Served with crackers and two goat cheeses from Canada's Salt Spring Island to welcome champagne-loving guests who'd just arrived from a long day of travel by boat, plane and rental car:
2007 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs
Creamy, sexy, charming, chardonnay deluxe. I just LOVE this vintage.
Then, with chicken baked with orzo and lots of lemon and tarragon:
2018 Devona Pinot Noir Mount Richmond Oregon
A big new world style pinot that reminds one that the winemaker used to make cabernets in Washington (Abeja). Sturdier and less evolved than the Freedom Hill (which, for drinking now, I prefer) with notes of black cherry, beets and smoke. Nonetheless it's easy to enjoy, but probably better suited to a steak than the chicken I served it with.
2005 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard Willamette Valley
Have owned since release, and my last aged St. Innocent. Perfect occasion to serve as this we and this couple made several trips to Oregon together--for all I know, this bottle was purchased on one of them. Cork came out in two pieces but I managed extraction without resorting to the Durand. Very pleasing and more about plums than cherries now along with mild spice and cola notes. Lacked the leathery mature notes one hopes for, but still a great showing.