NV Ayala Champagne Brut Rosé Majeur - not a producer with whom I’m familiar, this is a fairly rich bubbly, lots of Pinot Noir character, cherry and ripe strawberry flavours dominant, some floral elements on the nose as well, silky, almost creamy. Very nice; will buy this again.
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2013 E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline
2007 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut
A couple highlights from the New Year’s Eve celebration. The La La was outstanding and paired well with the Prime Rib w/ Black Trumpet Jous, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes and grated Black Winter Truffle. I’m fortunate enough to have a couple more 2013’s to follow its progressing. And well the Bollinger was a near perfect champagne for me.
Happy New Year!
2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
2019 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnemuhr Riesling Kabinett - Paired well with Jerk Chicken Roti
Tonight with lots of basil, pasta, and leftover chicken, 2005 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is firing on all cylinders tonight. Remarkable berry and spice nose that leaps out of the glass with very little coaxing, lots of berry, plum, sandalwood, fresh fig, grilled beef on the palate, silky in the mouth, about perfect acidity for my taste, long rich minerally finish with some fine but gentle tannins and still lots of fruit. A terrific wine and, as it turns out, a very good value almost 15 years ago.
Mimik, the ‘04 Pegaü was magnificent. Hard to say without having them side by side, but I think I’d give the Pegaü a slight edge over this Donjon. Pegaü and Beaucastel are my 2 favourite Châteauneufs (maybe Boisrenard as well), though I don’t recall a single one— excepting corked bottles— that I didn’t enjoy.
1996 Jadot Bonne Mares. Corked
Glad to hear Seaquam. Pegau and st -Prefert are my favourite cdp producers with a nod to Sabon’s secret cuvée
2011 Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Peumo Vineyard Block 27 Carmenere. Too much greenness for my taste, despite a decant. 
NV Moet Imperial brut
NV Taittinger La Francaise
NV Kirkland Champagne
2017 Aaron Petite Sirah
@chard posted:How was this? I had no idea this was even available. Talk about dedication to the brand name on their part.
Hi Chard, Very nice if basic, but well worth the $20 it was. I'd buy more the next time I'm in Costco if they still have it. I'm terrible at tasting notes, but, medium bead, on the brut side of dry, more steely/oyster shell that rich.
2016 CVNE Crianza. Corked😡
second bottle ok.😀
2017 Michael-David Vineyards Zinfandel 7 Deadly Zins Old Vine<
Don't ask. Ringer in a double blind tasting.
2012 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard
Last night we took a bottle of 2016 M Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette to an early dinner at our local fish place. The wine is fabulous, rich and complex, great aromatics, long finish, showing more depth as it breathes, and a great accompaniment to all of the small dishes we had, especially sautéed ocean scallops on a very buttery cauliflower purée. Yum!😋
2005 Llanos Del Amendro
1999 Harvest estate Riesling icewine
2019 Castellare di Castellino chianti Classico
Both excellent
2011 Chateau Pipeau. Nice bottle.
2011 Tawse Meritage (Niagara). Last bottle; drinking very well.
2013 Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas
2016 Saxum The Hexe
2014 Saxum Paderewski Vineyard
Last night, 2019 Vincent Carême Vouvray Le Clos, nice pear and honey on the nose, add in lots of mineral on the palate, rich texture, good acidity, long finish. Very nice wine, a small step down from dry Huet Vouvrays, and priced accordingly.
Decanted for tonight, 2012 K Syrah The Beautiful, still very dark, damson plum and blackberry liqueur, bittersweet chocolate, hint of pepper, quite silky, very long finish, excellent. Don't know whether this still has room for improvement, but very tasty today.
2018 San Giusto a Rentennano Barancole Riserva chianti Classico
2016 Mount Eden Pinot Noir. While elegant by California standards, it reminded me why I much prefer the Chardonnay and Cabernet from this producer, and why I prefer the new world pinot I drink to be from Oregon.
2017 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm
Our local fish restaurant very kindly lets us come in early, before regular service starts, and isolates us in a section that won't be used until we leave. This works well for us; we're fortunate to have such a good connection with such a good restaurant.
Tonight we're taking 2013 Chateau De Fieuzal white, a go-to Bordeaux for me; I usually pick up 3 or 4 bottles in good vintages. Haven't tried this one yet.
2017 Caliza Winery Grenache
1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
2013 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
2014 Louis Jadot Beaunes-Greves.
@wineismylife posted:1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
Please share your thoughts on this one!
Tasted non blind.
Yellow to gold color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of pencil shavings, yellow pears and wet stones. Earthy flavors of mixed yellow fruits and minerals. Light to medium acidity, medium body. Drink now.
Not rated. Seems a bit past the drinking window or simply a tad off.
2008 Stony Hill Chardonnay
Last night, 2005 Delas Hermitage Les Bessards, loaded with plum, berry, mineral, silky, but starting to fade a bit quickly on the finish. I have one more, and will enjoy it soon.
Tonight with chicken and lentil soup, 2017 Vasse Felix Chardonnay Filius. Have gone through more than a case of these; no disappointments.
Going through some 2014 Stefania.
Last night, finished of the 2014 Crimson Clover cab (excellent...93pts)
Tonight, the 2014 Cab SCM (not quite as ethereal as the CC, but lovely. 90pts)
1996 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series
2007 Domaine du Pegau Reserve Chateauneuf du Pape from magnum over the weekend.... spectacular.
2002 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge tonight ... still holding, showing well.
