Gold in the Wine Cellar [General]
2009 Jun 22
I'm jealous! I have one bottle left of 2004 CJ (drinking beautifully, BTW), and a few bottles of 2006, but I missed out on the 2005's completely. Oh well. Tonight, I'm consoling myself with a very tasty 2005 Flat Rock "Rusty Shed" Chardonnay - great with smoked salmon!
Back to the subject at hand... Pinot Noir is very versatile, and unless you veer into vegetarian territory, possible food matches range from salmon to chicken to your favorite red meat. I think Pinot has a particular affinity for lamb, so I'd go with a roast leg or a rack of that estimable comestible. Bon appetit!
Back to the subject at hand... Pinot Noir is very versatile, and unless you veer into vegetarian territory, possible food matches range from salmon to chicken to your favorite red meat. I think Pinot has a particular affinity for lamb, so I'd go with a roast leg or a rack of that estimable comestible. Bon appetit!
2009 Jun 22
Right on! Let us all know how it goes: I've got two bottles of it hiding in the back of the cellar waiting for a good moment. I drank my last bottle of 04 last year.
Building on what BDM said, salmon would work very well, as would a roast chicken that's chock full of herbs. If you're feeling particularly naughty, you could braise pork belly, too.
Building on what BDM said, salmon would work very well, as would a roast chicken that's chock full of herbs. If you're feeling particularly naughty, you could braise pork belly, too.
2009 Jun 23
Food&Think I too am jealous! I tried buying the 05 when it was released but the LCBO sold out right away. I agree with bdm you could drink pinot with just about anything but I'm thinking steak. Probably because I have some in the freezer. Heck I have the steak - you have the wine - I'm thinking an Ottawa Foodies dinner might be possible-;) In the meantime I have an 06 in my cellar and am patiently waiting for it to mature before I pop it open. I look forward to other suggestions.
2009 Jun 23
Thanks to All
Ok, based on all your recommendations (and my previous thoughts) we will probably go the salmon route.
"The Man" was thinking we needed to drink this Pinot cause it was 2005, but based on the info here, I'm thinking we don't have to be in quite so much a rush... so I think I'll keep it "on hold" in the wine cooler awaiting "just the right summery moment".
Last few weeks we've had some excellent wines... here are 3 notable ones from Niagara (all purchased earlier this year at an LCBO Vintages Limited Release)
Reif Estates 2006 Gewurztraminer
Featherstone 2007 Old Vines Riesling
and a
Fielding Estates Dry Riesling
Can't wait to get to Niagara to purchase some more later this summer.
Ok, based on all your recommendations (and my previous thoughts) we will probably go the salmon route.
"The Man" was thinking we needed to drink this Pinot cause it was 2005, but based on the info here, I'm thinking we don't have to be in quite so much a rush... so I think I'll keep it "on hold" in the wine cooler awaiting "just the right summery moment".
Last few weeks we've had some excellent wines... here are 3 notable ones from Niagara (all purchased earlier this year at an LCBO Vintages Limited Release)
Reif Estates 2006 Gewurztraminer
Featherstone 2007 Old Vines Riesling
and a
Fielding Estates Dry Riesling
Can't wait to get to Niagara to purchase some more later this summer.
2009 Jun 23
Food&Think I confess I haven't tried the Clos Jordanne wines yet since I just have the one bottle of 06 in my cellar. But having read up on them the vineyard actually recommends cellaring them for awhile (two or three years in fact) before opening. Red wine may go musty if left in the cellar long enough but it would probably take alot longer than three or four years for the must to form.
2009 Jun 23
F&T, I agree that you should be in no hurry to pop the cork on that '05 CJ... here's a review from David Lawrason, one of the (few) wine critics that I pay close attention to - note the recommended time span for drinking:
Le Clos Jordanne 2005 Pinot Noir Village Reserve, Niagara Peninsula ($25, 88 points, Vintages 33894) -
Blended from several sites with the majority from Talon Ridge atop the escarpment. Very good value—has much of the character, if less depth of more expensive bottlings, with its own finesse mindful of Le Grand Clos. Deeper colour than 2004 and riper, sweeter black cherry-currant nose in cedar, chocolate and touch of mint. Very New World. Light to mid-weight, firm, grippy, dry and sourish. Quite tannic. Very good length. 2009 to 2012.
(end quote) The 2006 CJ Pinots are probably less of a keeper, due to the cool vintage. I expect to be trying one of mine later this year, and will post a note here when I do. And we'll all be on the watch for those 2007s...!
