12 Days of Christmas - 2018

Great time of year for celebrating with family and friends. This year we kicked off festivities in NYC, then headed to spend three fun filled and hectic days with 25+ family members in Vermont, then onto four relaxing days in beautiful and cold Lake Placid celebrating a 60th birthday with dear old friends. Lots of wine, lots of food and the best part is our two pups were with us the whole time. Happy New Year!!

After 10 days in France followed by a business trip to London - first full night at home- but the kick off to our holiday season. A great night to order Italian take-out and pop a random bottle from the cellar.

• 2009 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  (12/21/2018)

  I had actually forgotten purchasing this wine, so when I came across it in the cellar list decided to give it a try. Perhaps it was better in its youth but I can’t say this was worth the cost of cellaring. On the nose candied cherry and garrigue. On the palate same - candied cherry a bit medicinal like cough syrup with the garrigue and bramble notes adding some savory to the sweet fruit, quite a bit of heat on the finish. A bit chunky or clunky - not pulled together or special. Drinkable but I won’t be hurrying to reach for another bottle.

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Finally a full day at home to recover and get back in the swing - but another night in with take-out and popping one of the recently received bottles from the Envoyer delivery.

• NV José Michel & Fils Champagne Brut Rosé

  France, Champagne

  (12/22/2018)

  The color on this is quite deep bright pink. Very easy drinking and tasty with lots of red berry flavors - fresh but not overly complex. For the price this delivers good value easy to pop open on a weeknight without to much thought.

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Holiday time is a great time to easily sneak into restaurants that are usually packed in NYC. The Waverly Inn is cozy with fireplaces in every room and decked out for Christmas. They also serve a terrific burger which we paired tonight with a very nice Giacosa Nebbiolo. Also some celebrity sighting with Andy Cohen from Bravo holding court in the next room.

• 2014 Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Nebbiolo d'Alba

  (12/23/2018)

  From the wine st at The Waverly Inn (NYC). The nose was pretty with red fruit and some florals. This was open and accessible, tasting of red fruits, earth, a hint of smoke and tea leaves, the tannins were dusty. Quite enjoyable in a nice drinking window.

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Our 6th annual “boozy lunch” at the bar at Aquagrill in Soho. Best oysters in the city (IMHO). We each get a mixed dozen (12 varieties) all East Coast for me and celebrate over a few bottles of champagne. Then move onto to proper meals - Atlantic cod with spinach for me. After lunch we headed back home to pop a bonus bottle of old Taurasi. A fun day and a special tradition we enjoy with friends each year.

• NV Laurent-Perrier Champagne Cuvée Rosé Brut

  France, Champagne

  (12/24/2018)

  From the wine list at Aquagrill. Christmas eve tradition - champagne and oysters at Aquagrill!! This was a nice way to start out, pretty pink color, bouquet of summer berries and on the palate, fine bubbles, strawberries, and lemony acidity. Very enjoyable if not overly contemplative.

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• 2005 Ayala Champagne Perle d'Ayala

  France, Champagne

  (12/24/2018)

  From the wine list at Aquagrill. Second bottle of bubbles for Christmas Eve Champagne & Oysters lunch. After the Laurent-Perrier Rose, this seems much more lean, bright steely acidity and minerals with a touch of bread on the finish - but more lean than rich. I preferred the L-P but everyone else preferred the Ayala.

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• 2000 Dominique Laurent Clos Vougeot

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  (12/24/2018)

  From the wine list at Aquagrill. Lots of bricking on this around the edges. On the nose a bit of funk and forest floor. On the palate, very mature red fruit (cherries) with a touch of cola, earth, rust, dried leaves and tea. Probably a bit past prime, but still enjoyable. If you have these time to drink up.

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• 1979 Mastroberardino Taurasi

  Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG

  (12/24/2018)

  Decanted for sediment - although there was none. Funny brown colored glass bottle - very delicate and light in weight. The color on the wine is most shoe leather brown with hints of red in the center. Smells of leather and earth. On the palate though this is still quite alive - with mature tart red fruit, leather, stoney minerality and earth. Quite layered and expressive. Very nice.

