Thanksgiving 2020

[Peter Creasey]

Just the two of us for dinner (given Covid considerations). Pulled a nice one.

Ch Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape '89 -- One of the most difficult corks ever encountered. It was protruding slightly, the capsule was totally stuck to the bottle and the top of the cork, then the totally moist cork almost refused to be pulled...evidently one of the notoriously problematic '89 corks. Thank goodness for the Durand.

Regardless, the wine was pure elixir, just as expected. Little or no edge fade, bouquet with vitality, then excellent on the palate with all 13 grape varieties in nice balance, fruit perhaps with a bit of drying out, superb sampling of one of my all-time favorite wines (ranks right up there with the Haut Brion, also of the '89 vintage). As the reputation goes, even with problematic corks, this Beaucastel never fails to deliver the goods.

Nice pairing with brined and roasted turkey leg, sweet potato/green bean salad, and then transcendent pecan pie.

Very blessed indeed.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Pavel Tchichikov]

that does sound like a really nice pairing, particularly with the sweet potato and dark meat.

several of us here pulled a cork on the 89 a year ago, but weren't quite as lucky as you

 

[Peter Creasey]

Pavel, this bottle wasn't up to the standards of prior samplings, probably attributable to what caused the cork protrusion/issue. Even so, the wine was still a delight on this occasion.

I have heard of rare cases like yours where this wine was somewhat disappointing. Too bad yours wasn't up to par.

. . . . . Pete

 

[MLipton]

The ‘89 in my experience has been very uneven. Some bottles were wonderful whereas others had a major Brett bloom, to the point of near undrinkability.... and I say this as a very Brett-tolerant person.

Mark Lipton

 

[MarkS]

Had this YEARS (maybe a decade?) ago and at the time wasn't sure if age would be kinder to it. Glad it showed well for you!

 

[Jayson Cohen]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
that does sound like a really nice pairing, particularly with the sweet potato and dark meat.

several of us here pulled a cork on the 89 a year ago, but weren't quite as lucky as you

That was also my last taste of ‘89 Beaucastel. Decent but not a great bottle. I don’t think the quality of its (vinous) company that night helped.

 

[Pavel Tchichikov]

originally posted by Jayson Cohen:

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
that does sound like a really nice pairing, particularly with the sweet potato and dark meat.

several of us here pulled a cork on the 89 a year ago, but weren't quite as lucky as you

That was also my last taste of ‘89 Beaucastel. Decent but not a great bottle. I don’t think the quality of its (vinous) company that night helped.

I recall quite a bit of brett on that occasion, no?

 

[Jayson Cohen]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:

originally posted by Jayson Cohen:

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
that does sound like a really nice pairing, particularly with the sweet potato and dark meat.

several of us here pulled a cork on the 89 a year ago, but weren't quite as lucky as you

That was also my last taste of ‘89 Beaucastel. Decent but not a great bottle. I don’t think the quality of its (vinous) company that night helped.

I recall quite a bit of brett on that occasion, no?

A little horsey. Yeah.