrison's 10YO Tawny.

To conclude my festive drinking...

Last night, a bottle of Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2007 and two of the 67 Pall Mall lucky dip sample cases, which were fairly uninspiring apart from the 1964 Bodegas Brotons Culebron, Gran Reserva, Fondillon. Haven’t tried this style of wine before, but really interesting and worth searching out. 18.5% alcohol but not fortified.

Tonight with dinner, 1997 La Fleur Petrus.

Happy New Year! Last night, en aperitif Chorey les Beaune rouge, Domaine Chapuis & Chapuis 2015 (delicious) followed by Beaune 1er Cru Coucherias 2012 blanc, Domaine Rateau (slightly overawed by the cod with spiced lentils). Tonight, Champagne Quentin Beaufort 2015. It's a delight.