Christmas dinner started with a few champagnes. Also:
2017 Edmunds St. John Gamay Noir Bone-Jolly El Dorado County
First bottle we opened a week or two ago was spicy with loads of soft red fruits and pretty strong acidity, in fact it's surprisingly acidic. I opened this one for Xmas Eve the day before, and everything came into balance on Day 2.
With a seared scallop on a scoop of 'mushy' peas (frozen peas crushed with garlic and EVOO), I served:
2017 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc North Coast
North Coast is CT's description. It's actually 36% Napa and the rest Sonoma fruit. This was really great, I'd forgotten how really beautiful Spottswoode Sauv Blancs are. Fresh nose of wildflower and key lime follows through on the palate with lemon grass and rangy mild white grapefruit. Exceptionally attractive and elegant. $36 but you get your money's worth here: my dinner guests were unfamiliar with the producer but easily guessed it was in the over-$30 price range.
Next course was a salad of green leave lettuce with walnuts, shaved fennel and Stilton blue cheese in a dressing of fresh lemon juice, roasted walnut oil and salt. Really a dynamic salad and perfect for red wines (it's not true that you can't drink red wine and salad, just stay away from those awful commercial dressings.) With that I chose (from the wines guests brought):
2014 Otis Kenyon Matchless Red Walla Walla Valley Red Blend
Wow, three notes so far on this wine and none of them good--kinda wonder if those people don't understand the Otis style. It's a very old school, old world style (which I like), and this is their flagship red. Otis wines taste mature from day one and very different from most WA reds. That made it a perfect companion for the 2013 Brunello Marc and Laura brought--unfamiliar name to me and I think the bottle left the premesis so I can't report on it. However, the two wines were more similar than different with dried roses and antique books on the nose, raspberry fruit with dried rose petal potpourri on the palate, and soft tannins on the finish. Great matches with the Stilton and the fennel in the salad.
With prime rib, Yorkshire pudds and creamed spinach:
2012 Quilceda Creek CVR Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Margot's. Decanted several hours earlier. Quite stately: full-bodied blackberry fruit, currant, pencil lead and graphite; tannins silky but not too soft (like many '12s). Drinking quite well right now but no rush.
2013 Jones of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Reserve Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley
Ken's bottle. Unusual nutty nose--weird but likable--with interesting mature cabernet flavors. Just medium bodied, but balanced. A recent purchase in the low $20's Ken said--good value.
2002 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend
My bottle. Opened this nervously, but need not have worried. In fact, this was probably the best 'old' Delille I've had. Dark red fruits with leather and sandalwood incense. Def not OTH or even close. Well-stored bottles should show well thru 2024 and maybe beyond.
2004 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley
Also my bottle. Not a Caymus fan but this was an excellent showing. Had that sweet violet and powdered sugar donut nose I always get on an SS, followed by piquant blackberry fruit, dark chocolate and cassis. Looooong finish, and not too goopy or sweet. In a peak space now but could coast here for years. I'm putting the drink-by date out to 2025.
With homemade chocolate chip/walnut cookies a la Elliot Apter:
1997 Warre's vintage port
Decanted about four hours before dinner during which time it hardly budged. Drank well right from the start, though, with saturated black and blue fruit, spice, and a hint of molasses.