2010 Sine Qua Non Syrah Stockholm Syndrome

A very rare bird from Manfred Krankl ... 96% Syrah,  3% Roussanne, 1% Viognier... from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills.  Leonard Taylor reports that this is a truly monumental wine.  Wonderful complexity with dark fruits, chocolate and a purity that flows across the palate. Supremely balanced... sexy, elegant and voluptuous!  

1982 Chateau Margaux and 1982 Chateau L'Evangile

A wonderful dinner hosted by friends, Joe and Leslie Chandler. Joe has been buying Bordeaux since the '70's and enjoys an extensive cellar of perfectly stored older vintages.  It's always a treat when he brings out the classic '82's. 

Paired with a selection of excellent cheeses and fresh baked bread (thanks, Don!) were:

2012 Robert Denogent Pouilly Fuisse la Croix Vieilles Vignes 
A brilliant wine that has everything you want from this appellation. .. great nose, bracing fruit and minerality.  

2012 Liquid Farm Golden Slope Chardonnay
I just did not get this wine.  Lots of great press, but seemed marred by oak to me. (But then, what do I know?)

Paired with pan seared foie gras and fresh baked bread:

1976 Chateau d'Yquem
Dinner could have stopped with this course and I would have been perfectly content! There's not much to be said when a wine it at its peak and served with the perfect accompaniment food-wise.  Only on a few occasions have I had the privilege to enjoy older d'Yquem.  The nose is intoxicating, the palate of tropical fruit and honeyed melon is compellingly gorgeous. 

Paired with pan-seared, marinated Moulard magret,  Yukon Gold potatoes cooked in duck fat, tomato aspic salad:

2004 Quinta Sardonia
A beautiful blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,  Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot from Sardon del Duero.  A Peter Sisseck project, this definitely works. Enticing smoky red and blue fruit on the palate with an almost Bordeaux-ish nose. Slow-o for 2 hours prior to dinner and served from bottle. 

1995 Pride Mountain Claret Reserve
Only 100 cases made, this is one of nicest California versions of Claret. Always sumptuous and immensely pleasing. Still drinking very well.  Slow-o for an hour before dinner with full decant at dinner. Gained presence throughout the evening and disappeared too quickly. 

1982 Chateau L'Evangile
Now we come to the main event... the '82's.  Slow-o for an hour and then full decant. Drank over the course of around 5 hours. Mostly Merlot with some Cabernet Franc.  Wow! Stunning beauty right out of the gates. Gorgeous plum, alluring spice and truffle. Sexy florals on the nose with hints of sous bois.  Actually slightly darker in color (!) than the Chateau Margaux... perfect with the duck...

1982 Chateau Margaux
WOTN ....while the Pomerol came of out the gates capturing the attention, the greatness of Margaux was revealed as the evening progressed.  Cabernet Sauvignon,  Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.  At a wonderfully mature stage of development,  black currant,  cassis, cedar and earth..... velvety aged minerality... An ethereal nose that kept developing and kept me entranced. Gained serious presence over the evening.   With duck, yes, it doesn't get any better. 

Paired with Pear Clafouti... we returned to the glorious '76 d'Yquem.