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Our reservation was for 12:45 and when we pulled up in our Uber there must have been 200 people outside waiting in line - the doors open sharply at 12:45 - so we were seated quickly. Our group of 5 made quick work of a feast of wedge salads, Luger bacon, two steaks for 2 ( one med-rare, one med), German potatoes, French fried potatoes, creamed spinach, streudel, key lime pie and schlag (whipped cream). Only a small doggy bag came home. The food and service were awesome - the wine list and wines pretty over priced and pedestrian. The company and good spirits more than made up for the lackluster wine.

Later after a nap we popped the Donelan Syrah with a light meal of sandwiches and it was surprisingly good.

• 2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (12/25/2018)

  From the wine list at Peter Luger. Seemed like it would be one of the more restrained Napa cabs on the list - but quite disappointing. Very jammy - blueberry, soft and round without acidity to give it life. One glass was enough for me.

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• 2012 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  (12/25/2018)

  From the wine list at Peter Luger. This was our first bottle for Christmas lunch with friends. It was okay, a little chunky on the palate, dark fruited, some tar and lots of acid, tannins still a bit biting. We then tried the Heitz but quickly moved back to this for bottle three. Drinkable but would not seek it out.

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• 2009 Donelan Syrah Cuvée Christine

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (12/25/2018)

  PnP. Bought these at release first time trying - pleasant surprise. After less than stellar wine selections at lunch this was pretty nice. Dark fruit and black olives on the nose. On the palate the fruit is very concentrated and there are savory olive notes, and the acidity holds it together. To much fruit to mistake this for a Northern Rhone - but nicely done - improves with air.

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First day of the family Christmas festival kicks off with a light lunch at home with some bubbles, followed by a family sleigh ride at a local farm. This year there was no snow so it was more of a hay wagon ride. Always fun - we bundle up, pack us all in and sing Christmas carols as we ride across the fields to the sound of sleigh bells. This year there was a new addition, our grand nephew who is 1 year old and got such a kick out of the whole experience. After the sleigh ride we head over to one of the brothers and his wife’s for a large buffet dinner. Lasagne, honey baked ham, salad, potatoes, ice cream sundae bar. A ping pong tournament and a multi generational trivia game gave us all lots to do and provided many laughs. I was the designated driver tonight so not much wine for me.i can attest the other reverses all enjoyed themselves though. After arriving back at home base I got to enjoy a few glasses myself.

Notes to follow

• 2008 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (12/26/2018)

  Color is very dark leaning to purple. The nose is blueberry and earth. Oh this is pretty extracted even with 10 years in bottle, blueberry , some heat from the alcohol, tannins have smoothed - not enough acid, some earth. Not my style but others enjoyed.

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Day 2 of the family celebration got going with an hour around the blazing fire pit - with a bunch of the nieces and nephews - sharing wine and catching up. A really nice way to relax and connect with the young adults who are all starting their lives in different parts of the country.

We were then called to gather for the annual family photo - a tradition my MIL has been following since 1969. As the family has grown with children, marriages, grand children and now great grand children - the tradition has endured. This year, she wanted to try a new look - a heart formation which required a family friend to stand in a tree to get the right perspective. A bit complicated but the pics came out well:-)

The afternoon is all about the annual Family Feast - a collaborative pot luck dinner for 28. Chaos ensues as everyone is jockeying for position in the kitchen. This year we were in charge of grilling the beef tenderloin - so got to stay out of the fray out at the gas grill. A few hiccups with 3 of 4 meat thermometers failing - but in the end it all worked out well.
Menu:
Grilled beef tenderloin
Honey Baked Ham
Beecher's Mac & Cheese (a family fave)
Broccoli Salad
Argula Salad with Roasted fingerling potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole
Fruit Kebabs
Pecan, Apple & Chocolate Pies

All wines tasted today were from a mixed case we pulled from storage and brought up to share with family over the holidays.

Additional wines consumed from the mixed case that I missed in the crowd:
2003 Harris Estates Jake's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Marston Family Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Donelan Syrah Obsidian Vineyard
2007 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

• NV Henri Goutorbe Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (12/27/2018)

  Sipping this around the fire pit on a cold VT afternoon with family - pretty sweet (the moment not the wine). What a great house rose champagne. Very tasty, reasonably priced and pleases wine geeks and non wine geeks alike. So popular that two bottles disappeared in no time at all.

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• 2008 Radio-Coteau Syrah Timbervine

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (12/27/2018)

  Another fire pit wine. Popped and poured. Bought these back at release and have never tried,pleasantly surprised. I was expecting mor syrupy extraction from RRV, but this had dark fruit with lots of savory notes and black pepper, clearly new world but in balance.

