Xmas wines and Happy Holidays to everyone

[sjw_11]

I just noticed we did not have any Xmas wine or Wine of the year threads... although I saw a few people posted in the WAYDN thread.

I hope everyone had an amazing christmas and has a happy new year... Let us know what you cooked up and which wines you chose
(I gather back in Oz the heat is pretty bad so that might be why people are drinking more beer and less red wine! )

[Waiters Friend]

G'day Sam

Perhaps many people had a relatively quiet Christmas wine wise (as I did). For me, NYE is the big one. I am hosting a small dinner party at my place, and 2012 BdB champagne, 12 y.o. dessert wines and a host of other wines are already in the fridge or otherwise extracted from the cellar. At least 12 wines, for 6 courses, and that's not including what my guests are bringing. Not all of my wines may be opened, but that's where the more interesting wines will be - or at least more interesting than Christmas

Have a top NYE and I hope 2023 is a wonderful year for all Forumites. I also look forwaard to hearing about what special wines you might be opening for NYE.

Cheers
Allan

[Ian S]

Indeed, hope everyone is enjoying / has enjoyed a few days rest, and had some good wines. For us, a 2016 Travaglini Gattinara was understandably somewhat tight. I should have known better, but got it into my mind that Travaglini can be on the more approachable end of the scale, and this being the std bottling... Enjoyable, but probably needs 5-10 years more in the cellar, and should go a lot longer than that. We had a Roast leg of Lamb with roast spuds, roast parsnips, broccoli and carrots on the day, and yesterday make up a broth with barley, risotto rice and spelt (from a handy Italian dry pack) along with some of the meat and the bone. A few herbs and a little veggie stock rounded out the flavours. We got a walk in on xmas morning, and it was a surprisingly moderate ~ 10c early to mid morning. The downside was no snow, but that's pretty rare these days.

More successful, and probably just where you'd want it to be in terms of evolution, was a 2013 Belisario Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva Cambrugiano, and blind it could easily have caught people out into thinking it was a good riesling, with perhaps only some faint (and pleasant) pithiness a clue the grape was a different one. Also notable how whilst the initial entry was a little low key, once the acidity kicked in, there was very much a 'peacock's tail' effect as the flavours emerged strongly and continued onto the finish.

[Waiters Friend]

Indeed, hope everyone is enjoying / has enjoyed a few days rest, and had some good wines. For us, a 2016 Travaglini Gattinara was understandably somewhat tight. I should have known better, but got it into my mind that Travaglini can be on the more approachable end of the scale, and this being the std bottling... Enjoyable, but probably needs 5-10 years more in the cellar, and should go a lot longer than that.

More successful, and probably just where you'd want it to be in terms of evolution, was a 2013 Belisario Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva Cambrugiano, and blind it could easily have caught people out into thinking it was a good riesling, with perhaps only some faint (and pleasant) pithiness a clue the grape was a different one. Also notable how whilst the initial entry was a little low key, once the acidity kicked in, there was very much a 'peacock's tail' effect as the flavours emerged strongly and continued onto the finish.

Happy NY Ian - and good to see you're still getting into the Italians. I know one of the wines I will look at tomorrow night is a 1985 Pio Cesare Barolo (not mine, one of my guests). I will be back in Tuscany in September 2023, and laerning more about Italian wines generally.

[Ian S]

Ooh - if on song, that could very much be a treat!

I have only one Pio Cesare in the cellar, a 1974 Barbera d'Alba. Now logically it's daft to have a Barbera that old and to hope it's anything but shot. However on finding it in the cellar of a wine shop in Torino, the colour looked remarkably healthy. I really do need to open it soon though.

Whereabouts in Tuscany? We've stayed in Montepulciano, Siena and Pisa. The first one very enjoyable (and I love the wines), the 2nd somewhat disappointed us, whilst the 3rd is a bizarre combo of over-touristed scumminess and under the radar gem!

[Dragzworthy]

Ooh - if on song, that could very much be a treat!

I have only one Pio Cesare in the cellar, a 1974 Barbera d'Alba. Now logically it's daft to have a Barbera that old and to hope it's anything but shot. However on finding it in the cellar of a wine shop in Torino, the colour looked remarkably healthy. I really do need to open it soon though.

Whereabouts in Tuscany? We've stayed in Montepulciano, Siena and Pisa. The first one very enjoyable (and I love the wines), the 2nd somewhat disappointed us, whilst the 3rd is a bizarre combo of over-touristed scumminess and under the radar gem!

Just returned from 3 weeks in Italy myself. Spent the first week touring the southern part of Toscana from a base just outside Montepulciano. The second week was in Florence and did some days trips to Northern Toscana. The last week was in Rome and comparatively less interesting with poorer (still good , just in relativity) food and much more crowded sites despite it being winter (low) season.

Having stayed in Chianti (Castellina) as well as San Gimignanona locale last trip, I think Montepulciano was perhaps a bit better , at least for wine touring... The exception being a bit far to Bolgheri/Maremma.

