So which wine/s has made your weekend extra special?

`06 Bleasdale The Old Press Cab Malbec, Langhorne Creek Aust, closely followed by a Languedoc `07 La Sauvageonne Les Ruffles.

How about you?

Last night's Côte Rôtie Les Grandes Places 1990 from Clusel Roch was excellent. A TN will follow when I have finished writing up recent tastings and the last 10 days' dinner wines.

[Jenise]

Bob, I'm temporarily unable to drink wine daily like I used to so ANY wine I drink these days is special! That said, some local cab blends I tasted yesterday were especially nice; I'll post on them separately. And re your noms, Bleasdale does good stuff, don't they? All the Bleasdales I've had show a little more restraint and bit more spicy complexity than most wines from nearby and more well-known regions like McClaren Vale.

Drunk yesterday and also in my 3 Syrahs post.

Côte Rôtie Les Grandes Places 1990 – Clusel Roch – Alc. 12.5% showed quite complex aromas of red fruit with a lot of cherry sweeter than usual and the steely notes quite subdued. The palate was medium/full bodied, beautifully shaped and long with ripe structure, quite rich without excess, showing secondary forest floor notes as well as still fresh but ripe fruit and still lively acidity which for me was enhanced by a suspicion of varnish-like volatility; a lovely harmonious wine at its peak but perhaps not quite equalling Jamet in elegance; 17/20.

Saturday evening Liz and I had a 2004 Lagier-Meredith Syrah with grilled beef tenderloin and today at brunch with friends we had two bottles of the 2007 Ici/La-Bas Pinot Noir. Both wines made the meal. The Ici/La-Bas in particular since there was lobster, beef, pork and omelets in the brunch.

Two open houses yesterday: Dehlinger and Siduri. Good news: Lots of special wines. Bad news: Only got a little bit of each.
lol

Dr. L 2009 Riesling, Mosel 8.5% abv.
Nice match with pan-fried panko-coated smallmouth bass filets squirted with fresh lemon juice and sprinkled in homemade green tomato relish. Mmm mmm. Nice wine-food match with the acidity of the lemon and tomatos catching and enhancing riesling's acidity and citrus fruits. This riesling is a great QPR that we really like with fish. Also had it the night before with chicken cordon bleu. That also matched nicely.

Bob, I'm temporarily unable to drink wine daily like I used to so ANY wine I drink these days is special! That said, some local cab blends I tasted yesterday were especially nice; I'll post on them separately. And re your noms, Bleasdale does good stuff, don't they? All the Bleasdales I've had show a little more restraint and bit more spicy complexity than most wines from nearby and more well-known regions like McClaren Vale.

I am starting to think that Bleasdale needs a tad more inspection. I have tasted the `06 The Old Press Cabernet Malbec twice in the past week.
I was told by highly reputable store worker that this was some Frank Potts left overs and was bottled for N America/Canada market. Price is just under $20, think the Potts sells for close to $35 here.

Quite dark in color, enticing spice nose, bit of everything going on here. Good tannins, soft supple palate with some red and blackberry fruit. Very good grip on the finish, medium length, flew off the shelf after 2 tastings "Best Bang for the Buck".

**** In house PO thought my buy of 2 bottles was a right move! She reminded me of the excellent Verdelho they produce.

From last weekend:
Went to have some leitao (suckling pig) at my favorite in Elizabeth, NJ , Casa do Leitao. Joao, the proprietor, knows that I enjoy Portuguese wine and when I want less than a whole bottle, will pull the cork on something and charge me for what I drink. This is usually something basic and inexpensive (ca. $4/glass) but tasty, like Quinta dos Aciprestes Douro.

