WTN: Thanksgiving Dinner (Riesling, Syrah, Burgundy)

[David M. Bueker]

Thanksgiving dinner was a somewhat expanded affair, with Salil joining the usual group of Laura, me and my parents. We ate and drank well.

2008 Domaine de la Mordoree Tavel Rose
Strawberries and flint. Refreshing and easy to drink. I should have gone back to this with the turkey, but never got there.

2008 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Senior Faß 6
Just off-dry, minerally with faint background fruit. Refreshing in its structure, but not a lot of flavor interest. There has been a good bit of geek hype for this producer, but I don't see it from this bottle. Have to try again some time.

2002 Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Spatlese
In a lovely place right now - creamy & fruity with emerging smoky notes. I would like to have had more of this, but Laura and Salil make short work of the bottle.

2006 Carlisle Syrah Cardiac Hill
An impenetrable mass of tough, unyielding fruit. It did hide the alcohol though. Too big to match with the food.

2005 Kosta-Browne Syrah Amber Ridge
Huge, but also slightly corked.

2006 Hudellot-Noellat Vosne-Romanee Suchots
A more interesting match with the food, all silky red fruit up front with spice notes. On the end the tannins clamp down, so lots of cellaring needed to see this at its best.

Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawny Port
Cherry, spice, wood smoke & nuts - just what a Tawny Port should be.

Thank you again for having me over David - was great to meet your family, and that was a really fun evening. (Top job on the turkey/sides as well - I probably overindulged a bit on the food, but it was certainly worth it)

On the wines - the Donnhoff was a real beauty. So silken, elegant and polished - really an amazing wine (as you could tell by the speed at which it got emptied it ). The Lauer was enjoyable though a bit dull, it was tasty and reminded me of Keller's dry Rieslings in its very pale fruit profile with lots of pear and cucumber (not to mention the similar hype that's hard to justify from this bottle at least ), though without the same price tags.

The Suchots was the other big standout for me along with the Donnhoff, really loved that exotic spicy scent it had developed an hour after opening. I liked the Mordoree a lot as well, incredibly refreshing and fun and would have liked to also try it with the food - except for having both my glasses full of Riesling/Burgundy by then.

Nice lineup.
If one had to be corked, glad it was the KB (he said snarkily)
I have that Lauer (based on Salil!) , hope it shows more to me.

I have that Lauer (based on Salil!) , hope it shows more to me.

Hmm, don't recollect mentioning that before (though I was telling you about the Crush emails, which did hype it) - this is the first time I've had that particular wine.

That said, will be checking into leftovers tonight.

don't worry, not blaming you (hey, I might like it more than you and David), I knew you hadn't tasted. You had just mentioned you were excited about trying, something about David S ( I believe it was) saying Lauer was their epiphany wine. Right after that, I was putting together a mixed case at CSW, so put in Lauer, who I hadn't heard of before. I'm always happy to try new producers.

Yeah, I looked up Lauer on eRP and saw David Schildknecht had been full of praise in his reviews/posts there, greatly saying he's been a huge fan of a very long time. Figured a bottle was worth a shot then at <$30!

That said Dale - just revisiting leftovers (early dinner tonight), and the Lauer is much better on night 2! Fleshed out a lot more with some floral elements emerging and more length; really nice.

[David M. Bueker]

Yeah, I was not exactly heartbroken over the KB. Neither of the Syrahs were really in a style I prefer, hence the Hudellot-Noellat.

Just an update on the KB syray. They are replacing the bottle. It should be here next week. That is some customer service.

[David M. Bueker]

Well done.