Last night we had our close friends over for a small holiday dinner. I never take notes during these gathering so these are from memory and some quick thoughts on the wines. The evening was more focused around friendship and the food.
White Starters
2011 Soliste Chardonnay L’Age D’Or- one of our friends brought this who went on our Napa trip this year. This went quick and I only got a small sip. It’s bright and balanced with notes of citrus and stone. It’s in a nice spot and would have loved to have followed this longer. Very good.
2012 Forman Chardonnay- I love Ric’s cab’s and usually post on those but I have to say his chard rocks ! These arrived this week so was hoping travel shock would not be an issue. This is just a terrific chard that is all finesse and leads with slate and peach interwoven with great mouth feel. It has impeccable balance. These see very little oak and don’t go through Malo. It’s also a screaming buy at $40. If you prefer your Cali Chard more Chablis like get some. If you love Ric’s Cab’s but never tried the Chard, get some ! Excellent
On to the Reds
2012 Domaine Collotte Marsannay En Combereau- I bit on my local retailers(B-21) offer for real Burgundy value. I’m not sure I’ve ever had anything from Marsannay and I know I’ve never had anything from the producer. I opened this about 2 hours before we started and first taste was all mineral and iron rounded out with nice cherry and just plain pinot purity. Hmm, not bad at all for $30. After 2 hours though this picked up weight, depth and a velvet finish. This might be my QPR find of the year. Very good.
2006 Detert Cab Franc- A prior thread on the history of the Detert land and family had me itching to find a bottle and give it a whirl. I would have loved to have had this with the Osso Bucco we had for dinner. This had the best nose of the night with wonderful currant and dark cherry. It followed up with dark fruit notes of plum and black cherry with a touch of tobacco/herbs on the finish. If I had tasted blind I might have thought old vine zin with age. Terrific balance and just a great bottle of wine. Everyone who tried it went “ what is this ?” Count me as a convert and fan.
2012 Blankiet Prince of Hearts- I’ve wanted to open these since receiving this week if for no reason to get a read on the upcoming release of the Rive Droite and Prop Red. I figured this would need some time so opened about 5 hours early. Initially this had a very floral nose intermixed with dark fruit. On the palate though it was somewhat tight and unyielding. I did a double decant and left it alone. Time did the trick as this opened up very nicely and showed layers of dark red fruit intermixed with some slight mineral and anise notes. It has wonderful balance and elegance. Denis Malbec is doing a great job with this estate and this is a beautiful wine for those that love California on the more subtle side. It’s as good as many first wines in this price point. Very good and has the potential to reach Excellent for me. Leave these for 3-5 years or open with plenty of air.
2005 Hartwell Estate Cabernet, Stags Leap- Well this is a tough compare for me after the Blankiet. This wine seemed huge and a bit one dimensional. Still very young and decanting didn’t seem to help it round into form. Deep and dark with cassis and rich fruit. It came off a bit burly to me. My internal note on the last bottle said have with a Rib eye which I think would have helped cut through the wine a bit. For me just a bit too much and not a fair compare after the elegance of the Blankiet but several of my friends loved it. Very good. If you have this decant and strain for sediment. 3rd bottle of 3 that has thrown off a bunch of sediment.
2001 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Barbaresco Vecchie Vigne Sorì Paitin- Yikes that’s a mouthful. I wanted some Nebbilio for the Osso bucco. Purchased secondhand the bottle and wine were in fine shape. Notes of black cherry along with iron and soy. Tannins were a bit harsh and air helped but not a tremendous amount of depth. Was solid with dinner but didn’t overly impress. Good
Still at the dinner table and cries for more wine. Hmm, what is going to be great from pnp and have some substance for folks to even notice
2012 Rudius Napa Cabernet- I was really surprised when we tasted with Jeff and Brittany in October how well these were drinking so was hoping these wouldn’t have any travel shock. Just delicious pure Napa Cabernet from pnp. Big and bold but unlike the Hartwell nice balance and just more going on for me. I think this is mostly from the Larkmead Vineyard. Very good.
The 12 went fast and cries for more Rudius were met with
2009 Rudius Napa Cabernet- as good as the 12 was this was better. I’m a big fan of the Panek and have loved the 09 and glad to see how the Napa has evolved with some time. This was lively and bursting with layers of dark blue fruit intermixed with some chocolate notes. Oak and tannins have really integrated nicely. Lots of energy and freshness. This also went quickly as I would have loved to follow this with some time. Pure Cabernet goodness, Excellent and WOTN for me !
I had opened the 2001 Giraurd early to have with some Duck Liver mousse and had hoped it was better than the last bottle. Like before it came off old and tired. One dimensional with no acid and a clipped finish. Nothing special about this and a disappointment.
We finished with a mix of bourbon, rye and cigars on the back patio. I make a pretty good Old Fashion and the Montecristo was fine as well. I love nights like these and am thankful for great friends to share them with.
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Fred