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+--- Thread: Round one of the Christmas gluttony (/thread-13646.html)
- Bucko - 12-24-2006
We had seven middle-of-the-road wine geek friends for Christmas Eve Eve dinner last night, with six tonight and five tomorrow night.
We toasted with Lenoble Rose Millesime. The blend is 85% Chardonnay Grand Cru and 15% Pinot Noir Premier Cru vinified as a red wine. Very light on the sweet side, the salmon-pink wine is full and round, with a lively mousse. Fresh red fruit dominates. I bought a case and am pleased now at the purchase. Everyone enjoyed the wine -- no descents.
We enjoyed a host of appetizers with a 2001 Scharzhofberger M-S-R Spatlese. This is a lovely Riesling, correctly made, but somehow doesn't grab your interest and hold it. It cut through the French goose liver pate well though. I bought six and am glad it was not a case.
Next came a delicious broccoli soup which was accompanied by another German Riesling which did grab your attention and shake your senses -- the 2001 Tyrell Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese. Loaded with delightful fruit and slate/petrol notes, this was the hands down favorite of the two Rieslings. It is a stunning Spatlese. Bought a case; wish I'd bought three.
Next came the main course -- dry-aged prime rib. Unfortunately everyone wanted medium or medium well (YIKES!), so I got the rarest piece of the rib roast I could find, which was leaning towards medium. I served two reds with the meat, and the results were not what I expected. The first wine was the 1995 Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac. Seeming fully mature, the tannins were very soft on the entry. Black currants, berries and cedary notes prevailed. It went very well with the meal. The second wine was from the same vintage but from the New World -- 1995 Quilceda Creek, Washington. Fully mature right now, the wine has developed better than expected. The oak is integrated and the flavors are just delightful. Hands down this was the favorite of the crowd. I would have taken bets on the favorite of the two wines and lost -- a pleasant surprise.
Carole served her yule log for dessert, which was accompanied by a 1992 Baumard Quarts de Chaume. Always a delight, the sweetness and acidity lends itself well to almost any dessert. It is still drinking very well, with lovely complexity.
Overall, lovely food, wine and friends -- you can't ask for much more.
- Innkeeper - 12-24-2006
Sounds just short of completely fantastic. We started much more humbly. One family had to head home early with stomach virus. So just three of us attacked a roast capon with Gene's '04 Riesling. Yum!
- hotwine - 12-25-2006
There were only five of us for dinner of Mexican dishes tonight (Spanish rice, beans, local tamales, D's enchiladas) with the '95 Carlos Serres Gran Reserva Rioja; wonderful juice, wish I had more. Tomorrow, will start two nice tenderloins on the grill over oak and finish in the oven; there should be 11 of us at table. Will serve the '99 Pine Ridge Rutherford Cab and maybe a Lagrange or Fiefs de Lagrange.
Merry Christmas to all. Remember our troops and their families in prayers.
- Innkeeper - 12-25-2006
On our way home from church last night we past an ambulance going the opposite way. When we got to the intersection where we turn off the main highway there was several hundred yards of emergency vehicles and mangled steel.
Needless to say it was a sombering experience. Just taking all the folks in the emergency vehicles away from their families on Christmas Eve was bad enough. But the lives of those injured and possibly worse were affected infinitely more.
This morning we don't know any details, and we are going about our Christmas duties. Got to get the goose into the oven, etc.
One thing for sure, I will thank the Lord for his blessings, and pray for those faceless people we past last night.
- winoweenie - 12-25-2006
90% of accidents could have been averted by giving up 15 seconds of their time. So Sad! Hopefully noone was seriously hurt. WW
- wondersofwine - 12-28-2006
One day last week I was trying to go to the dry cleaner I use on Reilly Road and traffic was diverted from that exit from Fort Bragg due to a fatal accident (I didn't pick up my alterations until the next day). A soldier in a Nissan Pathfinder, speeding and not watching the traffic ahead of him, hit a Honda stopped at the intersection. The Honda was knocked into a motorcycle. The Nissan went airborne and clipped two other cars. A woman and her 8-year old son in the Honda were killed. The motorcyclist died at the hospital. Other minor injuries were checked out at the hospital including the Nissan driver who was walking around following the accident. He is now charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter. Such a useless sorrow just before the holidays. Oops, should have changed to a somber face not a smiley face.
[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 12-28-2006).]