by Harvey L » Sun Oct 13, 2013 6:03 pm
I think I would like to have my Shabbat meals with Gabriel. He drinks far more wine(s) than I typically do over the course of the two primary meals!
Friday night - low-key; just the wife and I. Yogev cab-merlot blend, 2011 (or, possibly 2012?). Powerful tannins packed a punch on my palate. I was hoping the wine would open up during the course of the meal but that didn't happen. Glass after glass (I am particularly strict about the halacha of not leaving any wine in the bottle on Shabbat...), it was the same result. Tight, tight, tight. I have had some very pleasant Yogev wines and feel they generally represent a good QPR wine. Not this time, however.
Shabbat lunch - we were invited to a massive and massively good kiddush luncheon in shul. My customary drink at kiddush is a nice dram or three of fine, aged single malt whisky. I followed my custom but also did not want to pass up sampling some of the wines being offered. After cleansing my palate with some kiddush fare, I sampled the Celler de Capcanes Montsant Peraj Ha'Abib (2011, I believe). Then, I had another glass. Then, I got my wife a glass...and one for myself. Anyway, this was a delightfully silky smooth wine. As you can tell, you can't stop at just one glass. I am a huge fan of the Peraj Petita, especially having been fortunate last year to score a case at $12.99/bbl. I always keep a stash in my cellar and this is my go to wine, especially when we have friends over who profess not to like most dry red wines. I have never failed to convert them after pouring some of this wine. The Peraj Ha'Abib takes the Petita to the next level. I could drink this wine all day long. But, at approx. $62/bbl, I could not do so every week.
There were a couple dessert wines offered as well. First, I tried the Dalton Anna NV, as I know it is not easy to find at retail and it is a bit pricey. I was horrified to watch the bartender pour the wine into a normal sized wine glass, halfway to the top. That's way too much even for a fabulous dessert wine. Having ordered two glasses (one for the wife), I had to find someone to whom I could hand off one of them. One glass would be fine to share. The wine was a deep golden hue, possibly a bit too deep I feared. Sadly, my fears were realized. I don't know that I would say the wine has turned, but certainly its best days are behind it. No fresh fruitiness and sweetness cut by crisp acidity, which, to me, are the hallmarks of a top drawer dessert wine. Rather, it had that nutty, raisiny nose of a wine whose fruit has mostly dried up. Sipping the wine, my palate agreed with my nose. Next, about 30 mins later, I tried a 2012 Herzog LH Orange Muscat. Thankfully, this time the wine was poured into an appropriately smaller glass. Lovely, fragrant, not overly complex but quite refreshing. Ample acidity so that I was able to savor each sip.
That's all for this week. Looking forward to next week.