Wine dinner @ Home

• 2011 Under The Wire Sparkling Chardonnay Brosseau Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone

  A fun, refreshing, clean and crisp palate cleanser. No hard edges here, I could drink this all night. I would probably buy more, but for the price ($55 with delivery), I think I could find better value.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

With roasted cauliflower and Asiago cheese soup.

• 2012 von Winning Sauvignon Blanc I 91 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  Lovely wine, with tangy, electric acidity. Melons, lemons, and just a hint of celery, but definitely not green. There is a roundness in the mid-palate which suggests some oak treatment, but this finishes clean and mineraly. Above average persistence. Quite nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2013 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Hollerin 94 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  A piercing wine that poked through my palate like a ice pick. So much detail precision and energy. Layered, complex, refined and very lengthy. Superb... can't wait to taste the other Alzinger Rieslings from 2013.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

With a cataplana.

• 1969 Viuva José Gomes da Silva & Filhos Colares Reserva Tinto 94 Points

  Portugal, Lisboa, Colares

  The labels, capsules and cork looked very new, suggesting this is a re-corked, recent library release. The color was still a deep red with some bricking on the edges. Flamboyant nose and a deep, autumnal palate (think dried leaves and mushrooms). Still some fruit here, with a bit of earth and rust. A complex, ever-evolving wine. Next time I will probably decant a bit. Perhaps not as silky as my last bottle, but still gorgeous.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1998 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Drinking really well right now, with a meaty, spicy, leather and smoky profile. Tannins are well resolved. My last remaining bottle might be drunk sooner rather than later based on this showing.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1999 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage 78 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  I can't say I was really impressed here. A little smoke and aged beef notes on the nose, but the palate was hollow and thin. Faded from the palate far too quickly. On the second day, this showed a marked oxidation character. Hopefully this was an off-bottle?

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

With pasteis de nata

• 1961 Kopke Porto Colheita 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  This hit the spot after dinner with loads of figs, caramel, oak spice and chocolate. Dessert in a glass. My only complaint is that I would prefer a bit more acidity to balance the sweetness.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1998 Müller-Catoir Mußbacher Eselshaut Rieslaner Auslese 95 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  A wonderful wine on day 1 and spectacular on day 2. The quarter of a glass that was left over and sampled on the next day showed more verve and acidity. Lots of tropical fruits here, but I thought the sweetness needed a bit more acidity on day 1; this really firmed up on day 2. Thanks Salil.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No