1989 Chateau La Dominique. This should say it all: https://www.cellartracker.com/note.asp?iWine=20877&iNote=5995936
It's right there with the '87 Montelena... I think. I'd need another bottle of both to be sure. Pretty sure I'm gonna be grabbing another 2 or 3 La Dominiques. If you know someone with more '87 Montelena, it could make for a really nice comparison over steaks. (my note on that '87: https://www.cellartracker.com/note.asp?iWine=1192&iNote=5475671&searchId=1D5D3407#selected%3DW1192_1_Ke09508bcbe88dc22706b5193fe0adc22&UISource=list)
I have been inactive with my wine group lately. But I might see some of them soon and will ask if any of them have these bottles.
After an election, I have a drink. I had a bottle of Lagavulin ready, but as things turned out rotgut cheap rum is more in order.
The sweet tooth took over while standing in front of the white wine Danby and demanded that I open a Sauternes. Obligingly, I grabbed a 2007 Chateau Suduirant. This is actually baby killing as far as Sauternes goes, but it was as delicious as it was disjointed. Not as sweet as I thought, and the texture seemed to coat the mouth with wax made from honey and tropical fruit.
Went to a R. Lopez de Heredia dinner tonight which was co-hosted by Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia and her husband Jose Luis Ripa. It was a great honor to finally meet her in personal as I and a good friend used to import and distribute selected Tondonias here in Manila. Also, a few years ago she gifted me with one of the greatest wines I've ever had, the '64 Tondonia Gran Reserva. Here were the wines and food: Of course the wines of the night were the Tondonia Gran Reservas from 1995 and 1981. I was in Tondonia heaven: Maria Jose talking about her 95 and 81 Viña Tondonia Gran Reservas: She also personally showed my wife and I a perpetual calendar from 1924 their family commissioned from a respected Spanish artist. Pristine:
We made a road trip 1.5 hours north to have lunch and stop at Wine Library. It was a mission to find sub-$30 bottles we like. Well, we did end up buying a few Rieslings we already were familiar with since there were some good prices, but other than that we were experimenting. Opened a 2013 Villa Sparina Barbera hoping it would be the magic bullet of inexpensive Italian wine. It isn't. But it's not bad either. Softer tannins and fairly fruity, but a little tart and acidic. I'll drink it but my wife gave it the thumb's down. Next was one for me - Quinta do Noval Black. A $15 bottle of Port has no right being this nice. It's certainly not perfect as it does show some very dry tannin and alcohol heat on the finish, but in it's defense that can calm down after a couple days in the fridge and it has excellent dark plum, black cherry and black raspberry fruit plus it isn't sickening sweet. Some of you Port drinkers (@AAAKK @RawArcher @dougiedude @alam @Barking mad and the rest of the gang) will really like it.
Tidying out the motorhome this afternoon and came upon some Cassis hidden at the back of the wine locker, perhaps a glass of Kir before dinner this evening. Does Kir work before fish and chips
Bit of a Valpolicella binge today, starting off on a Ripasso then moving onto an Amarone to complement my Ox Tail and Shin Beef Bourgignon