WTN: New Years Eve wines

We had a couple over for dinner and cards and started the evening with 2001 Theo Minges Flemlinger Vogelsprung Scheurebe Auslese. Deep golden color, the flavors were of apricot and a bit of grapefruit on a core of great acidity. A very nice wine in fine shape and my wine of the night with abv of 13% in 1/2 L. bottle. With chicken pasta casserole the 2012 Martin Ray Chardonnay from RRV in Sonoma Co. went very well. Pale straw in color, just a hint of tropical fruit and mostly pear and citrus with balancing acidity. Nothing profound here but serviceable with abv of 14.2%. We could not wait for midnight so opened the 2005 Jacquart Brut Millesime Champagne. This wine seemed really closed to me or maybe too young. Muted light flavors of pear and yeast. Just so-so. Will wait on the remaining bottles. Started the new year with a 1/2 bottle of 2006 Losen-Bockstanz Riesling Beerenauslese from the Mosel. Light straw in color with abundant pear and apricot fruit and excellent acidity. Still young and with tartrate crystals. abv of 10.5%in 375ml format.

[David M. Bueker]

Minges! Scheurebe! Happy new year!