We had a good friend over for Christmas Dinner, part of the Christmas exemption that was granted by our provincial government. The menu comprised of creamy egg noodle scallops, balsamic honey glazed roast duck, and grilled lamb chops.
NV Louis Roederer, Brut (12%) - As was the practice in our market some years ago, no disgorgement date, but I bought it about 7 or 8 years ago so quite a few years in bottle. The colour was dark enough to deceive the others into thinking it was a rose. Anyway, lots of fine, persistent bubbles, plenty of aged character, yeasty autolysis, and depth. Complex, perhaps Pinot dominant, very engaging and demanding of attention.
2017 Chateau Doisy-Daene, Grand Vin sec, Bordeaux (13%) - This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The nose was fragrant but pungently SB though the palate less so, with some fruit salad and herb notes. That led me to think it was a top Napa Valley SB. It was quite fine, elegantly cut, smart, and persistent. Very high quality. I would have preferred a bit of Semillon to temper the SB nose.
2012 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc, 'Oeil de Pedrix', Brugioni Vineyard, Sonoma Coast (12%) - I picked up a pair of theses a few years ago and this particular bottle has been in my wine fridge for over a year because I wanted to serve this to my friend who served me a Belle Gloss 'Los Alturas' Pinot Noir many years before. When nosing and tasting this wine my friend kept referring to a 'Three Sisters' wine. Finally I asked him what was this Three Sisters wine and he said it was no longer made but was a big-boned Pinot Noir Rose. I had to give it to him. With age this rose had a developed a dark salmon hue and a good amount of complex elements at the same time as exhibiting strawberry and herbal elements. This was indeed very fine, lots of palate presence, depth and freshness. It even stood up to the roast duck.
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc 2012.jpg
1989 Chateau de al Gardine, Chateauneuf-du-Pape (13.5%) - This wine continues to evolve at a slow pace. Having had it several times over the years it has yet to develop any tertiary elements. If anything it now has secondary elements while still somewhat firm. It was still a very fine match with both the roasted duck and lamb.
De La Gardine 1989.jpg
2002 Collazzi, Toscana (13.5%) - I had been thinking of opening a Bordeaux this Christmas but having served my friend a Bordeaux the last time he was over I opted for something different. This is a Super Tuscan and a wine of which he had a vertical. This is not supposed to be a good vintage in Tuscany but you wouldn't know it from this bottle. It had all the hallmarks of a super Tuscan and my friend said so. Like the CdP it had secondary characters but is not yet mature. Lovely with the lamb chops though.
Collazzi 2002.jpg
2011 Chateau Doisy-Vedrines, Sauterne (13.5%) - This was light gold in colour and the nose exuded .botrytis. I immediately guessed Sauterne. This was lovely, refined, elegant, complex, and long. I really like it. (This was a half bottle).
1994 Duff Gordon Vintage Port (20.5%) - This is an Osborne bottling and something that I picked up mainly on the reputation of the vintage. At this stage of the evening I don't recall much of the discussion but mature vintage port was mentioned, mainly because of its elegance if not depth. Not the greatest but
a point if you ask me.
After all this we stayed up and sampled a couple of single malts. We decided Boxing Day would be a dry day. Don't worry, we'll catch up in the ensuing days.
Merry Christmas everyone .......................... Mahmoud.
PS: I had label pictures of each bottle but can't seem to attach more than three so I chose the ones that people in Australia might not have seen.
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