Christmas Day 2025

 

2020 I Custodi Vigne delle'Etna Etna Bianco Superiore Imbris 
100% Carricante. Upon opening is seems to be a pleasant low acidity Carricante (why is that when grown on volcanic soils... it must be the varietal character) but then after an hour or two of air, the beautifully graceful lemon curd fruit just slays with purity and complexity... long delicious finish... 

2015 Domaine des Pierres Seches Saint-Joseph Saint-Épine
...way too young .... a bit too much oak showing out of the bottle... but after several hours of air, it settled into a tasty groove ...

2017 Istine Chianti Classico Riserva Levigne
... young, yes, but very very well balanced... lovely fruit and balanced acidity.... after hours of air, just delightful... a long future airhead...

.... paired with rib roast,  root veggies, squash casserole,  mashed taters & gravy....and an array of classic vinyl...

2004 Martinelli Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard and 2015 Cristom Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard

.....part of the tasting context is listening to original vinyl with it...

Paired with sausage stuffed shrooms and other delicious fare too numerous to chronicle.. 😊🎶🍷

Both wines showed very well... this bottle of 2004 Martinelli BSR is one of those that just goes into a beautiful glide path for hours with additional air... and rivets attention... 

....the bottle of 2015 Cristom Marjorie has beautiful brightly framed fruit that will age effortlessly over the next decade... 

2002 Martinelli Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard

 

certainly no reason to hold any longer... this bottle is a bit brutish.. lacks savory-ness on the finish... 

2014 Cristom Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard

This bottle is drinking silly good....

... the autumnal cherry tertiary flavors are shaping up to be delightful...

...paired with mushroom risotto followed by homemade ricotta cheesecake and cappuccino...

2003 Martinelli Pinot Noir "Martinelli Vineyard" Reserve

These are sort of historic wines made by Helen Turley back in the day... their longevity (while staying relatively balanced) is impressive. 
A huge wine probably 80% to 85% of the way through it's solid drinking life... 👍🍷
If you know, then you know, what these "Martiinelli Vineyard" Reserve wines are about...