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• 2009 Leviathan

  USA, California

  (12/27/2018)

  Final fire pit wine before being called to gather for the annual family photo. The 20 somethings all liked this best - but for me my least favorite. This is quite ripe with dark extracted fruit, leaning a touch sweet. Something I would have enjoyed 10 years ago, now not so much.

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• 2006 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (12/27/2018)

  PnP - drank over dinner. This is probably the vintage of Revana that I have most preferred as it seems a bit more in balance than the '07 and '08. Still a rich powerful wine, dark fruits, tannins have smoothed but there is some acid here that helps support the fruit. This was enjoyable.

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This is the 9th year for annual wine tasting event - always a fun night that sparks a lot of competition and fun. We break down the tasting into four different flights - with 3 or 4 wines tasted in each flight. A winner of each flight is chosen using the penny voting system. Then at the end the four winners compete for the grand prize.

Flight 1: White wines (although this year one of the participants did not follow instructions and brought a red wine)
#1 - 2008 Kistler Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay - 51 pennies - WINNER
#2 - 2015 Vincent Marie Antoinette Pouilly-Fuisse - 22 pennies
#3 - 2016 Silver Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - 17 pennies

Prize - white wine bottle chiller

Flight 2: Reds (Non Cabernet Sauvignon)
#1 - 2017 Trapiche Malbec - 25 pennies
#2 - 2011 El Bombero Gran Reserva - 15 pennies
#3 - 2016 Cantina Zaccagini Montepulciano D'Abruzzo - 20 pennies
#4 - 2015 Conn Creek Petit Verdot - 30 pennies - WINNER

Prize - VacuVin Wine Pump

Flight 3: Reds (Non Cabernet Sauvignon)
#1 - 2012 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico - 13 pennies
#2 - 2007 Shafer Relentless - 31 pennies
#3 - 2015 Wise Villa Winery Tempranillo - 40 pennies - WINNER

Prize - Wine Coasters

Flight 4: Cabernet Sauvignon
#1 - 2014 Antinori Antica Cabernet Sauvignon - 14 pennies
#2 - 2015 Frei Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon - 37 pennies - WINNER
#3 - 2015 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon - 29 pennies

Prize - Wine Glass Colored Marker Set

GRAND CHAMPION -
#1 - 2008 Kistler Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay - 5 pennies
#2 - 2015 Conn Creek Petit Verdot - 30 pennies - WINNER
#3 - 2015 Wise Villa Winery Tempranillo - 27 pennies
#4 - 2015 Frei Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon - 24 pennies

PRIZE - 4 personalized 2018 Family Wine Tasting Grand Champion wine glasses

• 2008 Kistler Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind - Flight #1 - Wine #1: Color is golden yellow. Nose of golden apple and buttered popcorn. On the palate this is quite rich and buttery, some notes of honey coming through with the apple and butter - also oak. Definitely new world in style with less acidity and freshness, more rich and opulent. The winner of the first flight with 51 pennies voted - but placing 4th overall in the championship round with only 5 pennies (clearly a red drinking crowd).

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• 2015 Jean-Jacques Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé Cuvée Marie-Antoinette Vincent

  France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted double blind - Flight # 1 - Wine #2: Definitely seems like Sauv Blanc on the nose - with tropical fruit. Tastes of pineapple, grapefruit, lots of citrusy acidity, some minerals and a bit of heat from the alchohol on the finish. Very lean and bright. Quite a contrast after the rich Kistler in spot #1. 2nd place for the flight with the group voting 22 pennies.

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• 2017 Silver Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted Blind - Flight #1 - Wine # 2 - Okay something is not right here?? It is a white flight and this clearly is not - somebody obviously is not a rule follower here:-) Red, Smooth and oaky - and not in a good way - no grip, no tannin, more like fruit juice - not pleasant. Can't believe this is actually cab Sauvignon. 17 pennies voted.

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• 2017 Trapiche Malbec

  Argentina, Mendoza

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted Blind - Flight #2 - Wine #1. Not very expressive on the nose. On the palate this is really tightly spooled with lots of acid, not giving much pleasure at the moment. Really needs food, or a long decant to open up a bit. 2nd place for the flight with 25 pennies voted.

