Christmas Dinner

Our House
Tasted Saturday, December 25, 2021 by VlgJeff with 122 views

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 2012 François Raveneau Chablis 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis

    Based on my previous TNs with this wine, this bottle was decanted for 30 minutes -- to its benefit. A medium plus bodied wine, with plenty of lemon (juice and crème), minerality, some green apple, and mouth-cleansing juicy acidity. Drinking well now and for several years to come, but give it air, and you will be amply rewarded.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 1999 Chateau Musar 91 Points

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Based on many other TNs (thank you) we knew this wine needed air! The bottle was decanted (with a small amount of sediment) a bit after Noon for dinner. The fill was mid-neck, and (luckily) the cork came out unbroken, but was "squishy" and wet to about 20% of the way up.
    As the wine sat in the decanter it got darker and took on weight. It took to the 3 1/2-hour mark to reach the point where the fruit finally exceeded the wood as the primary flavor, and the acidity began to wane.
    At the 5 1/2-hour mark we began to drink the wine with dinner. The color was a medium to deep violet with a faded rim. The nose was mostly earth and spice, with some red fruit. The medium bodied palate showed lots of spice, some red fruit (strawberry & cherry) and earth, and juicy acidity.
    This was our first experience with any of the Musar reds, after having one bottle each of the white and the rosé, and it was unique. Not certain how long this vintage can hold but have one more 1999 and one 2005 that we'll probably enjoy within the next couple of years.

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Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 1977 Graham Porto Vintage 93 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Christmas Night dessert/sipper. Stood the bottle upright for a day and a half. The fill was above base neck. Removed a spongy/wet cork in one piece using the Durand, then decanted this bottle through cheesecloth. Lots and lots of sediment! Followed the wine throughout the day -- both fun & educational.
    Initial color was a bright medium rose, with aromas of cherry and aguardente, but the palate was sharp and alcoholic.
    At about 3 1/2 hours: Color is a clear medium garnet. The nose was still primarily aguardente. The palate showed some raisin but was highly alcoholic.
    As the wine gained air time, it darkened, added weight, and became more and more enjoyable.
    We began drinking at about the 8 hour mark with the nose yielding some rose and fig, and only a touch of alcohol. We continued drinking for another couple of hours with the wine improving as we drank. The medium bodied palate had fig, plum, cherry, prune, and a mix of warm spices, with nicely balancing acidity and no obvious alcohol. Although the sweetness was present, it was not as sweet as some other Graham's vintage ports that we've had. Not certain how much longer this wine can hold but give it lots of air and you should be rewarded.
    The two of us consumed about half of this bottle, saving the other half in an empty 375 ml screw cap bottle which we filled to the very brim, thus eliminating any air, then placed in the fridge. We'll report on this half bottle when consumed.

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