Non Festive Drinking

Anything but Port, this includes all wines other than fortified wines (which have their own section) even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
Forum rules
Anything but Port, this includes all non-Port fortified wines even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

I quite enjoy the annual Festive Drinking thread and the conversation that ensues. It’s quite interesting to see what non-Port bottles we’re opening. As such, thought it might be nice to have a more regular conversation outside of the “Port Conversations” page now that the Festive Period has properly ended.

To kick-off, this weekend I have enjoyed:

Pavilion Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2002
Dujac, Morley-Saint-Denis 2008

The Bordeaux was excellent, but unfortunately the last of three bottles I picked up many years ago for about £30 each. If you have any of this it’s drinking extremely well and probably at peak soon.

The Burgundy worked well with roast pork and was starting to show some nice development. No rush, but not going to last for ever.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Yes useful to pick up the highlights (and lowlights).

Grgich Napa Zinfandel 2004 - over the hill
Felettig 2013 Bourgogne Rouge 2013 - lovely classical CdN villages wine but towards end of drinking window
Pataille 2019 Aligote - delicious precise drinking. As a beverage better, frankly, than the much-prized lieu-dits.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I had a Rick Stein At Home meal with Mrs B Friday evening, a Christmas gift from our son. Slow cooked beef short rib was the main course.

To accompany the meal I opened one of the bottles of mature Spanish wines I acquired at auction around 2 years ago - this one being a bottle of Marks & Spencers Gran Calesa 1990 (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Merlot from Costers del Segre in Spain). I confess I was opening it with low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. It was a delicious, mature CS blend with a Spanish twist from the Tempranillo.

I apologise publicly to the M&S buying team for doubting their ability to find wines which had the structure and finesse to mature wonderfully over the course of 30 years in the cellar. <<doffs cap icon>>
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Highlights

Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Rougeotte 2005 Domaine Henri Boillot - absolutely cracking red-fruited bottle lovely nose and congruent palate, showing what Volnay can be but so rarely is
Bourgogne Aligote Clos du Roy 2019 Domaine Sylvain Pataille - for me the only one of the single vineyard wines that really transcends the straight aligote - it is really good.

Lowlights

Monthelie Rouge 2015 Domaine Roulot - more closed than a closed thing. Closed closed closed closed closed. Come back in 10 years if you have any. Alas, it was my only bottle.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

Only one bottle of note over the weekend - a 2007 Le Macchiole "Paleo". Drinking rather well now but no rush to finish up.
User avatar
Doggett
Morgan 1991
Posts: 1188
Joined: 17:40 Sun 20 Sep 2015
Location: Weymouth
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by Doggett »

A Swartland Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2029 which is from Waitrose at just under a tenner and a very pleasant everyday white. Fresh and fruity but still dry with some stone fruit, grapefruit and lime. Nice rounded texture and very moreish with a chicken risotto.

EDIT. This was actually the 2020 vintage.
Last edited by Doggett on 19:18 Wed 19 Jan 2022, edited 1 time in total.
CPR 1
Graham’s Malvedos 1996
Posts: 786
Joined: 16:18 Mon 22 Apr 2013

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by CPR 1 »

Doggett wrote: 17:08 Tue 18 Jan 2022 A Swartland Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2029 which is from Waitrose at just under a tenner and a very pleasant everyday white. Fresh and fruity but still dry with some stone fruit, grapefruit and lime. Nice rounded texture and very moreish with a chicken risotto.
That is an unusual wine, is time travel included in the price?
MigSU
Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
Posts: 634
Joined: 13:22 Wed 17 Feb 2021
Location: Douro Valley

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by MigSU »

:lol:
User avatar
Doggett
Morgan 1991
Posts: 1188
Joined: 17:40 Sun 20 Sep 2015
Location: Weymouth
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by Doggett »

It was the 2020 but I did indeed time travel and get a future label put on it. 😳
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

1979 Camarate, Jose Maria da Fonseca. Nose attractive, notes of tar, tea, and rose, but currently less interesting on the palate, somewhat past its best (about 25 years) and a bit watery. I am not sure I am going to persevere.

21/1/122

EDIT 22/1/22 - I did not persevere. It was dead. The Eau Forte 2019 from Jean-Claude Lapalu was, however, happily alive, and the second half of it is going down very nicely this evening.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Mazilly Pere et Fils 1998 Volnay Les Blanches. Unexciting.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

Saturday: Bonneau du Martray, Corton Charlemagne 2009 - very fresh, not at all developed, excellent with sea bass.

Sunday: Jacques Cacheaux, Echezeaux 2002 - nicely mature but no rush to finish up, worked well with roast chicken.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

@ nac - Gosh, they sound nice. When 2009 is 'on' it can be a lovely white wine vintage. But most of my forays into the white burgundies of that year have ended in disappointment.

