Allen Brothers Lava Cakes/Soufflé & 1977 Port. Pinch me!
Whenever I have wine this old, I always ask the people I share it with, what were you doing in 1977?
The beautiful thing about really old Port is how it softens all the edges & the elevated ABV. Smooth as silk.
This was a 375ml and farther along than a 750ml. The color was more Tawny than Port at this point. Wine on the leaner side. The fruits were; Thompson raisins, dates, figs, prunes, and some dried blackberries. Caramel, molasses, melted brown sugar, Cognac & Brandy presence, subtle wood shaving, nuts, butterscotch, graham cracker, dark withering flowers with beautiful acidity. The long finish was; rich, polished, well balanced, smooth and persistent for minerals.
If we had gone out for this dinner, it would have been $2500 plus tip & it wouldn’t have been this good which, is why we choose to cook rather than go out.
Cheese Course $25 pp
Salad $18 pp
Allen Brothers 6oz Ribcap $85 pp
Carrots $9 pp
Crispy Potato Wedges $12 pp
Soufflé $20 pp
Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs N/V Champagne $150
Glass of 2017 Pierre Boisson Bourgogne Blanc $25 pp
2018 Enderle & Moll Pinot Rose $75
1967 Bertani Valpolicella Amarone $625
2003 Chateau Lascombes $325
1977 Dow Port 375ml $275
Glass of Ruinart N/V Rose $35 pp
$2591 plus tax and gratuity
7 Hour Dinner
Nor would the music & ambiance been as good.
Interesting exercise penciling it all out.
Photos of; the boats used to transport Port from Douro to Oporto called a “Barcas”, grape stomping in a Lagare and our Allen Brothers Lava Cake/Soufflé. — 4 years ago
Palomino harvested from Carrascal vineyard in four passes during the season. Grapes exposed to sun for approx. 4 hrs to elevate sugars, no fortification necessary. Vintages prob-2013-2017 Saca iv.
N: Old wooden boats, tinned peaches, iodine, the sea baby!, Hazelnuts,Orange and lemon rinds, wax, petroleum, …
P:Oranges and peaches, So delicate, some wood, tactility seductive, Viscous yet refreshing.preserved citrus. The “ inner mouth energy” is tremendous.
Not overly oxidative, I could go on.
Find some.
Thanks @enramistas, @NickAfricano, @LuisPérez — 2 years ago
Complex and rich. Lots of – very macerated – autochthonous flowers and some smokiness. The 'promised' wooden and chocolate traces were mostly gone, but that's not unusual in a 12-year wine. All in all, a pretty good buy. — 8 years ago
I don't know who monsieur touton had to exploit to get 2000 Bordeaux that is drinking great still in 2015 for around $12 retail. In wooden cases! I'm buying many more for my shop. — 10 years ago
Ach! such a great scotch. Salty sea breeze all over the palate... soft wooden notes too... just wonderful. — 10 years ago
Had this a few months ago at Wildair and was really impressed by its flavor and freshness. First off, it's in a beautiful heavy amphorae bottle. This wine is a skin contact amber orange liquid, a blend of 80% Sauvignon and 20% Chardonnay (called Morillon locally). Hand harvested and half are stemmed. Receives 6-12 months of skin contact in used oak barrels with indigenous yeasts, before transferred to oval wooden tanks. Lightly sulfured at bottle, cloudy and unfiltered. It can hold up in body and tannin like a red, almost tastes like cider, lemony and herbaceous. — 8 years ago
One of the best wineries in Chianti. Wine is reach with great flavours. The Chianti Classico is composed of 90% Sangiovese grape and other red grapes. Wine with a strong character. The grapes have been harvested by hand by the end of September- early October . Agrarian aspects Altitude - 300-420 mt Exposure - South, south-west Soil - Limestone, calcareous,pebbles Training method - Spur-pruned cordon Vineyard density - average of 5.000 plants/ha Age of vineyard - 5-15 years Yield / ha - 70 q.al Yield / plant - 1.3 kg. Harvest - late September - early October Alcohol content - 13.5% Ageing 80% of the wine is aged in the wooden vats made of French oak, 20% is aged into French and American barriques for about 12 months, bottle ageing for further 6 months. Vinification Maceration in wooden vats by 8000 l. for 10 days at 28° after a pre-maceration for 3 days at 5°. Post-maceration for a 3-5 days at 28°. The malo-lactic fermentation starts spontaneously. Description Appearance - limpid, deep ruby with violet shade, quite thick. Aroma - fruity, cherry and plum confiture, lightly spicy with black pepper and juniper notes. Taste - dry, warm, soft, quite fresh, quite tannic, full, balanced, intense and persistent, fine. Final comments - harmonious, ready. Suggestions - perfect with meat, rice or pasta with sauce, truffle or mushroom, perfect alone. Drink at - 20°C, best in decanter, uncork 1 hour before serving. Total production - 190.000 (0.750 lt.) - 20.000 (0.375 lt.) - 1.500 ( 1.500 lt.) - 100 ( 3.000 lt.) Packaging: Cardboard case/6 bottles (0.750 lt ) or by 12 (0.375 lt). Magnum and Double Magnum single-packed in wooden case. — 11 years ago
Daniel Bloom
Saca November 2021
N: Nuts, Caramel, iodine, wooden boats,
olives.
P: Buttery rich, mineral, very mineral, yeasty, very smooth. Almost medicinal in the way Laphroaig scotch is.
delicious. — 2 years ago