Last week, he presented me with one of those Portuguese terra cotta pitchers filled halfway with a red and tells me to guess what it is. Hmm, very nice wine, good mouthfeel and length, some polished tannins and fine structure. Seemed too structured and old world for Alentejo, not tannic enough for traditional Bairrada (where Joao comes from). Maybe a mid-level Douro? Turns out to be homemade Bairrada from a friend in Portugal - a blend of Baga and Trincandeira (not typical in Bairrada). Really good stuff, I told Joao his friend ought to go into the wine business, but he says it will remain a hobby.

I had another bottle from Domaine de L`Ameillaud. This time the `07 Cairanne which was a tad lighter than the `05 I posted on last year. However, very enjoyable over a two day period, will post asap. I am a tad behind in my tasting notes after my bout of bells palsy.

I see that the `09 CdR is here, pretty good vintage I believe?

That would have been the 1989 Ponsot Latricieres-Chambertain from the tasting we held a couple of weeks ago. The full lineup was as follows but please forgive the notes. They were criptic as we were just sitting around and talking to friends, the wines being much in the background.

Whites:

2002 M Chenu Meursault: Rather deep gold in color, advanced in age, some hints of oxidation but still alive, Some nutty notes, short finish. Okay but lacks much compared against the rest of the flight.

2002 Joseph Bucy 1er Cru Boucheres (a Becky Wasserman wine): Light gold in color, Nose hints at strong structure, which it was, a bit discombobulated at this point but okay, medium length finish.

2005 Verget Pouilly Fuisse, “Terroir de Vergissson: Wood on the nose along with ripe fruit, the most flab of the group, but still decent structure, drinking well.

2002 Bonneau du Martray, Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru; perhaps a bit more challenging a wine, nose of fermented vegetables and/or nuts, great big handfuls of nuts, cashews, mac, hazelnuts (similar nose to a 1990 Cristal!). Deep dense flavors, great balanced and grace.

Reds:

1990 Leroy Marange: slighlty barnyard, rich, ripe, great balance but with short finish, wonderful given its pedigree.

2002 Louis Jadot Satenay Clos de Malte: rather typical of Satenay, crunchy fruit, lighter in nature, good acidity, lively still and performing well.

2002 Louis Jadot Pommard Rugien: Powerful fruit, ripe, rich, smooth though not as thick as say a comte armand. Young still.

2002 Joseph Voillot Pommard, Les Rugien: very different than the Jadot, mores structured, red crunchy fruit, picked before the Jadot vines? Perhaps less Pommard in nature than I would have expected given the vintage.

1997 Armand Demorey, Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru, Clos des Ormes: Great nose, aged, tobacco, dried fruits, mellow but on palate, clearly over the hill, no longer in balanced, more acidity than other components are able to hold up to

2003 G. Roumier, Morey Saint Denis, Clos de la Bussiere 1er Cru: Lush ripe nose, good attempt to bring into balance for the vintage but still some roasted notes, smooth, rich, long finish. Lovely still.

1989 Domaine Ponsot Latricieres-Chambertain, Grand Cru: What a nose, great complexity, lovely balance, on the palate much the same, smooth, cedar, tobacco, some dried fruit and herbs, medium body, long persistence. Lovely but I suspect more advanced than its age due to poor storage (before I bought this).

2002 Domain Lignier-Michelot Chambolle Musigny Vielles Vignes: Another rich, smooth, fruit forward wine which has decent structure, still very young...(side bar, good 02's are still not ready to drink).

2002 Domaine Jean et Jean-Louis Trapet, Gevrey-Chambertain 1er Cru Clos Prierur: decanted: still tight and grippy, good floral nose, red and darker fruits, lovely structure, and too early

1955 Lopez Heredia Gran Reserva. I cannot recall whether it was the Tondonia or Bosconia. The label was in bad shape.

Also, the 94 Janus showed very beautifully.

The 1987 Chappellet Reserve Cab was surprisingly dark in color, almost opaque, with lovely scents of faded roses, blueberry and plum. As it opened up, it revealed a balance of soft plum/cherry fruit, subtle oak, tobacco, and just enough acid backbone. Very harmonious. It might easily pass for a much younger Bordeaux.

