Corporate Holiday Dinner
Wine Flight Selection
11 December 2001
From the
private cellar of
Rick and Linda McNees, Naperville, Illinois
Aperitif
1990 Piper Heidseik Champagne
Vin blanc
1994 Teruzzi & Puthod - Terre di Tufo
Well-known Vernaccia-based white wine from San Gimignano. Known for its tall slender bottle and fun tiny postage stamp label for Enrico Teruzzi’s wife, Carmen, who was a prima ballerina at La Scala in Milano. Careful vinification, barrel-fermented in French oak barrels with grapes from prime vineyards, it's a benchmark for Tuscan white wine.
Mer Soleil Chardonnay - 1995
From vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County, this Chardonnay is very rich and full in its texture, with flavors of sweet honey, vanilla, and caramel. This is Chuck Wagner's (who also makes Caymus) eighth vintage of Mer Soleil.
Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay – 1995
The smoky, toasty, figgy, buttery aromas of this enticing white lead to similar rich flavors running deep and persistent, picking up notes of pear, apricot, citrus and melon. Finish zooms on and on.
Vin rouge
1995 & 98 E.
Guigal Brune et Blonde Côte-Rôtie Rouge
A 90-92 point rating from Robert
Parker Jr. His review, "The 1998 Cote Rotie Blonde et Brune exhibits the
roasted, smoky characteristics that emerge in this appellation's ripest
vintages, in addition to abundant quantities of cassis fruit, full body, and
more structure, weight, and concentration than either the 1996 or 1997. It
should turn out to be the biggest, densest, most age worthy Blonde et Brune
since 1995."
Color: Dark red with a pink edge.
Nose: Heavy jammy ripe Cassis, Rhubarb and Sweet Smoky Oak.
Taste: Concentrated and powerful. Huge amounts of complex Black fruits.
Medium-heavy in body. Higher acid and tannin levels. Rich ripe Cassis,
Cherry, and Blackberry fruit. is well balanced by earthy flavors of Cedar,
Licorice, Leather and Cigar Box. Outstanding finish shows hints of the silky
balance this wine should develop. (W.C.S.)
1988 & 89 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux
Dark ruby red in color and a hint of red brick at the edge. Ripe fruit aromas of plums and raspberries. Full bodied and soft, with round tannins and a delicious chocolaty aftertaste. Slightly dry, papery finish. (WS 91 RMP 92)
1996 Del Dotto Estate Bottled Napa
Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon
A well-oaked
style with smoky vanilla flavors and a core of black cherry, plum and wild
berry that's elegant and spicy, finishing with mild, well integrated
tannins. Impressive for its length and complexity.
Wine Spectator (JL)
Rating 92
Chateau
Grand vin de
Leoville Las Cases
1993
St Julien Bordeaux
Beaulieu Vineyards - 1997 Tapestry Reserve
Aperitif
Beringer 1993 Special Select
Late Harvest
Johannisburg Riesling
Limited release from handpicked select clusters of grapes with very high incidence of Botryis cinera,. Super rich, full-bodied wine with a lush apricot, fig, and honey aromas and flavors. Finishes with a long, rich aftertaste."
Wine Spectator - 95 pts
First vintage for this 100% Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon based port.
Color: Dark opaque Ruby color.
Nose: Huge jammy Cassis, Flint and Blackberry aromas. Hints of Raisin and Almonds.
Taste: Rich concentrated sweet Black Berry, Cassis and Candy Apple flavors. Medium delicate body. High levels of tannin and sugar. Lovely Port, starts out on the tip of your tong, filling your mouth with sweet Black fruit and Vanilla. Leads to a wonderful soft, slightly tannic, mid-palate. Finishing with dry, robust fruit flavors.
Food: Pairs well with dark chocolate desserts, Raspberry Torte, Almonds, and Stilton cheese.
Ficklin Maderia County Tinta Port
Ficklin is the first and only Port wine made in the United States entirely from the four true Portuguese grape varieties. These celebrated Port grapes have been selected to produce this rare Ficklin Tinta Port with its rich, full flavor. The grapes reach their perfection in varietal vineyards under the favorable climatic conditions of southern Madera County. Through selection of perfect clusters, the making of wines in small lots, the aging for several years in small oak casks, and the final aging in bottles, each bottle receives personal care.
The production of premium fortified wine has long been part of the history at Yalumba. Founder Samuel Smith first made port back in the 1860's.
Today Yalumba maintains its reputation for its premium quality fortified wines by occasionally releasing very small parcels of Show Reserve stocks. This old Muscat was sourced from the Rutherglen and other Northern traditional areas of Victoria then blended and stored in French oak puncheons in their marble cellars at Angaston for eight years.
Made from the red and pink clones of the Muscat, a petite grains grape variety, this luscious dessert wine displays all the characteristics of this classic Australian wine style.
COLOUR: Deep tawny red.
BOUQUET: Classic rose petal and orange rind of the Muscat grape.
PALATE: Full, luscious middle. Richly flavoured, reminiscent of raisined fruits, nuts and spices. Sweet and soft yet unclaying finish. Incredible persistence of flavours.