Le Clos Jordanne 2005 Pinot Noir Village Reserve, Niagara Peninsula ($25, 88 points, Vintages 33894) -
Blended from several sites with the majority from Talon Ridge atop the escarpment. Very good value—has much of the character, if less depth of more expensive bottlings, with its own finesse mindful of Le Grand Clos. Deeper colour than 2004 and riper, sweeter black cherry-currant nose in cedar, chocolate and touch of mint. Very New World. Light to mid-weight, firm, grippy, dry and sourish. Quite tannic. Very good length. 2009 to 2012.
(end quote) The 2006 CJ Pinots are probably less of a keeper, due to the cool vintage. I expect to be trying one of mine later this year, and will post a note here when I do. And we'll all be on the watch for those 2007s...!
2009 Jun 24
bdm - I find Lawrason's "Very New World" statement to be a bit misleading, but maybe that's just my twisted world view talking.
When I think "New World Pinot", I think "aggressively fruity Pinot from California or South America."
I see Le Clos Jordanne as bridging the "New World" and "Old World" styles because, sure, they have fruit tastes, but they're far more delicate than Californian/South American Pinots.
When I think "New World Pinot", I think "aggressively fruity Pinot from California or South America."
I see Le Clos Jordanne as bridging the "New World" and "Old World" styles because, sure, they have fruit tastes, but they're far more delicate than Californian/South American Pinots.
2009 Jun 24
I think I know where Lawrason's coming from on this. To me, "Old World" implies a cool climate style - not a fruit bomb, but with that classic smokey Pinot essence, with enticing aromas, nuances of "barnyard", etc. Geez, I sound like Miles in "Sideways". :-) "New World" OTOH implies a warmer climate, producing very fruit-forward berryish Pinots with high alcohol and less subtlety. Of course, that's an over-generalization - even "New World" places like Chile and California have cool climate regions where they produce some Pinots that are more "Old World" in style.
In Niagara, where the vintages are quite variable, and most winemakers are still just getting the hang of things (it's early days yet), the style of a given wine can vary quite a bit from year to year. In a cool vintage like 2006, the Pinots will for sure have that Old World cool climate style (if they managed to make decent wine at all). When a warmer year like 2005 comes along, they'll let the grapes ripen more - maybe even more than would be optimum, and the style comes out more New Worldish. 2004 was a more average year, so the Pinots tended to be more Old Worldish in style - probably a good thing. That's my theory, and I'm stickin' to it! It should be really interesting to see what CJ does with their 2007 Pinots... and a vertical tasting of all their vintages, should someone decide to put one on, would certainly get my attention.
In Niagara, where the vintages are quite variable, and most winemakers are still just getting the hang of things (it's early days yet), the style of a given wine can vary quite a bit from year to year. In a cool vintage like 2006, the Pinots will for sure have that Old World cool climate style (if they managed to make decent wine at all). When a warmer year like 2005 comes along, they'll let the grapes ripen more - maybe even more than would be optimum, and the style comes out more New Worldish. 2004 was a more average year, so the Pinots tended to be more Old Worldish in style - probably a good thing. That's my theory, and I'm stickin' to it! It should be really interesting to see what CJ does with their 2007 Pinots... and a vertical tasting of all their vintages, should someone decide to put one on, would certainly get my attention.
2009 Jun 25
Momomoto & BDM - Here is a timely article from Rod Phillips in todays Ottawa Citizen on "Old World or New?" www.ottawacitizen.com
2009 Jun 27
If you decide to open it your try it with a rare duck breast with a cherry gastric. I find duck is the best red meat match for Pinot. For the gastric take 1/2cup white sugar and place in a pot with 1 cup pinot noir 1 cup good red wine vinegar and 1/2cup dried cherries boil hard until the consistency of maple sirop this will take at least 15-20 minutes for the last 5 minutes add 1 cup of pitted fresh cherries. The gastric can be served at room temp and will keep in the fridge for at least a month. For potatoes thinly slice (a mandoline works best) 2 large russet potatoes and toss with salt pepper and duck fat layer the potatoes in muffin tins and bake at 400 for about 30 minutes or until crisp and tender.
enjoy
enjoy
Food&Think
"The Man" and I did a wee clean out of the Wine Cellar today (rotated bottles... moving some upstairs to the Wine Cooler)... and lo & behold we came across a bottle of.....
2005 Clos Jordanne - Village Reserve - Pinot Noir
I am looking for foodie recommendations to match up with my "prize".
:-)