The 1998 Autumn Wind Estate Reserve Pinot Noir was showing the amber-rust colors of age, yet the wine was intact and beautifully integrated. An ethereal, floral nose, a silky smooth body with soft flavors of strawberry and maraschino cherry. It still had delicate tannin and acidity to assert itself with steak and salad.

[Jenise]

The 1987 Chappellet Reserve Cab was surprisingly dark in color, almost opaque, with lovely scents of faded roses, blueberry and plum. As it opened up, it revealed a balance of soft plum/cherry fruit, subtle oak, tobacco, and just enough acid backbone. Very harmonious. It might easily pass for a much younger Bordeaux.

The 1998 Autumn Wind Estate Reserve Pinot Noir was showing the amber-rust colors of age, yet the wine was intact and beautifully integrated. An ethereal, floral nose, a silky smooth body with soft flavors of strawberry and maraschino cherry. It still had delicate tannin and acidity to assert itself with steak and salad.

Great notes, Frank. You should post more often.

For someone who appreciates Bordeaux, Chappellet is great California producer whose wines get passed over by the gobs-of-hedonistic-fruit crowd. I've never understood why they're not held in more esteem. And, interesting that the Autumn Wind has fared so well. I'm not familiar with this producer--can you tell us more about it?

Welcome Frank, hope to see more of your notes. Happy Christmas!

Well, another weekend is upon us so lets keep this thread going as Xmas draws even closer.

The `03 Gran Vino from Weinert (Ar) is really showing nicely right now. A wine to consider buying if looking for something under $20 US. Blend of Malbec, CS and Merlot.

Bob, I'm temporarily unable to drink wine daily like I used to so ANY wine I drink these days is special! That said, some local cab blends I tasted yesterday were especially nice; I'll post on them separately. And re your noms, Bleasdale does good stuff, don't they? All the Bleasdales I've had show a little more restraint and bit more spicy complexity than most wines from nearby and more well-known regions like McClaren Vale.

I am starting to think that Bleasdale needs a tad more inspection. I have tasted the `06 The Old Press Cabernet Malbec twice in the past week.
I was told by highly reputable store worker that this was some Frank Potts left overs and was bottled for N America/Canada market. Price is just under $20, think the Potts sells for close to $35 here.

Quite dark in color, enticing spice nose, bit of everything going on here. Good tannins, soft supple palate with some red and blackberry fruit. Very good grip on the finish, medium length, flew off the shelf after 2 tastings "Best Bang for the Buck".

**** In house PO thought my buy of 2 bottles was a right move! She reminded me of the excellent Verdelho they produce.

Opened another bottle last night with some rabbit and roast pheasant. The four of us were in the mood as we were snow shovelling/removal for three hours.
The wine needs an hour to open up, quite delicious with cocoa noted on nose and finish. Many here are not aware of that which you are missing!!

[quote="Bernard Roth"]1955 Lopez Heredia Gran Reserva. I cannot recall whether it was the Tondonia or Bosconia. The label was in bad shape.
/quote]

I was going to write Bosconia if Burgundy bottle shape, Tondonia if Bordeaux, but now see this is month old, so doubt Bernard can remember!

1955 Lopez Heredia Gran Reserva. I cannot recall whether it was the Tondonia or Bosconia. The label was in bad shape..

I was going to write Bosconia if Burgundy bottle shape, Tondonia if Bordeaux, but now see this is month old, so doubt Bernard can remember!

[Jenise]

1955 Lopez Heredia Gran Reserva. I cannot recall whether it was the Tondonia or Bosconia. The label was in bad shape..

I was going to write Bosconia if Burgundy bottle shape, Tondonia if Bordeaux, but now see this is month old, so doubt Bernard can remember!

Ah, but you've just educated a few of us--me, at least. I've had the pleasure of a number of bottles of both but somehow never connected that the bottle shapes were specific to one or the other. Thank you for your 'mistake'!