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• 2011 El Bombero Cariñena Gran Reserva

  Spain, Aragón, Cariñena

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind - Flight #2 - Wine #2. After wine #1 which was really tight - this comes across much smoother and rounder but almost lacking acidity to the point of being flabby. Dark fruited and earthy. 15 pennies voted.

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• 2016 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Il Vino dal Tralcetto

  Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted Blind - Flight #2- Wine #3. I preferred this one much more to the the first two of the flight, much more in balance. Dark fruit, grippy tannins, earth and bright acidity. Tasted quite fresh and simple - quaffable old world table wine. 20 pennies voted.

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• 2015 Conn Creek Petit Verdot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind - Flight #2 - Wine #4. This was also quite balanced with very dark fruit - color was leaning dark purple here. Nose was fragrant - fruit and spice - not at all jammy. Drank nicely with a good balance of fruit, tannin and acid. A bit more spice and zip to fruit gave this one the edge for me in voting. Interesting when revealed as you don't often see 100% Petit Verdot - I liked this. Winner of the flight with 30 pennies voted & the The Grand Champion across all the flights receiving 30 pennies.

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• 2012 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted Blind - Flight #3 - Wine #1. Nose was restrained. On the palate this came across quite simple but not unpleasant. Very fresh with bright acidity and red and black fruit - but not much else going on. Probably would improve if served with food. - 13 pennies voted

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• 2007 Shafer Relentless

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind - Flight #3 - Wine #2. This was my entry although I have not tasted this since release so really was unsure how it would drink. On the nose I get some oak. Tasted of big dark fruit, very lush and new world styled but with balance, well pulled together if not my preferred style at this point in time. 31 pennies voted

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• 2015 Wise Villa Winery Tempranillo

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Placer County

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind. Flight #3 - Wine #3. Lighter in style than wine #2, this is very smooth with rounded tannins but for me it lacks acidity and leans a bit to the flabby side. However I would say this is a very easy drinker and clearly was a crowd pleaser at it won the flight with 40 pennies voted and came in 2nd overall for the championship round with 27 pennies.

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• 2014 Antica (Antinori) Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind - Flight #4 - Wine #1. Lots of oak on the nose here. Tastes of blackberry and blueberries and lots of vanilla and toasty oak, grippy tannins. This needs time to integrate but I hope it has enough acid to last.

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• 2015 Frei Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind - Flight #4 - Wine #2. This is a bit more pulled together than wine #1, more accessible. I would put this in the red fruited and smooth category - seems like it is built for early drinking and leaning to the sweeter fruited spectrum. Another crowd pleaser winning this flight with 37 pennies voted.

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• 2015 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (12/27/2018)

  Tasted blind. Flight #4 - Wine #3. This was my favorite of the flight - just seems like a more interesting wine with a bit more complexity. Would have benefitted from a decant. Dark fruits, earthy soil, some menthol, tannins are still quite grippy (finish is long) and it has a spine of acid. This one wants cellar time (5+ years) or a 3 hour decant for optimal drinking. Second place for this flight with 29 pennies.

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The party expanded today as the father of the bride's family joined in for the bridal shower - doubling the party size to 50 people. A lovely bridal shower featuring a bubbly bar. Lots of gifts to set the young couple up in their future home. Brought to a close with a sweet game that involved teams - decorating the young cousins in toilet paper wedding gowns.

After the shower, we all headed to dinner at Peter Haven's restaurant in Brattleboro for a large family dinner for 50 in the private room. Great food and lots of laughs bringing the annual family festival to a close.

• NV La Marca Prosecco

  Italy, Veneto / Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Prosecco

  (12/28/2018)

  This was the bubbly bar prosecco served at the niece's bridal shower. Quaffable if not particularly interesting - I appreciated that it was not overly sweet and cloying as I find many Prosecco's can be. Served with a fresh raspberry in the glass which provided a little treat on the finish.

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• 2016 Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker's Blend

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  (12/28/2018)

  This was pretty sweet and extracted tasting - more to the gloppy side. A few sips were enough for me - moved back to the prosecco after sampling.

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• 2016 MAN Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Ou Kalant

  South Africa, Coastal Region

  (12/28/2018)

  From the wine selections at private dinner at Peter Haven's Tavern. One glass was enough, super sweet leaning and jammy cab - no acidity at all evident to give this structure - very flabby.

