It's Christmas eve and here in Poland it's a big deal, even bigger than tomorrow actually. It's called wigilia and the big lunch/dinner starts around nightfall (3 PM currently). Traditions dictate that you don't eat meat but fish and winter vegetables (cabbage and potatoes mostly). The star of the show is carp in many different type of serving : fried, in sauce, served cold in gelée... We start eating at 3 pm and get up whenever nobody can eat another bite any more. Usually half of the food remains. Oh and needless to say, the go to drink to go along is wódka, or vodka, drank cold, in small shot glasses, straight down.
Of course I had to bring something special to add to local traditions and this time I went with this one.
The nose is made of honey and baked apples, and saffron. It's a powerful chenin nose, brought to a level I had never encountered. The palate is extremely dry and focused, with a great acid drive, some honey and apple notes all along, a great width, some nice matter and almost a sauternes like mouthfeel, without sugar. The finish is long, fresh and lasts for ever. This is chenin at its best and I heard this was one of the lesser vintages of this. I can't wait to open my 2015 bottle which is quietly waiting for the right moment to be popped open . Great stuff! — 3 years ago
This is how to celebrate the Winter Solstice, with a bottle of the very best bubbly. Thanks, Joy. — 5 years ago
As close to perfection as can be..,, smooth, silken, 2-minute finish. Nose of ripe, preserved, wrinkled apples…complete, complex, hints of baking spices, lighter than anticipated, but packing that 80 proof wallop. I anticipate most of bottle will grace a cool winter evening in front of the fire for 2 couples! — 2 years ago
A wow! Wine. Briny, salty, sea filled,
N: Old Boats, salt, citrus, vanilla, yeast, straw, pungency! Dried caramel.
P: Such a blast ! Dried seaweed, brine, orange peel, vanilla in the background.
Mouth completely engaged.
An 8 yr old manzanilla drawn(saca) in the winter of 2020.
— 3 years ago
Big Green Egg out of winter storage, Talbot ‘81 in a amazing condition. Wow! — 4 years ago
Lemon yellow in colour in the glass. Aromatic Pear and nutty notes. The palate is unctuous, rich and delicious of medium plus intensity and low acid. Excellent Viognier from the acknowledged leader in the variety making the best examples in Australia I believe. Not for long cellaring and drinking really well right now. Had another bottle 37 weeks later on 30th December 2021 with consistent notes. Always a pleasure to drink one of these. Julia Harding said a perfect varietal expression. Had my final bottle on 12th June 2022 with consistent notes. Apricot notes with an oily unctuous texture - an excellent winter white. — 4 years ago
Refer to previous Delectable Notes 5 years ago in July 2018. No changes to now. Black fruits - currant and berry. Rich, mouth filling, full bodied and delicious - the sort of wine that created a big profile for Mollydooker in the USA. The 16%ABV is not apparent. As I said in the previous note, definitely a crowd pleaser and a great wine on a cold night. One bottle left which I will probably have next winter. — 2 years ago
Wife loves it. She is having braised ribs and I am having pasta with a heavy red red sauce. Also a snowy winter night in Maine. Rich, full and warming. — 4 years ago
Eric L
For a very cheap local wine, it’s a pretty good deal. Clean, with a bit acidic Chardonnay-like finish. No inflammation after for me… — 4 months ago