The Official Christmas Alcohol Thread

[DarkHelmet]

So I bought two more bottles today:

2005 Menhir Quota 29 Primitivo: I love this wine. Fruity on the nose, luscious on the palette. True to it's terroir, reflective of it's proximity to the Mediterranian. One of my favorite discoveries of late. And at the price I get it for - $15 - very much worth it.


1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino: Don't know much about this wine, but I got it at a fantastic price. $52.99. A very well reviewed wine, but I see contasting opinions about its age. One reviewer thinks the '99 is at "the end of its' window" while another review says that it's not completely mature (hard to believe of a '99) and it has a "bright future" ahead. Anyone know about this vintage?

 

[Electric Coleslaw]

I like Cabo Wabo Anejo. Patron is good, but pricey.

I'm gonna drink some Cabo and be just like Cayla!

 

[Cayla]

^
Aw! It's nice to be worshiped.

 

[Holdfast]

1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino: Don't know much about this wine, but I got it at a fantastic price. $52.99. A very well reviewed wine, but I see contasting opinions about its age. One reviewer thinks the '99 is at "the end of its' window" while another review says that it's not completely mature (hard to believe of a '99) and it has a "bright future" ahead. Anyone know about this vintage?

Doubtful it's "at the end of its window" in my opinion.

Probably very drinkable now and most likely for a handful of years yet. I'd probably want to wait until I was relatively sure the tannins had mellowed. These big Brunellos can mature for many, many years.

You really love these kinds of powerhouse reds, don't you? I'm such a pansy by comparison!

 

[Garak]

1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino: Don't know much about this wine, but I got it at a fantastic price. $52.99. A very well reviewed wine, but I see contasting opinions about its age. One reviewer thinks the '99 is at "the end of its' window" while another review says that it's not completely mature (hard to believe of a '99) and it has a "bright future" ahead. Anyone know about this vintage?

I think generally you can't go wrong with sangiovese.

Probably best to send that to me and let me taste it for you.

 

[DarkHelmet]

So last night at a very fine dinner, my friend gave a fantastic bottle - 2004 Miner Family Vineyards The Oracle: It's a meritage style blend. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec. Very excited to open this, but I think I might keep it on the rack for a year more. My friends adores this wine.

1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino:

You really love these kinds of powerhouse reds, don't you?

Oh, yes.

I'm such a pansy by comparison!

And in other breaking news, water is still wet.

Probably best to send that to me and let me taste it for you.

I'll make sure to do that. In return, send me your girlfriend.

 

[Holdfast]

So last night at a very fine dinner, my friend gave a fantastic bottle - 2004 Miner Family Vineyards The Oracle: It's a meritage style blend. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec. Very excited to open this, but I think I might keep it on the rack for a year more. My friends adores this wine.

Sounds interesting (and good!). The name "meritage" has always bugged me slightly, but I can understand the branding reasons for doing it.

I'm such a pansy by comparison!

And in other breaking news, water is still wet.

Just for that, you don't get to taste what I've just got!

1970 Château Léoville Las Cases

I like a wine that makes me feel very young.

Actually, I've no idea how well it's lasted, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. My best friend gave me this bottle today as a Christmas present, and I think I'll open it the next time we have dinner together. I'm hoping it's lasted well! It's the grand vin of the Chateau and top tier stuff for Saint Julien (though "only" a second growth overall, since the area doesn't have any first growths).

 

[RoJoHen]

I think wine tastes like rotten grape juice.

I will be chugging a $4 bottle of Strawberry champagne on New Years this year.

 

[DarkHelmet]

So here is the aftermath of the wine "tasting" I hosted on Saturday. Oh my, the deliciousness.

 

[Holdfast]

I regret not buying those airline tickets.

Some pleasant bottles there. Being fond of Gewurz, my eyes are drawn to the Daniel Gehrs - thoughts?


I picked up a couple of everyday reds today. Tesco's is running some steep discounts for UK readers, both these bottles are 50% off - one was under a fiver, the other only a little more. I think they should cope with the Christmas season well:

2006 Vignobles de Gascogne Madiran Reserve des Tuguets - simply it seems a fun blend. It has the tannat grape in it, which I'm not familiar with.

2006 La Motte Shiraz-Viognier - pure white Viognier gives me a headache, but I've had shiraz-viognier reds before and quite liked them. I've heard of La Motte before, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I sometimes find Shiraz a little too heavy going, so am hoping the 10% Viognier lightens the load a bit!