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Saturday we hit the road early with a beautiful drive across the rolling hills of western Vermont - to cross Lake Champlain and head to Lake Placid. We were meeting old friends here to celebrate a 60th birthday and ring in the New Year with our dogs in tow. The Lake Placid Lodge is a beautiful Adirondack styled lodge (rebuilt in 2005 after a fire) that is perched right on Lake Placid. It also features a number of waterfront cabins that are dog friendly. The property is lovely and the food is very good - but the service here quite poor across the board - particularly given the prices that they charge. We would not recommend this property despite the lovely facilities and setting. Despite that we still had a lovely time relaxing, catching up and celebrating with our friends.

We arrived with a full wine suitcase - so most of our consumption was corkage with only a few bottles ordered off the list. Corkage was either $35 or $45 per bottle depending on who you asked.

Lunch at Maggie's Pub - with a bottle of the Chave Selections Celeste from the wine list

Dinner at Artisan's Restaurant after they were unable to accommodate us at the pub. Food was good but very expensive.

• 2010 J.L. Chave Sélection St. Joseph Céleste

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

  (12/29/2018)

  From the wine list at Maggie’s Pub at the Lake Placid Lodge. Excited to see a reasoanably priced bottle with some age on it on the list. Paired with tomatoe bisque and a pressed chicken and avocado sandwich for lunch. This is in a great drinking window but probably time to open these in the next few years. Starting to develop some oxidative notes of honey and nuts which we enjoyed, bit the stone fruit is a bit less primary now. We enjoyed this.

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• NV R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (12/29/2018)

  Great QPR at $29.99 - nose has a bit of toast. On the plate the mousse is fine with lemon and brioche. Very nice - tastes like a more expensive bottle would def purchase again.

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• 2012 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône La Pialade

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  (12/29/2018)

  That fragrant herbal red fruited Rayas nose always delivers. On the palate sweet red cherries, herbs, black tea leaves, perhaps a touch of cherry cough drop, light bodied and silky and the sweet notes are held in check by th acid and herbal qualities. Lovely.

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Lunch at Maggie’s Pub with the Vernay with soup and salad. Then headed to the outdoor fireplace on the porch to enjoy the Brezeme.

Left the property tonight and had dinner in the town of Lake Placid at Jimmy’s21 - an old school Italian restaurant on Main St. the traditional faves were spot on but the specials were less successful. Corkage is $20 a bottle.

• 2016 Domaine Georges Vernay Viognier Le Pied de Samson 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes

  (12/30/2018)

  With lunch of tomato bisque and Caesar salad. As enjoyable as many Condrieus we tasted ona our recent trip, this is a great QPR. Nose of white flowers - tastes of stone fruit with the signature salinity and mineral on the finish. A great value. Oddly a bit spritz in glass when poured but this disappated quickly.

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• 2016 Eric Texier Roussanne Côtes du Rhône-Brézème

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Brézème

  (12/30/2018)

  Late afternoon in the Adirondacks, a cold day, a roaring outdoor fire, great old friends, a 60th birthday celebration - a favorite wine - does life get much better than this? Beautiful memories and consistent with my prior notes. Feeling sentimental...

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• 2002 Pascal Doquet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (12/30/2018)

  Damn this was great - wish I picked up more than two. The nose is all brioche and toast. On the palate the bubbles are very fine and the wine is textured like a cashmere sweater - soft and luxurious. Tastes of brioche, lemon curd, honey and minerals - lots going on. Drinking really well!

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• 2000 Eric Texier Côte-Rôtie Vieilles Vignes

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  (12/30/2018)

  PnP - an interesting wine probably fully mature at this point. I think this may have been one of Texier’s first few Côte-Rotie vintages and I suspect he was still working things out. It feels perhaps a bit lighter than I would expect. The fruit is pretty mature (blackberry) and there is some pepper and dried leaves and earth - not much of the savory olive or bacon or iron tastes though. Fine for quaffing but I don’t think will develop much further.

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Long walk on the golf course with dogs this morning, enjoying the snow and the beautiful landscape. The dogs were in pure heaven!

After the walk we headed into The town of Lake Placid to check out the Olympic ski jumping facility. For $8 you can take the elevator to the top of the 120meter jump and get the views from the top - pretty cool. Tried to grab lunch at Mirror Lake Inn - but over an hour wait. Mirror Lake was bustling with ice skaters and a dog sled - the whole scene was out of Courrier and Ives.

