Another excessive New Years celebration of food & wine..

Seeing MAG's post of a wonderful New Years Eve celebration, I decided to add another one, only this time it was New Years Day dinner. Mr. Wiviott, Italians also seem to follow your credo. Nancy always accuses me of going overboard. We had some friends over for a New Years Day dinner. The guests are all very much into wine. We wound up with nine people, as one person could not make it. Since I was cooking and hosting, some of the wine notes are brief.

Manchego Cheese, Columbus Black Pepper Salami, and Nicoise Olives

Veuve Clicquot Rose Reserve Champagne, 1990
I bought a case of this when it was released. Prior to last night, my last bottle seemed like it was starting to get tired so I thought it was time to drink up. We had two bottles and both were very nice, mature champagne. I love Rose Champagnes, especially with a few years on them.

Butternut Squash Flan with Parmesan Sage Sauce

Failla Viognier 'Alban Vineyard', Edna Valley 2002
If it had not been in the unfortunate position of being paired with the Kongsgaard, it would have showed better. Nice fruit, not cloying, it went very well with the dish. Very good wine, just BLOWN off the table by the next wine.

Kongsgaard Viognier/Roussanne, Napa Valley, 2003
Wow! What a wine. Full bodied, was double-decanted prior to dinner. Peach, floral notes, minerals. The best Viognier I have had, other than some Guigal La Doriane's. The grapes come from an acre and a half of rocky soil on a mountain top in John Kongsgaard's estate vineyard. Since he doesn't like either wine on it's own, he now co-ferments the Viognier and Roussanne together. I just love Rhone varietals, red and white.

Pears, Gorgonzola, and Pine Nuts over Mixed Greens

Kistler Pinot Noir 'Sonoma Coast', 2002
A monster. Decanted for about three hours. It needs a few years to integrate the oak, although there may always be too much oak for my palate. WAY to young to drink, but one of my friends brought it. I have a few, but they will sleep before I open another one.

Failla Pinot Noir 'Hirsch Vineyard', Sonoma Coast, 2001
Every time I open a bottle, it has been a great wine. Beautiful nose. Smoke, pepper, black cherries. Ehren Jordan (Turley, Neyers, & Failla) makes his best wine for his own label. A Burgundian style California pinot. I could drink this all night.

Red Wine and Mushroom Risotto

Copain Syrah 'Cailloux & Coccinelle Vineyard', Walla Walla, Washington 2001
While this is one of my favorite new wold syrahs (and California wineries, for that matter), it was not the best showing I've had (of the maybe dozen I've had so far), but still a great bottle. It may be closing up. Northern Rhone in style, the funkiness was great with the mushrooms. Bacon, earth, smoke, spice, dark fruit.

Saxum Syrah 'Bone Rock' Paso Robles, 2001
Much more new world in style than the Copain. Aromas leep from the glass, you can smell it in someone's glass several feet away. I've had four bottles, so far, and been blown away every time. The purity of fruit, big, but well balanced, not over-oaked, and what a nose. Much more new world in style (but not Aussie-like) than the Copain.

Provencal Lamb Shanks with Carrots over Braised Lentils

Beringer Reserve Cabernet Franc 'Third Century', Howell Mountain, Napa 1997
A beautiful cab franc. Velvet in a glass. While it may hold a couple more years, I doubt it will get any better and it would be a shame to lose the beautiful fruit that is still there. There is still a bit of a tannic backbone, but it is not harsh.

Peter Michael 'Les Pavots', Knights Valley, Sonoma, 1999
Corked.

Peter Michael 'Les Pavots', Knights Valley, Sonoma, 1999
Opened a second bottle with the same results. It is just wonderful to have not one, but TWO corked $110 bottles.

Woodward Canyon Cabernet 'Old Vines', Columbia Valley, 1999Pulled to replace the TWO corked Les Pavots'. Very nice Washington state cab, but overshadowed by the Beringer Cab Franc. Very well balanced.

My brother-in-law acquired older Bordeaux's from a friend who had them stored at 55 degrees since release. He wanted to pull the corks to see if they were still alive.

Chateau Haut-Batailley, Pauillac, 1982
A great surprise. Very nice, mature Bordeaux. Elegant and smooth. If you have any, I wouldn't wait any longer. One of my friends who is a Bordeaux freak said it was his wine of the night.

Chateau Bouscaut, Graves, 1982
Very earthy, just OK. The only bottle not finished.

One of my friends just couldn't get into the Bordeaux's and was looking for some more red. He is a zin-head and LOVES Wells Guthrie's Copain zin.

Copain Zinfandel 'Arrowhead Mountain', Sonoma, 2002
The first 02 I've opened. Man, is this a mouthful. BIG, huge black fruit. Lots of spice. A very complex zin. It can still use some time. I prefer the 01.

Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding with Amaretto Creme Anglaise

Barros Colheita Porto, 1977
This very good tawny went very well with dessert, but was kind of lost at the end of a long evening in which we consumed a LOT of wine. Fourteen bottles (not counting the two corked ones) for 9 of us (4 women).

Al- I have been a big viognier fan ever since I spent a night in Condrieu on my honeymoon. I have never heard of the Kongsgaard. How much does it cost, and do you have it in your store, (and where is your store)?
thanks, Will

Will,

Unfortunately, I am no longer ITB.

As for the Kongsgaard, it is mainly 'on-premise' (which is why you don't see their wines in stores) or you can buy it directly from the winery mailing list. It isn't cheap, but it's really good (and will improve in a year or so in bottle). If you can find it at retail, it's probably going to be about $79.99. I'm glad I still have connections.

The Failla is very hard to come by because they make under 200 cases (180 cases in 2002). If you can find it, it is probably about $34.

Garretson makes very nice Viognier (as well as other delicious wines from Rhone varietals) from Paso Robles. Mat's nickname is Mr. Viognier. His blue label is dry and the orange label has some residual sugar. They are usually in the high $20's.

www.garretsonwines.com

As for Condrieu's, they are hard to find, since there is SO little made. I really enjoy Cuilleron or Guigal's single vineyard, 'La Doriane'.

Best,
Al