For a fun topic, I thought I would kick this off. I am having The Mira Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 from Uva Mira.
By the way, Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas everyone as well!
We had the 2015 Las Gravas cuvée from Casa Castillo in Jumilla. Today we had a 2015 Saint-Aubin from Henri Boillot and for tomorrow the 2013 Grotte Alte from Occhipinti planned as our wine alongside our meal.
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2014 Liger-Belair Moulin a Vent. Needed 3 hours in decanter. Very fine tannins and very Burgundian in style. Also had a bottle of Aurelien Suenan Champagne. The Oiry Grand Cru blanc de Blanc.
For once I only worked in the morning rather than the evening, so could indulge in a late Xmas lunch…
Winbirri (Norfolk) vintage reserve brut 2014, Hauts de Perriere Pouilly-Fumé 2018 (grilled Norfolk oysters), Sobon Estate Amador county Rocky Top zinfandel 2017 (to go with Norfolk black turkey), Stanton & Killeen 12 year Rutherglen muscat (home made Xmas pud)
A bottle of Thalabert 1988 Crozes Hermitage for us - a lovely mature N Rhone - gentle wine, fully resolved, smoked bacon, a touch of black fruit and a watercress-like pepperiness.
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Blinis and smoked salmon etc with Fritz Haag 2011 Brauneburger Juffer Spatlese
Roast duck and nut roast with Brick House 2014 Les Dijonnais Pinot Noir
Happy Christmas all! We ended up having a 2008 Bernard Delagrange Volnay Clos du Village, which was very nice. Had a 1999 Ballandean Estate Granite Belt Sémillon on Christmas Eve that, somehow, was not over the hill and was still drinking nicely, despite questionable storage over the last couple of years.
Arnaud Ente Aligote 2013 to start. Sadly, this was an off bottle, the only time I have ever experienced it from this producer. Maybe I kept it too long?
Then Santenay 1er cru Clos des Mouches 2015, David Moreau. Good, not stellar (yet).
Over the course of several meals throughout the day, I enjoyed the following:
- Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV champagne (on top form from a half-bottle)
- Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2015 England (as good as ever)
- Smith & Sheth, Cru Heretaunga Albariño 2018 Hawkes Bay (the best of that variety I’ve tasted outside Spain/Portugal)
- Alain Graillot 2007 Crozes-Hermitage (perfect Syrah maturity on the nose, but perhaps a little thin on the palate - but that is to pick nits, it was tremendous)
… plus various unidentified glasses of NZ wine, including a sweet Riesling and a sweet Cabernet (both delicious) - we were staying in Auckland, I should add!
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Hope you all had a great Christmas.
We enjoyed through the day:
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV
Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain NV
2012 Domain William Fevre Chablis 1er Cru montmain
2015 chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly sept vignes
2015 Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir
All were delicious but the Kupe stood out.
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Veuve Clicquot yellow label with breakfast (OK, nice gift, prefer Bolly NV, but no complaints)
Alan Chavy , Puligny Monrachet, les Charmes, 2014 pre-dinner (nice)
With Dinner - Marc Sorrell, Hermitage Le Greal, 2011 (5 hour double decant) - (Very Nice / Lovely) and remains - 3/4 bottle -of Langoa Barton 2008 opened the night b4 (OK, but all preferred the Hermitage)…also had a go at ‘Hermitage-ing’ the Langoa Barton…think I was getting a bit silly by this point.
(honourable mention to a Arnoux-Lachaux, Vosne Romane, Les Charmes, 2011 drunk on boxing day with leftovers, that was very nice)
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Roederer Brut Premier NV
David and Nadia Grenache 2017 with the turkey
Ch Suduiraut 07 with dessert
The David and Nadia landed very well with the turkey, I think because in a long day of consumption it tasted fresh and not too potent. My only regret was not decanting earlier as the drop at the bottom of the decanter was still delicious at 10pm, which I hadn’t expected given it isn’t obviously structured.
