DIY Holiday BYO Dinner

Amali in NYC
Tasted Thursday, December 22, 2016 by MC2 Wines with 357 views

Introduction

When we were originally discussing the Acker BYO Holiday dinner with some friends the point came up that couldn't we organize something like that ourselves. And thus the idea for this night was born. We ended up with a very nice crowd of 20 and then quite a few wines. What a great way to celebrate going into the holidays!

Flight 1 (20 Notes)

  • 1995 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Belle Epoque

    France, Champagne

    We ended up with an extra bottle of these by accident and now I'm quite happy that we did. Champagne was served as the beginning of a big BYO night and really hit the spot. Aged and prob more of a hint of bubbles than bubbles that are really there. Touch oxidized, but that added some character. Very tasty.

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  • 2012 Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Interesting. With age these wines seem to become more and more the proverbial sauvignon blanc. I think because the grassiness steps up more and the honey-like flavors start to fade a bit more. Enjoyable and a nice contrast to the Italian white we were drinking alongside.

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  • 2000 Di Meo Fiano di Avellino Selezione Erminia

    Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino DOCG

    Poured from a magnum. Very light and crisp (esp compared to the SB drunk alongside). This wine makes me think of a hot summer day sipper. Very enjoyable.

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  • 1998 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Could pretty much not disagree more with the note before mine. I expected to really like this wine and it lived up to expectations. There is this wonderful delicacy in the wine that I assume is what the earlier poster was reacting to. I loved it. Almost like a candied red berry. Excellent acidity. Kept my glass through the night and found it developed more and more body with air. Enjoyed both versions of it. Paired very well with a rare steak.

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  • 1982 Château Canon

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Very small pour. Excellent spot right now and might make me have to reconsider my position on Canon (our only previous experience over the summer left me thinking it was over-rated). Just that lovely Bordeaux leather and dried fruit and well balanced between the two. Understand it prob could go for a lot longer, but not sure it's getting better.

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  • 1978 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    From a 3L. What a treat! We'd had this wine a few weeks before, but I think this one was showing even better (or maybe it's just the mental state of the big bottle). Very fresh, dust, pepper, herbal... almost a rosemary but that's not quite it. Great with the meat. Very tasty wine.

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  • 2005 Giorgio Pelissero Barbaresco Vanotu

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    From a 3L. Quick note on it. Drank on the heels of a 78 Lalande and this was just throwing out fruit as a result. Also a great pairing with the steak although a bit different.

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  • 1999 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

    Interesting - this wine was almost spicy which I don't generally expect from a Pinot. Very bright fruits. Small pour and didn't get to see the evolution in the glass, but imagine it would be an interesting one to follow for an evening.

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  • 2013 Sine Qua Non Résisté

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Continue to really like this wine. It's a complete mouthful and makes the rest of the whites we had feel almost more like water. White fleshy fruit and some honey and touch of spice to it. Very tasty.

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  • 1984 Girard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    First sip is very open and fruity but it dies quickly on the palette. Think prob a bit over the hill.

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  • 1987 Girard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Like its brethren the 84 a bit over the hill. Do get some fruit and kindof a brown sugar quality to it, but the later taste is starting to be a bit acidic in the bad way. Wonder if it would have blown off with a bit of time.

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  • 2009 The Napa Valley Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Meant to be in line with the Harlan wines. Drank blind next to the '09 Maiden. Very tight wine, much less expressive than the Maiden which was bright blackberries. This was more muted and a bit more savory almost in character. Would be interesting to see how it ages.

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  • 2009 Sine Qua Non Syrah This is Not An Exit Eleven Confessions Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Pnp'ed. Very classic SQN and such a treat to drink. It's young and so I'd say the all over the place flavors you sometimes find in an SQN are a bit tamped down although the fruit/spice cabinet are full force and the balancing acidity that Manfred does so well is there. We have a few of these and looking forward to sitting them down for more years.

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  • 1981 Ridge Zinfandel Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Had never heard of this wine until last night but what a treat! Just beautiful and makes me reconsider my position on Zin (which in general Ridge wines do). It's been well-aged, dried fruits, leather, almost a bit old world in style. Beautiful wine.

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  • 1997 Arietta Red Wine

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Decanted prob 4 hours earlier and clear that that helped the wine. One of those very nice aged California wines. Hints of cherry. Enjoyed.

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  • 1993 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    It was pointed out to me by some who'd had both that the '94 we were lucky enough to have a few weeks ago was better than the '93. Perhaps. I was really digging the '93 though. It's more herbal and spicy and then there's lovely floral and fruits in there. I had 'I love this' at least twice in the handwritten notes. CT window (2014) much too short - this was still going strong.

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  • 1989 Baron Herzog Johannisberg Riesling Late Harvest Kosher

    USA, California

    This really hit the spot. After a long night of red wine drinking there is a point where a bit of sweet and a bit of the lightness that a Riesling can bring is well appreciated. Perhaps not quite as light and airy and a bit over the hill. This was apricots and fruits and maybe a bit dusty but tasty.

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  • 1993 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407

    Australia, South Australia

    So fun to drink these old aussies which seem to mature into wines that could easily be mistaken for more old world. Decanted for most of the night and I tried it prob 3-4 hours later. Fruit had faded and so this was mostly earth and leather. Fun wine.

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  • 1934 J.W. Burmester Porto Novidade

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    This was towards the end of a very big wine dinner and as a result I'm not sure I was tasting it as well. Got figs and nuts. Poured fairly light and interestingly enough was difficult from a color perspective to tell apart from a late harvest 1989 Cali Riesling. Of course flavor profile completely different.

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  • 1976 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Napa / Sonoma

    USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

    Had at the very end of the night (even after the dessert wines) and this was the end of the bottle so prob not a fair note. Mostly I just tasted age and leather.

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Closing

Many thanks to Amali where the food was just excellent and plentiful and for letting us use the upstairs space which worked very well to do some early champagne mingling and then move on to dinner.

My WOTN was the Rayas although I also really enjoyed quite a few others.

Looking forward to the next one!

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