Headed back to the Lodge and had lunch again at Maggie’s Pub with another bottle of the Chave Selection Celeste. Followed by working on the Stave jigsaw puzzle in front of the fire - pretty darn relaxing.

Formal tasting menu dinner at Artisan’s tonight for NYE.

1st - East coast Oyster with trout roe, ginger and champagne foam.

2nd - Tucker Farm sweet purple potato leek soup with roasted chickpeas, toasted pignolinuts and ninja radish

3rd - Lacinato kale, Argula, Baby salted beets, confit fennel, Ewe blue cheese snow, toasted walnuts and pomegranate dressing

4th - Black Currant Sorbet

5th - Durham Ranch Wagyu Ribeyewith cherry wood grilled lobster tail, Pearl barley black truffle risotto, bone marrow, Caulilni

6th - White face cheddar, Hand Nader Dutch style cheesefrom Meir’s farm, cranberries, sage, honeycomb, candied cashews, and country fennel bread

7th - Petite handmade dessert celebration - peanut butter tart in dark chocolate shell, mini ice cream cone, fruit tart, Turkish delight

Followed by live music and new years’s countdown in Maggie’s Pub.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! - Here is to a happy and healthy 2019 - shared with family, great friends, and great wines.

• 2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

  France, Champagne

  (12/31/2018)

  Kicking off our NYE tasting menu dinner with the ‘06 Comte - another stellar bottle. Nose has brioche and lemon. Bubbles are small and fine, very light mouthfeel, some brioche, lemony citrus, tart green apple with minerals and chalk on the finish. Pretty delightful. Saved some in the bottle and revisited with the cheese course.

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• 2003 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (12/31/2018)

  Color is a golden yellow. Nose of golden honey. On the palate, stone fruit but less primary with the the more oxidative carmelized honey and toasted notes taking center stage. A bit of heat on the finish - this has 15% abv so not surprising. Enjoyable but this bottle is not as good as the one I had earlier this year. WOTN for the group though.

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• 1992 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici

  Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG

  (12/31/2018)

  Cork was a bit squishy and came out in two pieces. Slow oxed for about 90 mins prior to pouring. Deep dark color. Nose of black currants and leather. This is fully mature - drink within 5 years. The blackberry and currants are mature not primary, lots of leather,and earth and minerals. Interesting if not profound. Worked well with the wagyu beef.

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• 2004 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Larkmead Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (12/31/2018)

  From the wine list at Maggie’s Pub. Cork was soft and totally crumbled - wine was decanted to separate from the cork. The nose on this is dark fruited with loamy earth. The tannins are resolved but the fruit is still quite lively, a touch of sweetness and earth on the finish. Definitely Napa but not super extracted or jammy. Seems like this should be consumed in the next five years.

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Last day of our long holiday celebration - a very cold and damp outside in Lake Placid so a great day for nesting in front of the fire with the pups, reading and finishing up my killer Stave jigsaw puzzle. Our final dinner with friends up at Maggie's pub by the fireplace.

Starter - Caesar salad
Main - Steak Frites
Desert - Bailey's on the Rocks

• 2016 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Bourgogne

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne

  (1/1/2019)

  PnP with lunch on New Year’s Day. Nose of cherries , earth and some barn yard funk. Tastes of tart cherries, light weight mouthfeel, taut acidity playing with the red fruit and some minerals on the medium finish. Nice but will hold the other two bottles for a few years to see if some more complexity develops.

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• NV Henri Goutorbe Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (1/1/2019)

  Another bottle of the Goutorbe Rose to kick off the last meal of of our long holiday celebration. Once again a big hit with everyone - for the non-wine geeks perhaps there wine of the trip. Always delicious and truly great value.

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• 2014 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Crianza

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  (1/1/2019)

  From 375 - This was the gifted bottle that our hotel includes in each of the rooms. Dark fruits, tons of acid and tight as a drum - no real pleasure to be had here. Not familiar with this producer or Rioja Crianza in general - assume this just needs more time - but even still a hard pass for me.

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• 2013 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  (1/1/2019)

  Ending on a high note with one of my fave producers. For me these are always the consistent Rayas signature of perfumed nose, sweet cherries and herbs, tea leave and enough acidity to keep it fresh. Fragrant and lovely and a terrific value for an elegant glass of wine.

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