WTN: Decadent Wine dinner

Had a lovely wine dinner at friend mathieu's a couple of weeks ago and am just getting around to translating my scribbles. Wines were tasted blind.

1997 Domaine ZH Clos Windsbuhl Pinot Gris
Floral and full this was unlike any another other Pinot Gris I had ever had. I was pretty sure it was Reisling but I gather this is not unusual for PG from Zind Humbrecht. Lots of apricots on the nose--a lovely wine that was terrifically paired with an intense oven roasted tomato soup.

1993 Vigna La Delizia Fontanafredda
Starting to fade this is still a nice Barolo though past its point of power. The nose reminded me pleasantly of a barn long ago converted from its original use. If you have them--drink them.

1999 Rocche Dei Manzoni Big 'd Big
Yup, it's BIG alright and a nice Barolo if you like power. This wine has a nice touch of spice to go with the cherries and oak. It has almost a young port quality to the finish.

1989 Leoville la Casse St Julien
Heartbreakingly, this wine was corked--I almost cried

1989 Beaucastel ChdP
Sigh--I love this wine and have been lucky enough to drink it several times over the past five or six years. It is all that is good about Chateauneuf du Pape--leather, stewed black fruit, vanilla, and the feeling that you are lucky enough to somehow be living in the French countryside -- this wine takes you places (and yes, it also takes you to the barnyard). Full and still carries lots of punch. This bottle had leaked halfway down the shoulder and yet the wine was still lovely.

The reds were matched with lamb shanks braised in olives and oranges (which is a terrific Mario Batali recipe you should try!)

1977 Warres Vintage Port
A touch on the warm side, this port still has a ton of fruit despite its almost 30 years. It is just shy of great--but still very good. A bit of hazelnut on the nose, the mouth feel seems to be fading faster than the fruit.
Paired with chocolate walnut tort

2003 Clos Jebsal Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris
OH MY GOSH this is good. Terrifically balanced attack, loads of honey, touch of pear, rich and full and decadent this wine will be great for years. I spent 15 minutes with my nose in the glass and then the joy in the mouth as the finish goes on for a week.

Yes, we are spoiled by our friends!!!!!

Ruth

Great notes. Thank you. And I will look for the Batali recipe for lamb shanks.

1989 Leoville la Casse St Julien
Heartbreakingly, this wine was corked--I almost cried

1989 Beaucastel ChdP
This bottle had leaked halfway down the shoulder and yet the wine was still lovely.

Thanks Ruth. That's wicked re the St Julien.

After the previous discussions about the '89 Beaucastel, I brought my one and only '89 up to our north woods camp to open sometime over the holidays. The liquid is still in the neck, so about all I have to fear is TCA.

Covert

Thanks for the notes!

From what I've heard, most 89 Beaucastel are leakers. Great wine, that.

I'm not usually a fan of ZH, but that Clos Jesbal SGN is good stuff.

Best,
Joe

Haven't had the wines, but I've made the lamb shanks. It is a great dish and sounds like it went very well with those reds.

Mike

Bummer on the LLC.. I just picked up a bottle a couple of weeks ago.. hope it doesn't meet the same fate!!!

I had the '93 Fontanafredda recently.

A certain "wine seller" in town told me they were at their prime, but it's definitely over the hill. There wasn't much left of mine - drink now if you've got it already and don't buy it if you don't.

Is that Mathieu the Radiation Oncologist? If so, please shout out an hello to him and Rosemary(IIRC) from Harry in Philadelphia.

Is that Mathieu the Radiation Oncologist? If so, please shout out an hello to him and Rosemary(IIRC) from Harry in Philadelphia.

It is indeed the same Matt (small world) and most of the wine dinner notes you see from me on this board have been shared with he and Rosemary.
I will cheerfully pass on your greetings from Philly.

Best

Ruth