Thursday, December 31, 2009

Endings

New Year's Eve is an ending and a wish for better things in the coming year. It certainly applies to us. A number of wines to see the change in were significant. The arrival of Gordy and his lovely wife Papua NG Pia also brought expertise to the dinner and some extravagant wines.

We started conventionally, with a couple of Champagnes. Lanson 'Black Label' NV was gentle, balanced and with everything there. The Veuve Clicquot 'Yellow Label' was bolder, bigger and with more intensity, though a little youthful, raw and robust. Nevertheless, they did the job.

Two mystery whites got us going. A 2007 Keller Westhofen Kirchspiel Trocken Riesling from the Rheinhessen was a revelation. Full-bodied at 13.5%, dryish, but full, musky and textured, both SWMBO and I thought it a Viognier. Super wine. Then a 2008 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, herbal on nose, delicate, fresh, cutting, How could this come from the Southern Rhone, yet retain such a cool approach? These were tough to pick. There is no end to the surprise of these different-from-the-norm wines. Then to end the whites, no mystery, the 2006 Church Road 'Tom' Chardonnay. Big, rich, flavoursome with gorgeous fruit richness and matching oak. A benchmark for us and Gordy too. Grunter saw a lot of oak, all good oak however.

Then, served to winemakers among us who think Pinot Noirs are wussy, the three 2008 'Calvert' Pinot Noirs from Central Otago. The style of each of the winemakers is consistent, and the acceptance of each wine dependant on the audience. Overall, they were good, but reflected the bigger crop of 2008 with their accessibility. This showing revealed a lighter weight, soft Craggy Range. Probably least preferred. Then the soft, broad and fleshy Felton Road. Very drinkable. Top on this night was the Pyramid Valley, with great aromatics, intensity, tightness and potential to go further. These were a lovely gentle ending to the wines and the decade, and saw the new year in without great drama.

Happy New Year to you all.

1 comment:

  1. Happy New Year to you, Wine Noter, and your SWMBO. May 2010 be a much better year for you than 2009 turned out to be. From reading your notings it sounds like your taste buds are back in form and that's a good thing.

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