Seaside Cellars Pinot New Zealand

2014, Porrera Vi de la Vila, Celler Cal Pla Mas d'en Compte Black Slate, Priorat, Spain.

2011, Antoniolo Gattinara, Gattinara, Italy.

2015, Lafarge Bastide Milaflors, Languedoc Roussillon, France

94 points/$13.00 an absolute bargain for a great red wine. 70% Syrah, 30% Grenache.

2015, Albert Mann Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France.

2005, Cave Springs Ice Wine, Niagara, Canada.

Some good old wines with good old friends last night:

1992 Caymus Cab (still good but past it's prime)
2011 Turley Zin Dusi Vineyard (outstanding)
2005 Ojai Syrah Special Bottling Bien Nacido Vineyard (only 4 barrels made also outstanding)

^ What a nice lineup. I think I'll break out something with some age on it tonight.

^ What a nice lineup. I think I'll break out something with some age on it tonight.

I've had mainly local wines lately (Retzlaff, Livermore). For thanksgiving we opened a 2008 Pontet Canet and a 2011 Corison Cab. Both excellent wines.

hmmm...
I have a bottle chilling of Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve 2015 Vidal Icewine.
Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario

They are within a few miles of each other. There is a unique micro climate at the western edge of lake Ontario about 10 miles wide. The lake itself moderates the winter time temperatures. Also there is a shelf of land that has schist soil and a bed of limestone. All of that makes for wonderful wine growing conditions. I bet you enjoy the Vidal, it is yummy to say the least.

a friend brings back a bottle of icewine for me every Christmas when he goes to Canada to see his family...they aren't inexpensive. This one was like 25 for the little 375!

Afraid to jinx the local football team, but I might save it for a joyous celebration dessert with cigar next Sunday night.

Cooper & Thief red blend

^ A really good bottle. The first Bourbon barrel conditioned wine I enjoy. You can slightly taste the Bourbon. It adds a richness to the wine without overpowering it. 18% alcohol.

My first test drive and I really enjoyed the offering.

2010 Serra Vineyards Pinto Noir. 14.2% nose shows boozyness, but the taste doesn't show what you smell. Blackberry, currents and a nice acidity that paired with the dinner of mashed gold potatoes, broccoli and grilled USDA Prime tri-tip steaks. (200 case production)

After dinner I opened a bottle of 2009 Cricket Hill Winery Cab Franc (probaby my favorite varietal) pissed my lady off because she's dieting and they don't open back up until april. VERY SMALL production, and Duane (the owner/blender) didn't want to do a pure varietal of the Cab Franc (he does right bank Bordeaux) but his wife made him.....it's goddamm spectacular. Dark cherry, bold presence and just a hit of booze on the finish. His Rendeavous 2010 is another of our favorites, it's a blend. This next season his first Rose will be ready, we're probably going to buy a case. He doesn't do memberships, and his prices are 20-29$ per bottle, very good for the quality and definition of small batch.

Earlier this evening a 2015 Cliff Lede Claret.

Well balanced and delicious.

2014, Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Montepulciano, Italy.

2012, Villa Antinori Toscana Rosso, Tuscany, Italy.