'Tis the Most Shizzle Bedizzle Time of the Year

Special occasions call for special wines. Well, at least with my family and friends, which is to say I'm a lucky dude.  I contribute by doing most of the cooking and even bringing a few bottles myself now and then.

This Xmas blew me away more than any other in the wine department.  My body has been soaked in a tasting of three New World Pinots (including an amazing 2000 Sine Qua Non, which one taster - fine, it was me- rightly summed up as "the shizzle"), an insane 2000 Bordeaux ("shizzle bedizzle"), a fine Burgundy ("will be the shizzle with more aging"), a tasting of three Spanish wines from the excellent 2001 vintage and an amazing '95 Pahlmeyer Cab from Cali ("another shizzle bedizzle"). 

Wine lovers and those curious about the new foodienyc wine rating system based on lame Snoop Ebonics should follow the jump for more details....

So, here is the new foodienyc rating system, at least until enough hate mail floods in that I cannot continue.   

Shizzle bedizzle:  awesome, top rating
The Shizzle: great, buy it right away
Shizzin': good, proceed with caution

Xmas Eve

2000 Baron Pichon Longueville

foodienyc Rating: Shizzle bedizzle

Notes:  I was relatively skeptical about whether this wine would be ready to drink.  In fact, I almost told the fine owner not to open it and save it for longer aging.   We decanted it and let it rest for a half hour before tasting.   It was phenomenal and ready to drink.  Amazing nose of herbal flavors, deep fruits.  A decent amount of tannin but a deep, long finish that literally lasted in our mouths for what seemed to be an eternity.  I have tasted some old Bordeaux and very much thought this was in line with them even at this age.  Holy shit! I can't imagine what the 2000 vintage is going to taste like in another 10 + years.  Wow.  Parker gave this a 96, if you care.

1995 Pahlmeyer Cabernet

foodienyc Rating: Shizzle bedizzle

Notes:  Purple and inky, huge finish and amazing nose.  Obviously stark difference between this wine and the above Pichon.  The main difference was the oakiness.  I am usually a big new world wine fan and still am, but the Pichon was impressive to me without the oakiness.  Parker gave this wine a 96 as well, which I agree with as it is in that range and equally impressive as the Pichon.   This wine still had pretty big tannis and I think would be great after another 10 years.  This was my contribution to the party, thanks to Nate for this great xmas gift from last year.

Xmas Day

Wow, a real treat thanks to Art.   We tasted and compared three New World Pinots, from Cali and Oregon.

2000 Sine Qua Non "Accapella"

foodienyc rating:  The Shizzle

Notes: Even though Sine is mostly Cali based, this Pinot is chosen from Oregon vineyards. I love the bottle on this wine.  Reminded us of an upside down wine glass.  Nice fruit, classic Pinot taste to me.  Long finish, still had some nice tannins.  Got a 91 from WS, think that is total crap.  But I just checked out the price and wouldn't pay retail for this - yow! At these prices I would go in another direction.

1999 Beaux Freres Pinot

foodienyc rating: The Shizzle

Notes: Not a classic Pinot, this wine was smoky and inky.   This was a huge Pinot to me and seemed like it wasn't even ready yet.  Nice long finish, balanced but with nice tannins.  Nice nose but actually a bit closed to me.  This winery is partially owned by Parker and pretty hard to get a hold of.  WS gave it a 94, which I find interesting compared to the 91 for the Sine above.  I liked the Sine better, if not the price.

2003 Patz & Hall Pinot

foodienyc rating: Shizzin'

This was more in line with a classic Pinot - supple, soft, not oaky and more fruit focused.   Some tannis may allow it to age.  I wonder if age will make it a bit fuller in the finish/nose, but overall a pretty nice wine and generally affordable at under $30.  Parker only gave it an 88, but it's not really in his flavor profile, in my opinion.

Boxing Day, Whatever that Means

Three 2001 Spanish wines to compare and contrast.   All available at PJ Wines, nyc peeps.

2001 Masia Carreras

foodienyc rating: Shizzin'

This wine took a while to open up.  Maybe a few hours, for realz.  Nice fruity, berry flavors but a closed nose and finish.  After a few hours, the finish improved immensely.  Parker gave this a 94, but it's hard to understand how he can say that considering it is not even close to ready to drink.  Since it is only $25 or so a bottle, I would buy it and age it.  

2001 Tilenus

foodienyc rating: The Shizzle

Loved this wine.  Agree with Parker's assessment that this is a Pinot on steroids.  Sort of lighter bodied than I expected but a bit more delicate than other Spanish wines I like, especially the above Masia.  Parker gave this a 93, but I think it is a better wine to drink now than the Masia.

2001 Sierra Cantabria Rioja

foodienyc rating:  Shizzle bedizzle

Run, don't walk, to your keyboard and buy this wine right away.  At $17, it is fantastic.  My fav of the three Spanish wines, it is a bit oaky with an earthy long finish, nice fruity, musty nose and perfect for drinking now.   Nice tannins for aging.  93 Parker, but again better than the higher rated Masia in my opinion.  Buy it and thank me later.  Or don't thank me.  I won't be offended.

 

 

 

Comments

[kat]

Enjoy reading your blog. Happy New Year!!

[joe]

thanks kat! happy new year to you too!