Celebratory Drinks (e.g. Birthday, Anniversary, Christmas)

[qaz]

Whilst there is a Nice wines thread, as well as an Anniversary one, I thought that we might have a place for those possibly better special-occasion bottles

These are my Christmas Day wines this year:

• Mount Langi Ghiran Undisgorged Sparkling Pinot Noir 2011 (Christmas Eve)
• Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz 2007
• Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2006 (thought a 1997 too risky given reviews)
• Hillcrest Vineyard Premium Pinot Noir 2005
• Chateau Leoville Las Cases 1995
• Chateau Climens 1995 (alternative was 1996)
• Graham's Vintage Port 1970 (not pictured)

(also The BYO Wine Restaurant Thread)

 

[QF WP]

I’d add this bottle to the list as a “would like to buy and drink for a major birthday”, message as sent to me by a wine connoisseur





Just don't have that much spare to buy it...

 

[qaz]

Forgive me for being somewhat self-indulgent in posting here rather than the usual nice wines thread due to the 1989 Montrose and others enjoyed for Easter/birthday/ANZAC Day - the Mate's and Triptych were delicious and delightful, I'll also seek more HRB and Heresztyn's Premier Crus, the Sexton and Montmains need further time, with the latter provided by Boozebud instead of the 2017 Petit Chablis

 

[qaz]

Anniversary Wines For A Big Celebration: What To Drink When The Year Is More Important More Than The Price - Quill & Pad

Wine can be so much more than just an enjoyable drink. It can link us to times, people, and places. A traditional concept for so-called anniversary wines is to celebrate a milestone, perhaps a birthday or wedding or even anniversary, with a fine bottle from the vintage of the birthyear or...

quillandpad.com

50th anniversary dinner at Ryne: unfortunately didn't have anything from that vintage, such as the world's best wine of the 1970s, 1971 Penfolds Grange, thus instead chose otherwise meaningful/significant years, along with a 1990 ring-in, Henschke Hll of Grace - wasn't sure about for how long to decant it, so consulted these:

Hill of Grace 1990 Henschke

Wine page of: Hill of Grace 1990 Henschke Eden Valley Australia

tastingbook.com

CellarTracker

Henschke Hill of Grace A Definitive Tasting - Wine Berserkers​

1990 Shiraz comparison: Grange, Hill of Grace, Wendouree

This tasting should provide a good insight into the differences of these three iconic wines, and so it turned out to be. Day 1: The wines ...

australianwinereviews.blogspot.com

Ended up, though, sending Andreas an sms, to which he replied:

We opened a double magnum 1990 hill of grace bottle on the weekend and did not decant but asked everyone to swirl their glasses and let it breathe a little. You can imagine decanting that size bottle would be tricky. If you have a regular 750ml bottle then I suggest single decanting a few hours before and leaving in a cool place. Careful of sediment, there was quite a bit in our bottle on the weekend, and once it's stirred up it tends to stay in suspension.​

Hence I asked Ryne to decant it at 5pm for a 6.30pm dinner start, thinking that we wouldn't be drinking it until 8.30-9pm:



Hillcrest Premium: incredible depth, probably one of the best chardonnays I've ever had, supports/confirms my belief that Yarra Valley chardonnays are (for me) only/most enjoyable with much age - more golden / deeper yellow than this photo suggests:



Hill of Grace - amazing length, better than the 1990 Three Rivers last decade, though unsure about the 1991 HoG last century - wonder how my 1990 Grange/90A/920 will be in coming years...

Tres Hermanos Robusto (No. 3) – Taylors Vintage Port 1980 (half bottle). — Kenfessions

I am the first to confess that my expertise, such as it is, is almost non-existent when it comes to non-Cubans. I honestly doubt that my total for NC’s smoked would make 1% of the cigars experienced. And so when kindly presented with an array of NC’s for review – in this case from Tres Hermanos – I

www.kenfessions.com

Christmas Day:



thanks @CLT Aussie for The Curly