2005 Martinelli Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard

 This turned out to be quite delicious after several hours of air in decanter first to deal with the heavy amount of sediment (typical of this bottling in this time period) and then back into bottle to transport to restaurant. I admit that the abv is scary for a pinot noir but whatever Helen Turley was doing back then at Martinelli, it worked, well especially with regard to age-ability of the wine. I tend to enjoy these wines also from a nostalgic perspective. 

Still, of the 2001 - 2005 vintages of Martinelli BSR, the 2005 is the standout for sheer beauty if not balance. 

2007 Mastroberardino Taurasi Riserva Radici

 In a beautiful stage of fulfillment of the pedigree... the richness of the 2007 vintage fruit has aged enough now to permit the wine to show more elegantly with that signature "Taurasi garrique" that is so savory in the 2006 Radici Riserva bottling, so you now get some of that in the 2007.

This is so nicely balanced and will continue to age very gracefully,  IMO. Superb depth and complexity on a long filigreed finish. 

Paired with smoked local pork shoulder, pork ribs, collards and roasted Brussels sprouts, hushpuppies ...

The less than welcome news is that the 2006 Radici Riserva and 2007 Radici Riserva have both shot up in price by 100% and 120% , respectively., on the secondary market. So make what you will of that. 

2019 Falkenstein Krettnacher Eucharuisberg Riesling Kabinett Alte Reben AP8 "Gisela"

 This wine knows what it is compared to the  2019 Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb we had recently (which was way too young and temperamental).

It's also a very rich Kabinett-level wine, if you like that... superior aging potential... balanced fruit and acidity...

Alte Reben cuvee is dependable year in and year out... I suppose "Gisela" is a specific barrel (?). Albeit, this appears to be a particularly rich vintage, based on my admittedly limited, but very very enjoyable experience with Erich and Johannes Weber's wines courtesy of introduction through @"Marius Fries"...

The fruit here exhibits a very noble tropical finsh after being open a few hours that I think is primed for further cellaring...

2019 Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb

 Much more drinkable than a year ago. Still young. It's like the richer and drier components of this wine are fighting each other and the richer side is strong enough to win... this is really not an elegant feinherb like previous vintages I've had (2017 and 2015)... definitely a hold just to enjoy the aging of the fruit, which is really on the lush side...side...a bit of an ill-defined tango with tangerine beating up on peach...

Frankly I like the elegance of previous years and I enjoyed them young because they were so drinkable...

2021 I Custodi delle Vigna dell'Etna Etna Bianco Ante

 100% Carricante 

Nice finish to the evening listening to music. This needs a lot of air. I find Carricante as a varietal to be a bit fleshier than I would expect from a white wine produced from volcanic soils (?) ... but I'll leave it to people with more experience with these wines than me. Lemony goodness with a Sicilian saltiness on the finish... this is a well made wine IMO that will definitely gain additional complexity...

2009 Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Riserva

 This is the best 2009 PdB Cru I've had since drinking the 2009 PdB Montestefano in April 2018. This is a good bottle that went the distance tonight being the most food friendly (mainly seafood) of the reds. I've had tastier experiences with the 2008 PdB Crus ... but this '09 is spot on with plenty of go left in the tank based on consumption over several hours.. 👍🍷

2019 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Clos du Bourg

Ideally, hold another five years. The perfume is notably the most beautiful I've experienced from this producer & cru. Read the reviews from Galloni and Reinhardt, they're spot on. Seriously good juice.

Paired with creole BBQ roasted oysters and grilled whole branzino..

Chile, Lebanon and Italy

 

2017 Clos Apalta 20th Anniversary 
48% Carménère, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Decanted for aeration..... minimal sediment... a joy to drink since my experience with high end Chilean is limited.... so well balanced as all great wines are ... beautiful blend of varietals.... 

2007 Mastroberadino Taurasi Naturalis Historia
100% Aglianico
A perennial favorite... rich vintage ... aged beautifully...such a classically delicious Taurasi... sourced from the Mirabella vineyard that was planted in 1972.

2001 Chateau Musar Rouge
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault
Sort of a cult wine I always love to drink.  This bottle showed well and exhibits a classic savoriness to the medium weight earthy dark fruit palate. 

Paired well with the aforementioned pit-smoked meats... pork butt, pork ribs, beef brisket, turkey... accompanied by collard greens, grilled brussels sprouts and hush puppies.


 

2005 Martinelli Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard

Spectacular from the get-go, opening up nicely over the course of several hours. Gorgeous perfume spilled forth on opening the bottle .... decanting helped to remove sediment (there was a lot). 

Parker originally commented years ago on this particular 2005 BSR being "Richebourg-like". The fruit is very generous... it's not a shy wine but is balanced for +15% abv. Really long beautiful fruit finish... no heat. 

Paired wonderfully with a range of pit-smoked meats... pork butt, pork ribs, beef brisket, turkey... with collard greens and brussels sprouts and hush puppies.
As good of an aged pinot noir as I've had from anywhere recently ...

2006 Chateau La Croix St. George

 This was a nice surprise because I rarely get to drink Pomerol. I really enjoyed this wine a lot... nicely aged right bank Merlot...actually a pretty big wine fruit and tannin-wise, balanced by a mouthwatering level of acidity... popped and poured and decanted... showed best after a couple of hours or air... interesting to drink a 2006 Barolo and 2006 Pomerol in the same night... paired simply with gouda and some cashew/macadamia mix...post dinner...