My thanks to the fine Mr. Morgan for starting the thread - its a tricky week with those of us who are working; attempting to clear the decks before shutdown, yet ALSO achieve last minute present buying & Christmas tree related tasks.
So tonight opened a bottle of Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux, Moulis-en-Médoc 2015 £20 (please do not judge me, it will last at least three days). Absolutely ready to drink right now - which is strange because the 14 & 16’s still need a year or so.
For notes, refer to TWS site & press reviews which are spot on. The 5% petit verdot spice s evident, as is the class of the Cab Sauv fruit, front and centre. Tomorrow I will get some more bought.
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Agree on the multiple challenges of this week if you’re still working.
It’s also tricky considering what and how much to drink if you’re still in work…should you be sensible and pace yourself for the celebrations proper, or embrace the week and enjoy yourself in the evenings?
I had a brilliant (and fairly boozy) weekend with family and football so am giving my liver a rest day tonight, probably the last one until 2 Jan.
Savouring a Grand Poujeaux over a few days sounds like a tremendous way to start this last pre-Christmas working week, by the way.
I’ve done dry January once, in 2021. I managed to get through the whole month with my partner completely unaware that I was abstaining. I was almost as proud of my ability to hide my grumpy sobriety from her as I was of resisting the demon drink for what felt like an eternity.
I had a bottle of the Tahbilk 2017 recently and was very struck by the initial petrolic aroma which seemed very riesling like. Much more marmalade in flavour though and the petrol was much less apparent on day two. Still have quite a few of these to go as I started with a case and I think I’ve had about four so far. Enjoying them very much.
Tonight I’m trying a Lidl Nero d’ Avola which was ridiculously cheap but it’s quite drinkable. Ah no, a different one which is only very cheap, not ridiculously cheap!
Initially came out of a room which is virtually unheated and it seemed quite fresh with a bit of acidity. Now it’s had a couple of hours warming up it’s getting a little syrupy and I’m having a bit of trouble finishing the second glass. Definitely better to keep it a bit cool. But still reasonable for £6.99. Yes, a little like Ribena in the aftertaste.
Well, this is an absolutely delightful way to start the week, JC Lapalu Côte de Brouilly 2016. Faint hint of age in the colour; but a gorgeous nose, rich, almost ethereal, savoury, barnyard, funky, cherry fruit… Wonderful racy acidity, tannin just about noticeable - well integrated. It is savoury, floral, funky … just starting to go tertiary … finish hangs around a little while. Really lovely, lots going on here.
And this year it only covers 4 Saturdays. It seemed like 5 last year.
Mostly dry January is boring, which is rather worrying if it takes Wine to make evenings interesting. I’ve vaguely contemplated moving it to a more interesting and brighter month like June.
I never do dry January as I don’t drink excessively during Christmas and I don’t find January a good month to do it. This year I’ve done mid April to mid May.
Tesco Finest Marlborough Pinot Noir. Don’t bother. I bought it to marinate Sauerbraten and that’s a good usage for it. Some acidity, distant memory of pinot noir character. It’s at a crossroads where having anything: structure, aroma, anything, would have helped.
Found this a little one dimensional and a slight disappointment for the price. Violets and blueberry with spice and pepper. Ripe but seems to lack the acidity that would lift it. Not a patch on a similar priced Northern Rhône
There seems to be a lot of idle chatter and not much actual wine drinking for a thread with the word ‘drinking’ in the title, possibly I am a little worried by all this talk of dry January…
Langhe Ochetti, 2020 Renato Ratti. A little paler than the usual pale Nebbiolo with a pleasant nose of fruit and smoke, but a thinness on the palate, a touch of raw meat which makes me think of those over produced burgundies of yesteryear, I wonder if it is the vintage, or maybe me as I am usually very fond of Mr Ratti’s wines.
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