Billecart Salmon 2006 Cuvee Nicholas Francois which was stunning, although a little young. Best bottle of the season so far. Famiglia Anselma 2013 Barolo with beef, which was also too young and lacked a bit of fireworks, but enjoyable all the same. Most 13s are a little young so should have known better
Wine on Christmas Day:
-
NV Taittinger Champagne Brut Réserve / La Française - France, Champagne (12/25/2019)
Enjoyed with a year of bottle age, which resulted in some nice creamy integration. Citrus to the fore, a pleasant mousse, no huge complexity but plenty to enjoy. (89 pts.) -
2006 Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru La Grande Récolte - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (12/25/2019)
Didn’t particularly enjoy this, finding it a bit young and austere. Astringent note of granny smith apple predominates, and although the wine opened up a bit after about half an hour, it still lacked the sense of generosity and celebration that one would hope for from a bottle of vintage Champagne opened on Christmas Day. (88 pts.) -
2010 Domaine Rossignol Trapet Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin (12/25/2019)
Really nice - lovely balance and poise, a nice depth of fruit, some spice on the midpalate and a pleasing grip that asserts itself to just the right extent. The kind of bottle that gets depleted quickly. (91 pts.) -
2011 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée (12/25/2019)
Served to accompany Christmas lunch, and perfect for the role - unflashy, good acidity, light to medium body and the suggestion of red fruit. Would be a bit disappointing if asked to take centre stage. I wonder if this is on the downslope and can’t decide how long to keep my other bottle - maybe til next Christmas?! (89 pts.) -
NV Graham Porto 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (12/25/2019)
Very drinkable, but not as fine as I had hoped, being a tad too sweet (which also meant it wasn’t a brilliant match with our cheeseboard). Underlying rancio is enjoyable but just made me wish I was drinking sherry instead. (89 pts.) -
2007 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance - South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia (12/25/2019)
This is so delicious. Heady nose of tropical fruit and skunk cannabis. Really unctuous and tactile. Packed with apricot, segueing into a bitter marmalade that persists for an incredibly long finish. Superb match for Christmas pudding, having just the right degree of perceived sweetness. (94 pts.)
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Sweet Cabernet - exciting style. Did you have it chilled?
Yes, it was served chilled with Christmas pud at the end of the meal, and it was very good!
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Cooking was done with Dr Loosen Erdener Prälat Auslese 2001 to hand (only two left, sadly).
Dinner was consumed with Château de Beaucastel 1996 (last bottle of 24, acquired en primeur - I still have one 1995 and two 1999s left).
Some hours later, Stichelton cheese was accompanied by Churchill’s Vintage Port 1985 (last bottle again).
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On Boxing Day we had the last bottle of my 1995 Clos des Papes. Definitely tired, and a bit blowsy (all 36 bottles somewhat that way inclined imo), but still interesting and enjoyable.
How fun - you all are making my mouth water.
I was visiting my parent’s house in a valley between the Rocky Mountains and Purcell Mountains in British Columbia, Canada. We always have 100km meals, this year with a turkey from my dad’s backyard (wild) and a wild goose that flew over the farm. Christmas wine choices are more about celebrating the local and avoiding tannins like the plague (my beloved brother in law can’t stand them.) So my wine choices were humble, and very much in line with the local nature of our feast.
Our cocktails were neat Marrow Vermouth, made in Penticton, BC. So very yummy!
To start the meal with spiced nuts, pate and crackers, some traditional method Blanc de Blanc from Bella, a lovely bubble house in Naramata, BC.
Then we opened a bottle of Asti with the butternut squash soup (not shown.) We just needed more bubbles.
For supper, some non-grape wines (gasp!) The Pumpkin was horrible-} not recommended. I had received it as a bit of a gag gift, and not even my father would drink it.
However, the Black Currant wine, made at 54* north in Prince George, BC, was delightful with the wild goose, wild blueberry/currant sauce, squash and brussel sprouts. No tannins, dry, fruity and delicious!
For desert, we had creme anglaise, with a pretty late harvest riesling from Fort Berens in Lillooet, BC, a unique winery perched high in the Coastal Mountains.
I thought my husband was taking pictures of the bottles, but apparently I’m grinning from behind each one. At least the festive attire is a nice touch.
Arnica
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Good comment on the Rancio in the Graham.