2019 Caroline Bellavoine Bourgogne Rouge - sadly simpler than hoped.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

winesecretary wrote: 16:22 Mon 24 Jan 2022 @ nac - Gosh, they sound nice. When 2009 is 'on' it can be a lovely white wine vintage. But most of my forays into the white burgundies of that year have ended in disappointment.

2019 Caroline Bellavoine Bourgogne Rouge - sadly simpler than hoped.
The Echezeaux was one of 36 bottles acquired EP from Laithwaites for a now ludicrously low £43.06 per bottle all in. Sadly only three or four remain.
M.Charlton
Taylor’s LBV
Posts: 184
Joined: 16:40 Sat 23 Jun 2018

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by M.Charlton »

The Hawks' Club Claret, JP Moueix 2016.

Dark purple/crimson rim, and very dark purple in the glass. Aroma very savoury - almost mushroom like, followed by strawberries and vanilla. More strawberries on the palate, with oak and a little spice. Very little in the way of tannins, and whilst a reasonably pleasant finish, it was a touch more acidic than I’d like.

A jug of tomahawk was undoubtedly preferred by all present at the tasting…
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

Last night a bottle of Andrea Franchetti’s Passopisciaro 2012. Good, but getting towards the end of its drinking window. Acidity now a bit too forward.

The 2012 was an IGT. This has now been renamed as Passorosso and is an Etna Rosso DOC. 100% indigenous Nerello Mascalese.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

On Thursday, Paul Bara Special Club 2012 - a truly excellent way to celebrate exchanging on a house, concentrated vinous champagne drunk slowly over a couple of hours to extract maximum enjoyment from it.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Ridge East Bench 2019 Zinfandel - sherbet and red fruits. Lush but balanced. Not a lot of grip in absence of any durif but still very attractive. Drink young, but not this young- maybe 2024-25.
User avatar
Doggett
Morgan 1991
Posts: 1188
Joined: 17:40 Sun 20 Sep 2015
Location: Weymouth
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by Doggett »

winesecretary wrote: 21:55 Sat 29 Jan 2022 On Thursday, Paul Bara Special Club 2012 - a truly excellent way to celebrate exchanging on a house, concentrated vinous champagne drunk slowly over a couple of hours to extract maximum enjoyment from it.
Congrats George!
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

Saturday evening (with steak) - Leoville Las Cases 2003. Nicely mature, classic Bordeaux. Missing the heat/burn present in a lot of the 2003s.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Friday evening, firstly with lamb - Nuits St Georges Les Damodes (the non-premier-cru part) 2010 Domaine Fabienne Bony. Drunk contemplatively over a couple of hours, a lovely bottle with terrific purity of fruit, with just a hint of acidity as a crack in the bell, just perhaps starting the downward curve towards tertiary flavours; the last bottle of a case drunk over the last four years.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

Saturday evening

A half of Taittinger NV kept an extra year in the cellar - oxidative in the right way, a pleasant glass.

With roast chicken, and then cheese, Felettig Bourgogne Rouge 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 - a bottle of each having been purchased from FWW to see whether any of them could provide me with the pleasure of the 2013 or 2015.

Short answer is 'no'. The 2016 is the most stylistically similar but doesn't quite have the fruit. The 2017 is sulking. The 2018 was okay but not setting the world alight. The 2019 is not discernibly Burgundy let alone Chambolle- 14.5%! It could have been a pinot from the Languedoc.

Finally a half of Suduiraut 2001 with a rhubarb crumble. One the rich side of balanced, the amount of botrytis showing in bottles of this does vary, but very good drinking.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

A Napa weekend.
Dominus Napanook 2007 & Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. Both excellent, the Cakebread still in nappies.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by winesecretary »

That's interesting, I had the Cakebread about a year back and thought it was on the way down. Is this wine that you have had in your own cellar ageing at glacial pace? With US stuff I find that really makes a difference, I have a mate in NY whose cellar runs 58f who is still turning out 1970s Napa stuff that is fresh as a daisy.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Non Festive Drinking

Post by nac »

winesecretary wrote: 23:29 Sun 06 Feb 2022 That's interesting, I had the Cakebread about a year back and thought it was on the way down. Is this wine that you have had in your own cellar ageing at glacial pace? With US stuff I find that really makes a difference, I have a mate in NY whose cellar runs 58f who is still turning out 1970s Napa stuff that is fresh as a daisy.
Not an EP purchase, but have had for a numbers of years and came direct from C&B stock so was perfect condition. My cellar is 11C (approx 52F) or thereabouts.
Post Reply