We’re getting ready for a kitchen remodel and needed one last dinner to get us through the rough times… mornings cooking breakfast on a folding table and electric skillet… no sink… you get the idea…

The evening started off with an enjoyable bottle of 1999 Argyle Brut Knudsen Vineyard. Fairly rich and with nice aromatics, it showed a soft, easy going palate. This was followed by an absolutely stunning bottle of 1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia. Showing gorgeous aromatics of honeysuckle, white flowers, cream brulee and wax, it was medium bodied in the mouth, perfectly balanced, textured and long. Despite its oxidative style, it’s just amazingly fresh and vibrant and I found it hard to stop refilling my glass.

To go along with cheesy polenta and a grilled leg of lamb, the 2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve was hard to beat. Not many ’04s come close to this wine and it showed fantastic, sweet aromatics to go along with a gorgeous palate. This continued to flesh out over the evening and is really a treat. The 1995 Fontanabianca Barbaresco Sori Burdin, when paired next to the richness and sweetness of the Rayas, seemed slightly tight and reserved. When tasted on its own though, it offered up a decidedly rich and ripe bouquet of black cherry, cigar and hot asphalt mixed with graphite, new leather and surprisingly, a slight chocolaty richness. Medium to full bodied on the palate with beautiful ripeness and a full texture, this has ripe tannins on the finish and is drinking really well.

The evening was capped with a young, exuberant bottle of 2007 Pétalos del Bierzo Bierzo. This 100% Mencia wine comes from vineyards ranging in age from 40 to 90 years and has big, intense aromatics of blackberry and blueberry fruit mixed with spice, minerals and subtle floral notes that give it lift and brightness. In the mouth it’s medium to full bodied with upfront, lush fruit, admirable purity and nice length to the finish.

A fantastic evening who’s memory should serve as ample reminder of the good dinners to come in a new kitchen!

Thanks for reading!
Jeb

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 at 8:44 pm and is filed under Random Notes, tasting notes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.