Opening Bottles, Opening Doors

As much as I went on about Open That Bottle Night (the contest, tie-in to the aging seminar I thought up…) you’re probably expecting that I had a big to-do on Saturday night.  And I did… but a relatively low-key version.  I had a group of wine-lovin’ friends over to share in the event, asking that they each bring a special bottle, something with meaning.  I had each person write down their what for, then invited everyone to jot tasting notes on the back. There was no elaborate meal, but I did provide some snacks to soak up some of the alcohol. 

*Toast points with mascarpone and smoked salmon
*Whole wheat pizza with carmelized onions, port-infused mushrooms, and green olives
*Soy sauce and brown sugar glazed flank steak
*Assorted cheeses (Italian truffle, cambezola, Jarlsberg, and pecorino topped with truffle honey) and Chianti marinated salami

The first thing we analyzed was the bottle BK provided, given to him by his mom back in 2003.  He had no idea where she got this unusual specimen: a semi-sweet sparkling Muscat from Moldova (located between Romania and the Ukraine, if you weren’t sure). Perhaps none of us had heard of wine from this area because the United States only imports .5% of their production, while Russia takes 82%. Or maybe it was because the wine was barely drinkable. I wrote down gasoline-laced peaches with a touch of honey, and LaMont later said that was being generous. Granted, it might have tasted much better if drunk young, though I have my doubts. But it was an interesting experience, to be sure.

Other wines we tasted:
2006 Lost Canyon Widdoes Vineyard Pinot Noir that sweet Meg received for helping bottle it. This was the first vintage for a great local winery, and it was the first bottle to completely empty itself. Notes: smooth strawberry, white pepper, herbes d’provence, bourbon vanilla, strawberry rhubarb pie. Hella light.

1995 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon which Kristen bought on her first real tasting trip to Napa and that, as she put it, might not have been stored properly in various small apartments. Made it through those temperature fluctuations somehow to exhibit leather, tobacco, sage, dill, tri-tip, raspberry cupcakes, cedar, dried flowers, and cherries. I said the nose was more interesting than the palate, which Sean reaffirmed by calling it a great example of bouquet versus aroma. Crowd favorite, I think.

2003 Ledson Johannisberg Riesling was brought by our chemist Chris, who couldn’t remember where it came from two years ago but thought it would be fun to try. We found petrol, pear, minerality, honeysuckle, linens, and grains.

2004 Valle Dell’Acate Cerasuolo Di Vittoria made at a cooperative was Sean’s blend of Frappato and the yummy Nero d’Avola that he got in his Farmstead club pack. Lurking in its depths were river rocks, redwood, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, raspberry, pencil lead, carraway, and earthy Italian brett.

2004 Unti Petite Sirah which Lorraine bought last summer on our trip to the Russian River Valley, where we both loved the stop at the small winery. I said beef jerky, licorice, celery, and pizza (or that could have been Victoria’s slice as she hovered nearby) and BK said it reminded him of my famous broccoli rice casserole, which has a fair amount of celery. Lorriane referred to it as the Purple Stain, as it’s notorious for leaving them everywhere.

2001 Lagier Meredith Syrah was my contriubution that I bought several years ago in Mississippi. I think it’s my only bottle left from before I moved out here, and at the time it was the second highest priced bottle I’d ever purchased (second only to Insignia). It seemed more appropriate to open it now that I know who Carole Meredith is for her research into Zinfandel’s history. It could have kept going, as the tannins were still fairly strong, though nicely balanced. This one showed green olives, blackberry, pepper, mint, and cocoa.

When LaMont showed up with his 2004 Lucien Boillot Volnay, I’m afraid my tasting capabilities were not at their best. I don’t think I got as much out of the Burgundy as I could have. What I did find were cranberries, dill, cardamom, Chinese 5 spice, and juniper berries, which I crushed in the mortar for Lorraine and Victoria to smell.

Overall, I think everyone enjoyed themselves.  We had good times and good wines.  And even though I didn’t have a fantastic story for my wine, I could tell people that my first OTBN last year included an unexpected participant—BK … back when I barely knew him.