Open That Bottle Night is this Saturday, and will be hosted live on Palate Press by Dottie Gaiter. She shared here OTBN tips with us leading into this international wine holiday.
Open That Bottle Night is an occasion to uncork sweet memories and the wine we’ll open on Feb. 23rd. This year, it’s, a 1973 Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Petite Sirah that takes us back to the beginning of “us,” the year we met, 1973.
Opened for Open That Bottle Night 2012. Premiere Napa Valley is a special event, an annual fund raiser and auction. Wineries produce special bottles in tiny lots, 5-10 cases, for auction, available that one time and never again. This particular bottle was Lot No. 49, bottle 22 of 60, a Proprietary Red from Monticello Vineyards, hand-signed by Chris Corley. Now I need to track down the other 59 bottles. The nose was rich, deep with plums, cassis, and black cherry, with a touch of spice, perhaps nutmeg and cinnamon. The palate opened black cherry and blackcurrant and a tingly touch of black pepper. Nutmeg and cinnamon peeked through on the mid-palate. Tannins were soft as silk, full, and perfectly balanced with acid. The finish not only lingered, but seemed to echo, pulse, growing with the memory of the taste, fade, then pulse again with the thought of the wine. Drink with very good friends. This would match perfectly with a mutton chop from Keens Steak House. Needless to say, this was Very Highly Recommended. DH.
Clear, bright, medium intensity straw yellow. Clean, medium-full intensity aromas: rich yeast roll and oak, caramel, toasted almonds, yellow apple, and Bosc pear. Dry on the palate with medium-full acidity, full bodied, and intense flavors. Yellow apple, pear, lightly toasted nuts, chalk, whte plum confiture, and candied lemon. Long finish. Pair with a creamy pasta dish, heavy on the tarragon and sage. Highly recommended. RR
Clear, bright, medium intensity straw yellow. Clean, medium-full intensity aromas: rich yeast roll and oak, caramel, toasted almonds, yellow apple, and Bosc pear. Dry on the palate with medium-full acidity, full bodied, and intense flavors. Yellow apple, pear, lightly toasted nuts, chalk, whte plum confiture, and candied lemon. Long finish. Pair with a creamy pasta dish, heavy on the tarragon and sage. Highly recommended. RR
[end_columns] Open That Bottle Night with Dottie and John by Dottie Gaiter and John Brecher Open That Bottle Night is...
One of the great things about opening a bottle of not-so-good wine is that there's always the opportunity to open another bottle.