[Ian S]

Yes Montepulciano is wonderfully compact for touring the (rare for Italy) walk-in tasting rooms, though even here, booking in advance seemed to get good respect. Plus plenty to visit outside of the walls as well.

I've never been to Rome or Florence, which may sound odd given how often I've been to Italy, but I'm very much a lover of the ordinary culture, and less so the famous landmarks, and I do really hate the impact of mass tourism. That's not to say I won't go to a tourist site, but it's likely to be a case of going early, then getting a goodly distance away before contemplating going to a bar/cafe or something to eat. All too often the stuff immediately surrounding a major tourist attraction is appallingly overpriced AND appallingly bad. I rather like the advice someone gave for Venice "Get Lost". No not an insult, but head away from the crowds, and once they're out of sight, better places will turn up.

Not specifically for wine, but we rather liked Colle val d'Elsa, which we took a bus to from Siena. Just that little bit less tourism, plus we found a great little place for lunch with some tasty wild mushrooms on the menu, and that always helps the place feel good. I say not specifically for wine, as it's a major centre of glass production, so I'm sure has stuff that would appeal to us lot.

[mjs]

Had a few friends over mid week between Xmas and NY, perfect opportunity open
2002 Katnook Cabernet in Double Magnum - was in excellent nick

Other miscellaneous wines over the last week or so have included
2008 Wynns John Riddoch - excellent
1998 Penfolds Bin 389 - ok but had a minor fault
2010 Redman The Redman - couple of bottles, good drinking now
2004 Leoville Barton - easy drinking, very soft
2006 Katnook Prodigy Shiraz
2012 Mildara Cabernet (white label) - excellent, but could use some more time
2007 Romney Park Shiraz - very good
Various fizzes, including Mumm (magnum), Colin BdB, Taittinger, Lanson

best wishes to all for the festive season and for 2023, stay safe and drink good wine

[phillisc]

Thanks for the note on the Mildara Malcolm. Remember on this forum at the time of release, Gavin suggested it will be a cracker. Purchased 18 bottles??!!.
Was it the last one produced?
Cheers Craig

[Alex F]

Pokolbin Estate Reserve Shiraz 2007 – In the zone. Generous. Oak evident. Earth. Leather. Charred cherries. Still tannic. Delicious. Should continue aging effortlessly. 92

Paul Bara Special Club 2014 – Is it the 2014 vintage or the house style? Has definite similarities with the 2014 grand millesime, more density and intensity – very fruit rich and sweet. Autolytic. Very long. Nice, but not the tight, racy, champagne I am looking for. 92.

Best’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 – Varietally correct, leafy, blackcurranty, cabernet style. Light easy drinking. Not much intensity or finish. Increasingly I think that Best’s wines are overpriced. 88.

Anderson Sparkling Shiraz 2013 (magnum) – The chosen Xmas sparkling red. Every year, in late November, disgorged on order, thus this was on lees till a couple of weeks prior to the cork being popped. “Recommend drinking within 12 months to preserve creamy character”. Certainly very creamy in texture, with good complexity, however, a touch too sweet. Well priced. Perhaps I can ask for my next bottles with lower dosage.90.

Lindemans Classic Z295 Muscat – From the 2000 release, this bottle had a fill well into the neck. A remarkable marked 17.5% alcohol for something with 25 years average age. Spice and floral characteristics, almost as if it has developed (positively) in bottle. Super intense, has everything you could want from a muscat. Dances very lightly on its feet. Ethereal. Even with the slight drop of intensity at the very long finish this is easily one of the best fortifieds I have tried. 98.

Croser Late Disgorged 2005 – How many bottles must they have made!? I last had this in 2019 where I raved about it for the price paid ($35)… this one was disgorged in August 2022 after 16 years on lees, my bottle one of about 2500 released. Does not really have the acidity to carry the aged flavours, which are muted. Has complexity and fairly good length. If my bottle is representative I think this lineage is in decline, although, you can’t complain about the price at $30 a bottle. 90.

Guiraud 2010 – Wonderful Sauternes of an amber colour. Longest cork I have seen for a while, although, there is about 2cm of wine seeping up the side of it! On opening, cumquat and bitter rind flavours which seem to recede with some airing. Superb, luscious, velvety oak treatment. Some spicy (alcoholic?) lift at the back end. Very balanced with an appropriate amount of acidity. An intense, fruity wine, without being a fruit bomb like Australian examples. 95.

Dom des Monts Luisants “Les Monts Luisants” Moris St Denis 1er Cru 2011 – Dirty red colour. Like blood. Beguiling nose: mushroom, autumn leaves, ferrous. Cherry like taste. Good acidity with very fine tannins still present. Drops off slightly at the end. I very much like it. 93.

[cuttlefish]

Nice notes, Alex!

[Mike Hawkins]

Alex, based on your Bara comments, you might be better served looking at BdBs from areas like Le Mesnil.