Thanksgiving 2016, Day 2
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 6:45 pm
In the late morning on Thanskgiving Day, with ham and cheese sandwiches we drank
2014 Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. This is a big step up from the Drouhin wines we drank the previous night. It has a balanced structure, a pure pinot taste, is good in the mid palate, and there are flavors on the sides. It is surprisingly forward. A bit thin but not watery. “Easily the best pinot we’ve had so far,” observes stefanJr. “Yup,” agrees Judd. stefan 91. Judd 91. stefanJr 91. Lucie 91. Irena 91.
While watching the Cowboys win their tenth in a row we drank
2010 Zivo Eola-Amity Hills AVA Pinot Noir. The otherwise pleasant bouquet has asphalt resulting from residual sulphur. The raspberry taste is tart and has an earthy element that may also be due to sulphur. The finish is bitter. s 86. sJr 88. J 89. I 87. L 88. T 88.
2005 Paul Goerg Brut. This is a new favorite of Lucie and mine. “Yeasty, toasty, old taste; really good,” says stefanJr. “Love it,” chimes in Lucie from the kitchen. “We should be eating food with this,” observes T. “Would have been good to have this with the oysters,” I add. Irena comes into the room and continues this theme with “Yellow flavor; should have food with this.” “I like the fantastic nose,” Lucie says. s 91. sJr 91. T 90. I 91. L 92.
With turkey from Judd’s smoker and all the trimmings we drank
2002 Chehalem Reserve Pinot Noir. Two hours after uncorking the nose opened up. The sweet fruit goes with the cranberries and turkey. “This is one of my favorite Chehalems,” says stefanJr. “Feels hot to me,” comments T. s 91. L 91. I 91. J 90. T 89.
2012 Domaine Drouin Laurene (Dundee Hills) Pinot Noir. “Very primary after the ’02 Chehalem,” says stefanJr. Lucie returns to the Chehalem and comments, “not nearly as good after the young Laurene.” I like them both. The Laurene is primary but open, pure, and lasting. L 91. sJr 91. s 90+. J 91. T 91.
2012 St Innocent Fujin. Corked. Judd, who had never tasted it, liked it despite the flaw. Four of us know that this is a great wine when untainted.
2003 Ridge CA Petite Syrah Dynamite Hill. Powerful spicy nose that is almost overwhelming. Big, up front black fruit. Still very tannic. “I would drink this with popcorn,” says Lucie. Judd says, “I wish we drank more wines like this at Thanksgiving,” and goes on to wish for the Zins we used to drink. L 88. J 93.5. I 90. I found the wine interesting but difficult to rate, as did stefanJr.
2014 Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. This is a big step up from the Drouhin wines we drank the previous night. It has a balanced structure, a pure pinot taste, is good in the mid palate, and there are flavors on the sides. It is surprisingly forward. A bit thin but not watery. “Easily the best pinot we’ve had so far,” observes stefanJr. “Yup,” agrees Judd. stefan 91. Judd 91. stefanJr 91. Lucie 91. Irena 91.
While watching the Cowboys win their tenth in a row we drank
2010 Zivo Eola-Amity Hills AVA Pinot Noir. The otherwise pleasant bouquet has asphalt resulting from residual sulphur. The raspberry taste is tart and has an earthy element that may also be due to sulphur. The finish is bitter. s 86. sJr 88. J 89. I 87. L 88. T 88.
2005 Paul Goerg Brut. This is a new favorite of Lucie and mine. “Yeasty, toasty, old taste; really good,” says stefanJr. “Love it,” chimes in Lucie from the kitchen. “We should be eating food with this,” observes T. “Would have been good to have this with the oysters,” I add. Irena comes into the room and continues this theme with “Yellow flavor; should have food with this.” “I like the fantastic nose,” Lucie says. s 91. sJr 91. T 90. I 91. L 92.
With turkey from Judd’s smoker and all the trimmings we drank
2002 Chehalem Reserve Pinot Noir. Two hours after uncorking the nose opened up. The sweet fruit goes with the cranberries and turkey. “This is one of my favorite Chehalems,” says stefanJr. “Feels hot to me,” comments T. s 91. L 91. I 91. J 90. T 89.
2012 Domaine Drouin Laurene (Dundee Hills) Pinot Noir. “Very primary after the ’02 Chehalem,” says stefanJr. Lucie returns to the Chehalem and comments, “not nearly as good after the young Laurene.” I like them both. The Laurene is primary but open, pure, and lasting. L 91. sJr 91. s 90+. J 91. T 91.
2012 St Innocent Fujin. Corked. Judd, who had never tasted it, liked it despite the flaw. Four of us know that this is a great wine when untainted.
2003 Ridge CA Petite Syrah Dynamite Hill. Powerful spicy nose that is almost overwhelming. Big, up front black fruit. Still very tannic. “I would drink this with popcorn,” says Lucie. Judd says, “I wish we drank more wines like this at Thanksgiving,” and goes on to wish for the Zins we used to drink. L 88. J 93.5. I 90. I found the wine interesting but difficult to rate, as did stefanJr.