Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve at my brother in laws, Christmas Day at my house, teh day after Christmas at the restaurant. Lots of food and wine was consumed.

King crab, shrimp, mussels, aritchoke dip, pasta with scallops and shrimp, orange roughy and more. Nice night.

• 2008 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (12/24/2009)

  I liked this better than the chards. Herbal appley flavors with nice minearal and astingency. Really nice.

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• 2007 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Alexander Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  (12/24/2009)

  Had these with lots of seafood. Rich and not over oaked. Butter and vanilla and apples all over.

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• 2005 Lynfred Winery Merlot 90 Points

  USA, American

  (12/24/2009)

  Wow. Big, complex, meaty red wine. The round flvors of merlot with gruff, rough and tumble earthiness. This has to be Washington State merlot- it has such terroir that I would not expect from California. Really nice and made here in Illinois from northwestern fruit!

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• 2005 Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir Winemaker's Reserve 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (12/24/2009)

  A little disappointing but still very good. This wine lacked bigger PN flavors but wtill was flavorful and good. Ripe fruits (berries and cherries) and a hint of mustiness but not a big earthy or mushroom component. Subdued and charming.

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• 2007 Crushpad Vayniac Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (12/24/2009)

  91 may be conservative. This is an elegant wine. There are layers upon layers of fruit and complexity that is very French and there is the Napaness that I just love about it, too. This will take time to develop. It tasted like it was idling a bit. The wine is settled down and ready but is still a bit closed up. I got the rusty flavors and the Howell Mt flavors and the earthiness and dark fruit and cassis and licorice and dirt and, well, it's living up to expectations.

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• 2004 Vino Noceto Sangiovese Noce Knoll 92 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

  (12/24/2009)

  Getting better, still young. Closed flavors took hours to open even a bit. A huge brunello like wine. Dark cherry and musty earth. Intense, rich and fragrant.

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• 2007 Cupcake Vineyards Merlot 85 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  (12/24/2009)

  Brought by a relative, it was a very nice basic merlot that I found more than drinkable. Nice fruit flavors, some complexity.

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• 2008 Fetzer Gewürztraminer Valley Oaks 85 Points

  USA, California

  (12/24/2009)

  Always a nice, inexpensive gewurz. Bright melon flavors.

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• 2009 Vino Noceto Moscato Blanco Frivolo 89 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

  (12/24/2009)

  Spectacular muscat. Light, fragrant, yet intense and flavorful. Stone fruit and melon, a hint of fizz, just beautiful.

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• 2007 Vincent Arroyo Port 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (12/24/2009)

  Served chilled at my relatives- took too long to warm up and I drank it because I couldn't wait.

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• 2008 Barefoot Cellars Merlot 83 Points

  USA, California

  (12/24/2009)

  Not sure if this was 2008 or NV. It was sitting on the table and I tried it and was surprised that it was not too bad. Somewhat unidimensional, but drinkable.

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• 2008 Fetzer Chardonnay Valley Oaks 83 Points

  USA, California

  (12/24/2009)

  Not bad, but nothing to write home about.

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Shrimp, crab, devilled eggs, antipasto/torellini skewers, spinach dip,pork loin stuffed with suasage and beef and bread crumbs and garlic and more. Nice day and night.

• 2007 McManis Family Vineyards Chardonnay 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, River Junction

  (12/25/2009)

  Cheap and good. Butter and apple and a hint of mineral for $10. Had it with devilled eggs made with a base of sour cream and champaign mustard.

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• 2008 Coleman Nicole Pinot Noir Rosé Sonoma Coast 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (12/25/2009)

  A nice apertif before dinner. Rosie strawberry and ajhint of earth behind this delightfully balanced wine.

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• 1978 Château Beychevelle 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (12/25/2009)

  I have to agree with those who have recently drank this wine. The bottle had lower expectations for me but it was great. Filled to the base of the neck, the capsule was corroded but not leaking, and the cork disintegrated but the last 5/8" was very intact and I got it out without much problem.
  
  The flavors were quite complex. There was a distinct smokey flavor, but also woodiness (cedar for sure, I don;t get pencil shavings, and a little oak), and a beautiful leathery component that was enagingly flavorful. A deep dark fruitiness that was still in the back like a dark berry. Cassis and oerhaps maybe cranberry sans the tartness? A wonderfully complex wine, it has legs to stabd on still. This wine screamed cheese and beef to me. I had it with a flavorful stuffed pork loin, which more than sufficed.