I also saw a Mendoza Valley Malbec rose that I was very tempted to buy just for the fun of it. I like Malbecs in general, but have absolutely no idea what a Malbec rose would be like! Maybe next week.

 

[Captain Intrepid]

I just picked up a bottle of Painted Turtle Shiraz to try a mulled wine recipe with. Mmmmm. Love mulled wine on a cold day! Oh, and a couple 500 mL bottles of Duchy Originals Organic Ale. It certainly looks good, lets see how it tastes.

 

[Holdfast]

I must admit to being rather fond of mulled wine.

Plus it's a great way to use up what's left of a bottle of unremarkable table red that you've used some of for cooking, rather than just letting it go to waste, if you can't bear drinking it straight.

Re: Duchy Originals - IIRC, that's from Prince Charles organic estate (and makes a lot more than just beer). The brand is a bit of a mixed bag in my experience. Some of it is just overpriced for what it is, some is genuinely rather tasty. Hopefully the Ale falls into the latter!

 

[Captain Intrepid]

The ale is good, if rather simple. It's something I wouldn't mind drinking, but I can get much better, more complex ales for the price.

Might I ask what recipe you use for mulled wine? I used a few cloves, a couple peppercorns, a couple bay leaves and a stick of cinnamon. Added a bit of brandy, a bit of lemon juice, an orange which I sliced up a bit then muddled, and some honey and sugar to sweeten it a little. Simmer it for an hour and a half stirring every once in a while.

 

[Holdfast]

I don't have a standard recipe per se, though what I add is very similar to yours with the exception that I add ginger too:

Honey, cloves stuck in a (washed) orange, another orange cut into slices, bit of lemon juice, cinnamon stick & some grated ginger. Heat it all up together for about a quarter of an hour, then add sugar to taste (doesn't usually need much). I wouldn't have thought to use a bay leaf though - nice touch & I will experiment.

I sometimes spike it with a splash of brandy if there's some open too. Though this year I've been adding a small splash of PX sherry to it instead - highly recommended!

 

[Captain Intrepid]

Mmmmm, the ginger sounds like a good idea, though the idea behind this is to make little sachets up to give out as christmas gifts. I will have to try it for myself though!

 

[Holdfast]

Mmmmm, the ginger sounds like a good idea, though the idea behind this is to make little sachets up to give out as christmas gifts. I will have to try it for myself though!

The ready-ground ginger would work too (I know, because I've used it when I haven't had fresh ginger in the house) and so you could put that in sachets.

(great gift idea, BTW)

 

[Captain Intrepid]

Mmmmm, the ginger sounds like a good idea, though the idea behind this is to make little sachets up to give out as christmas gifts. I will have to try it for myself though!

The ready-ground ginger would work too (I know, because I've used it when I haven't had fresh ginger in the house) and so you could put that in sachets.

(great gift idea, BTW)

It's especially nice cause you can change it up depending on who you're giving it to and the importance of the gift. You can have just the sachet, attach it to a card, a glass mug, or if you really like them, a bottle of wine.

I'll have to make it again tomorrow and try the ground ginger!

 

[Holdfast]

Test it out on yourself first, to gauge the exact amount of ginger to your taste (I like a fair bit myself, but it's not to everyone's liking and tone it down depending on who else is sharing it).

 

[Captain Intrepid]

Thats what I meant by trying it out tomorrow. Plus it's a good excuse to have more mulled wine.

We need a drunkl smiley...

 

[Hugo Rune]

Well, the Pecorino from my list earlier was opened the other night.

For £10 or so, what a stunning little wine and almost completely the opposite of what most people think "Italian White Wine" is. It was fairly meaty on the weight, and some lovely fat ripe peach/apricot first notes on nose and palate. But on the length (and it was mighty) notes of greengage, kiwi and limestone came through. The acidity was ever so slightly on the low side, but as a whole package, one of the finest Italian white's I've dipped into in years. Went wonderfully with my swordfish steak.

I'm off the alcohol tonight and will be opening some Gruner Veltliner tomorrow with sea bass.

Holdfast - Nice choice of the chateau... Las Cases sits right next door to Latour and has alot of its pedigree (and even as a 2nd growth wine, easily competes wit the 1sts in my opinion). Yet, the 1970 has some variable results in tastings from the estate. The bottle I had a few years ago was poor, but provenance couldn't really be traced. I hope you get a good bottle, because that is what aged wine is all about - not good vintages, not good wines even, rather good bottles.

Hugo - Crosses fingers