7th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid

Naperville, IL
Tasted Saturday, December 9, 2017 by bablues with 337 views

Introduction

7th Annual Christmas dinner and Cellar Raid. This year we started with a a Rhone White get started as people arrived. The theme of the night was American Pinot Noir 6 different Pinot's from 2007 - 2011. We had Steak tartar, then Turkey Leg confit and then Italian comfort food with (all homemade) Meatballs, Baked Ziti and Eggplant Parm. Cellar raid keeps getting better each year.

Flight 1 - Opening Wine and Pinot Flight (7 Notes)

Flight 2 - Filler Wines during dinner and prior to the Cellar Raid (3 Notes)

Flight 3 - The Cellar Raid Wines (11 Notes)

  • 1981 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. Brought by a friend to try (which is against the rules). Nose was a little off-putting but taste was pretty good. tannins were mellow

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  • 2002 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio 94 Points

    Spain, Murcia, Jumilla

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. First of the Cellar raid wines and decided to go back in time a revisit a Clio with some age on it. Clio's have always been a favorite but been holding off on buying recent vintages as I just have too man and the profile of them are not as interesting. However, the opportunity to hot one up at 15 years was a great choice. Flavors are consistent with the past but the elegance of this was noticeable. These wines can age with the best of them and they are not just a over the top powerhouse without the character and balance.

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  • 1998 M. Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite 95 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. Power and elegance wrapped up in a beautiful bottle. Not quite at the level of the 1985 La Chapelle but still quite amazing

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  • 1978 Allessandria Francesco e Figli Barolo Flawed

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. I didn't have any history on this wine when I bought it from Winebid but decided to take a shot and we pulled the cork to see where it was. Unfortunately it was completely dead and undrinkable. Oh well

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  • 1970 Château Gruaud Larose

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. Last of 3 that I had purchased. This wasn't quite dead, but it wasn't that great. Clearly on the steep decline and although interesting not something that I would buy at this stage.

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  • 2011 Cayuse The Lovers 96 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. An incredibly fun wine to drink is the best way to characterize this. Classic Cayuse funk that blows off quickly. This is an over the top wine but who cares, it tastes fantastic.

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  • 1985 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 98 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. This was one of the last bottles that we opened last year, so decided to try this earlier in the night. Incredible is the best way to describe. A few stated this was their WOTN.

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  • 2010 Sine Qua Non Syrah Five Shooter 99 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. Opened up along with the Five Shooter Grenache. The Syrah blew it away along with every other wine on this night. This was the classic SQN that is right in it's sweet spot. Others preferred the 1985 La Chappelle but for others, including me this was the WOTN if not the WOTY.

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  • 2010 Sine Qua Non Grenache Five Shooter 97 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. Opened with the Five Shooter Syrah. While this was amazing, the Syrah just had a bit more finesse to it

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  • 2011 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio 93 Points

    Spain, Murcia, Jumilla

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. Since we opened the 2002 someone wanted to compare to a more recent Clio. Right where you would expect a young Clio and just highlights the consistency of this wine over the years.

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  • 2013 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 97 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Willow Creek District

    Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. As this was the last wine of the night there is not much that I remember from this except it tasting beautifully

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Closing

Another successful Christmas Dinner and Cellar Raid. Every year this is so much fun and I look forward to the wines that we try.

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