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• 1988 Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon David Lake Signature Series Otis Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  Wow again. Youthful, vibrant and still getting better. I went 93 this time. very elegant, everything I love in David Lake's wines. Beautiful as before.

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• 2005 Gordon Estate Merlot 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  Rich, moderately intense, beautiful round fruit. Blueberry, tobacco, and a good finish to boot. Excellent wine from Washington!

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• 2006 Ty Caton TyTanium Caton Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  Big, rich, deep, dark and intense. I loved this wine. Cab and petite sirah and syrah with some merlot. The blending of the varietals makes for a dark, purpley red journey. The richness of the wine married to the stuffed pork loin. It was intensely flavorful. I'll keep the other bottle for a few years before drinking as this will explode with flavor even more.

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• 2007 Gauthier Select Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Salaal Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, San Luis Obispo County

  (12/25/2009)

  Straw, herbal grass, minerals. Decent finish. I like this SB a lot.

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• 2003 Ty Caton Merlot Dry Creek Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  Big, red meaty wine. Intense round fruit. Blueberry and chocolate and just a great little overall wine. Layers of flavor and a decent finish.

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• 2004 Mill Creek Vineyards Syrah Estate 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  Smokey bacon, dark deep and intense. Probably on the early end to drink. Much bigger than I expected. Very nice.

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• 2005 Mill Creek Vineyards Zinfandel Estate 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  Big, heavy, dark zin. Took a long time to open up. Nice spice. Dark fruit jamminess. More than I expected.

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• 2007 Chateau Montelena Riesling 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Potter Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  I really love this wine. Such intense fruit- melon, stone fruit, citrus and more. Great complexity and a long finish. One of my favorite US rieslings.

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• 2009 Vino Noceto Moscato Blanco Frivolo 89 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  And two more on Christmas went down just as easily!

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• 2008 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  (12/25/2009)

  Nice chard, npothing really special but good flavors, not over oaked. Buttery and citrus, a little of the mineral flavors.

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• 2008 Justin Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Obtuse 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (12/25/2009)

  Maybe not ready, sweet, somewhat intense. I like it but expected more complexity. Like a decent cab with port sweetness.

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• NV Joseph Filippi Fondante Ciello "Sweet Heaven" 89 Points

  USA, California, South Coast, Cucamonga Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  So well done. After a year and a half this is wtill a fun and beuatiful dessert component. Dark cocoa powdery chocolate. So nice.

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• NV Trevor Jones Jonesy Rare Aged Port 84 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (12/25/2009)

  Good, drinkable and cheap. Has traditional port flavors. A little light but for $10 a bargain.

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The day after Christmas means pizza at the restaurant. And home made gnocchi.

• 2006 Falesco Lazio Ferentano 92 Points

  Italy, Latium, Lazio

  (12/26/2009)

  This was a huge and intense white wine. The flavors were complex and interesting. It is not a white for the faint of heart. Everyone at the table loved this wine. Huge pungent citrus, melons, and steeliness combined to make a tight and fun wine. The color was deep and the intensity like a big chardonnay, but it's flavors other than a bitter component were not chard like. It's like a sauv blanc and marsanne combo, with big acidity to balance the flavors. A food wine for certain.

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• 2001 Vino Noceto Barbera Linsteadt Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

  (12/26/2009)

  Huge wine. I was amazed. Dark and intense berry and earth and bricks and dirt and maybe strawberries. Big, balanced and intense. Big surprise!

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• 2004 Renwood Zinfandel Jack Rabbit Flat 91 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County

  (12/26/2009)

  Huge cherry and raspberry flavors, subdued spice, nice complexity and finish. Excellent zon!

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• 2006 Fontanafredda Piemonte Barbera Briccotondo 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC

  (12/26/2009)

  Really good barbera. Not as full a finish as I recalled but full flavors and nice depth.

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• 2006 Vino Noceto Sangiovese 89 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County

  (12/26/2009)

  Still improving, round forward flavors with subtlety and charm restraining it a bit. Cherry and earth and refined. So nice.

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• 2007 Vino Noceto Sangiovese 87 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County

  (12/26/2009)

  Starting to hint at what this will be. The flavorsd are coming together and now are just closed a bit. There is a dark and intense character waiting to emerge here. Conservative 87 for now, this could be a 90 pointer.

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We had a lot of fun and then drank whiskey and cordials to boot on Christmas Day. The other days not as much liquor, but a few drinks here and there were consumed..