Merry Christmas, Disorderlies!

Happys and Merrys to all!

On the eve, Renardet-Fache Bugey-Cerdon with shrimp, salmon, and lobster.

On the day, Bisson 2011 Portofino "Vignaerta" (lemony and way tight, still waiting for the licorice note to appear) and Egon Muller 2007 Scharzhofberger Kabinett (lovely but narrow, wait 5 or 10 years for the next one) with a traditional baked ham, garlic mashed potatoes, maple-ginger squash, cranberry sauce, and then an English Pudding flamed in Grand Marnier, cinnamon ice cream, and egg nog.
 
Last night, 1970 Leoville Las Cases and 1999 Pommard "Noizons", Jean Garaudet with a boneless ribeye roast. The Leoville was great for about 30 min. and then started losing fruit. But oh boy, for that 30 min... The Pommard was starting to show a little complexity, but needs more cellaring time. Nice balance, but still pretty tightly wound.
 
More holiday schmecktiness:

2011 Vietti Barbera d'Asti Tre Vignes. First whiff begs you to dig right in. The fruit is great, too, and it drank well with pasta and marinara. There seems to be a solid dose of oak on the palate that is out of character with what I have heard about this wine. Day two, not so good - clunky and raisin-ated. I would drink this again, but I'd finish the bottle in one pass.

2009 Brittan Pinot Noir Basalt Block - bizarre nose, maybe VA, but not in the sense that I am acquainted with. On the palate it has great acidity and some beautiful fruit, but the wackiness in the aromatics held on until the first glass was empty. Schildknecht loved this. Me? Mouthfeel, palate components of cherries and tannin and aftertaste are wonderful, delicious even. The nose was problematic for about an hour. Previous bottle was not so cranky. Judgement withheld.

2009 Bachelet Bourgogne. Fuck yeah. How was this rated lower than the Brittan? It's just sexy as Eartha Kitt in 1967. In the D, they say "Gaht-dayum." Ever so slight note of oak on the nose, Meteor cherries, ahhh. Spicy, lithe; if this was a woman, I'd be writing bad checks. Ought to come with some Puerto Rican girls that's just dyin' to meet me. No idea how I'm going to let the rest of these get old.
 
Holiday wines sucked as usual served by a dysfunctional member of the family. But a business partner did give me a 2000 Krug as a gift, so for that I'm very thankful. Merry whatever to everybody.
 
originally posted by Ken Schramm:
2011 Vietti Barbera d'Asti Tre Vignes.
2009 Brittan Pinot Noir Basalt Block
2009 Bachelet Bourgogne.
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I know I'm supposed to like Vietti but I have a lot of trouble liking Vietti.

Never heard of Brittan.

Re the Bachelet... why are you looking at point scores? Bachelet Bourgogne is a good value and a good KIM for restaurant lists that are too pricey.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Re the Bachelet... why are you looking at point scores? Bachelet Bourgogne is a good value and a good KIM for restaurant lists that are too pricey.
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Really, it was yet another indictment of pointy-headedness. I still get the Advocate, and still look at what David has to say. I respect his judgment and just can't afford to taste as much as he has access to. After years of judging beer and mead, though, I have reached the conclusion that the only really valuable assessment is a head to head bubble sort. It cuts through the pointy-headedness very tellingly.

Brittan is Robert Brittan. Formerly Stags' Leap, also makes wine for Winderlea and Ayoub. Brittan is his own venture, and he has some good locations.
 
One that showed well for us was Maurice Ecard Savigny les Beaune Narbantons 1er Cru '00. Some of the 2000 Burgundies are turning out better than their ratings.

This one complemented nicely Grilled Salmon, Fruit Tamales, and Spinach Casserole...and then even worked okay with pecan pie for dessert.

. . . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds:
Goes with spamBecause we have 6 kids, mostly with partners, (and 8 grandkids) and none of them are all that interested in knowing much about wine, but most of whom like to drink it, we drink a lot of Edmunds St. John wines at Christmas, and this year, for lots of reasons, everyone wanted Bone-Jolly. For some of those reasons, we're completely sold out of the 2011, which I happen to think is the best we've ever put into bottle, and is a blast to drink. If that's spam... so be it. But damn, don't miss it. You'll be sorry.
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Speaking of which, I had the 2010 ESJ Rocks and Gravel yesterday with my couch surfing mixture of Boxing day football and Season 2 of Sons of Anarchy. It was a fantastic bottle Steve. It was nice seeing you the other day, thanks for stopping in the shop.
 
Christmas Day

We had 2007 Felsina Rancia, which I found as blocky as every young Rancia of the last half dozen vintages. I'm more of a fan of the Fontalloro from them. Or maybe, all I need is Montesecondo and Montervertine.

A bottle of 2003 Capellano Rupestris, however, was fantastic. Completely open and lovely to drink. I don't really think there is an upside for this wine and it can be an incredible value in real Barolo.
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds:
Goes with spamBecause we have 6 kids, mostly with partners, (and 8 grandkids) and none of them are all that interested in knowing much about wine, but most of whom like to drink it, we drink a lot of Edmunds St. John wines at Christmas, and this year, for lots of reasons, everyone wanted Bone-Jolly. For some of those reasons, we're completely sold out of the 2011, which I happen to think is the best we've ever put into bottle, and is a blast to drink. If that's spam... so be it. But damn, don't miss it. You'll be sorry.
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I found a few bottles of the 2011 Bone Jolly at a local store, the first time I've seen it around here. Recalling your comment, we opened one last night. From memory, I didn't get much aromatically, but enjoyed the combination of razor-like acidity with near-weightlessness on the palate, charming hints of grapey fruit at the back of the mouth, finishing with a light dusting of tannins, to assure you that this is a red wine. With time in the glass, the wine shook off its slight initial gassy funk, acquiring a tad more body and clarity. Very nice intro to ESJ's work.
 
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