Happy New Year (a.k.a. what are you drinking?)

**phillysrt4** · 12-31-2011, 03:38 PM

Happy New Year everyone!

To celebrate I decided to splurge and pick up a bottle of Chateau Sivan Margaux 2005

http://www.chateausiran.com/act-en.5...eau_siran.html

For those of you who don't care about wine, you may now hit the "reply" button to post what you're drinking!

For wine lovers, my tasting notes semi-unedited and my progress as I finish the bottle through the day:

(My Scoring System: Appearance 1-10 with 6 being on the "like" side of the fence; Nose 1-20 with 11 being on the "like" side of the fence; Taste 1-20 with 11 being on the "like" side of the fence. A perfectly acceptable "table wine" could very well get a score of 6+11+11 = 28, so anything above 35 I would consider "very good" to "exceptional". Those who insist on the 100 point system, adding 50 to my total will get you roughly there.)

Originally Posted by PhillySRT4's Tasting Notes

Opened bottle and let breathe for 30 minutes in the bottle. No decant.

Appearance
Ruby in the pour, dark crimson rim. Looking at it during the pour made me say "oh yeah! I can't wait to try this!" Luscious coming out of the bottle with a pleasant appearance making me look forward to smelling and tasting it. Score: 7/10

Nose
Initial scents of tobacco and a hint of cedar. Later revealed hints of oak and blackberries. Alcohol vapour that faded with repeated testing. Also a sense of "spiciness". "Woody" hints come from the glass after about 20 minutes. Second glass 45 minutes after first pour has some fade in the nose, but pleasant nonetheless. Score: 15/20

Taste
Cherries and spice! Complex, integrated structure with pronounced grape. Smooth, long finish that keeps consistency- taste composition holds very well through the finish. Fresh fruit that I cant quite identify (berries of some sort? strawberries?). The oak flavour really came through with some time in the glass- subtle but distinct and complements the other flavours well. The wine softened a bit after about 40 minutes in the glass, creating great mouthfeel and very smooth. A very pleasant evolution thus far!

Second glass 45 minutes after 1st pour: Dark berry fruit chorus has started to dominate but the cherries still like to play with only hints of oak now playing support. I really like this change and I'm looking forward to seeing how it evolves through the evening. Score: 17/20

Overall Score: 39/50 (IMO, worth buying at what I would guess to be around a $45-50 US street price and something I'll add to the collection to age a few more years.)

Additional Notes:
Had with beef roast. Provided a good counterpoint but did not integrate as well as I had hoped which I'll blame on the roast seasoning. ;)

This is my first foray into what I would consider a quality wine from the Margaux appellation. Siran's website says they go for a softer "feminine" feel to their wines. Compared to the 2003 Chateau Malleret (Haut Medoc appellation) I've had on several occasions, I see their point. In terms of taste and evolution without a doubt in my top 3 tasted. I only rate it a 17 on taste because I have to save room for that $800 Mouton Rothschild I'll eventually be able to afford ;)

**no1sirbutler** · 12-31-2011, 03:57 PM

I will be drinking Crown n Coke, a house drink we haven't named and our signature "hooch". My head is gonna hate me tomorrow lol

**Troll** · 12-31-2011, 04:24 PM

Reminds me of this:

I got a variety case of Great Lakes I'll be chipping away at starting with the porter and working towards the lager or pale ale as the night progesses.

Wifey and I found an American-made champagne at an artisan cheese store in Maryland yesterday. We'll try that out later. Gruet Brut???

I'm hoping to pair it with a whisker biscuit.

**phillysrt4** · 12-31-2011, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by no1sirbutler

I will be drinking Crown n Coke, a house drink we haven't named and our signature "hooch". My head is gonna hate me tomorrow lol

LOL. The Crown and Coke does sound good though! If I hadn't started drinking already I could be talked into doing that instead

**phillysrt4** · 12-31-2011, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

Reminds me of this:

LOL... ironically I've never seen the movie. That's #3 on my "movies I'll never see because too many people overhyped/nutted over it" list (Titanic being #1 on that list, of course).

However, that movie has had an effect in that I have a few friends up here that like to drink wine and one of the rules is "ABSOLUTELY NO PINOT". According to them this rule was brought into effect because of this movie.

Originally Posted by Troll

I got a variety case of Great Lakes I'll be chipping away at starting with the porter and working towards the lager or pale ale as the night progesses.

Wifey and I found an American-made champagne at an artisan cheese store in Maryland yesterday. We'll try that out later. Gruet Brut???

I'm hoping to pair it with a whisker biscuit.

Ironically, I just don't have a palette for beer. I know what I like (EDIT - Victory and Hoegaarden are two that come to mind) and what I don't but my taste buds just don't respond to beer the way they do for wine.

As for the brut, if you like wines on the dry side you'll like it. "Brut" is a term that is used to describe a champagne or sparkling wine that is dry.

EDIT - 4 hours in the tannins on this Siran are really starting to assert themselves but not in a bad way. I might break out some cheddar to go with this.

**40thGT** · 12-31-2011, 04:49 PM

Jameson and Coke! (probably a good bit of straight Jameson also)

**Silverhatch** · 12-31-2011, 04:49 PM

Mostly Pepsi, a beer or two. My soon to be two year old is depending on me to be dependable.

**ModularMike** · 12-31-2011, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Silverhatch

Mostly Pepsi, a beer or two. My soon to be two year old is depending on me to be dependable.

Very cool

**Terminated** · 12-31-2011, 05:33 PM

I shall be drinking whatever is free!

**Sonic03snake** · 12-31-2011, 06:01 PM

Jager bombs on ice. Just picked up a 1.75ml bottle of jager and 4- 12 oz redbulls an hour ago.

**Mater** · 12-31-2011, 06:11 PM

jack/dr.thunder

**wick** · 12-31-2011, 06:16 PM

I have been indulging in some coors light and grand marnier for most of the day now. But the case of rogue has been calling my name...I can hear it quite clearly...its saying Rob, you want some dead guy? I know you do!!

**WHITEY7886** · 12-31-2011, 06:29 PM

My freinds an I are drinking jello shot, mad elf, and evan williams and pepsi. For good measures we are doing american honey as well.

**Martin0660** · 12-31-2011, 07:16 PM

Crown on ice and Augustiner

**blackfive-o** · 12-31-2011, 08:26 PM

Franzia Merlot from a box yep

**John4cam** · 12-31-2011, 08:30 PM

miller lite, and watching myn 13 month old running around. Multi tasking ftw.

**cemnt guy** · 12-31-2011, 08:47 PM

party is at my house. been pounding miller lights since i got home from work.

**Troll** · 12-31-2011, 11:29 PM

Ok, just trying to keep up with the (kardashians), er the OP... so as I stated earlier, Wifey and I stopped at a hoity toity cheese store yesterday on our way back from Deep Creek. It is called FireFly Farms Creamery and Market. Who doesn't love cheese? we sampled a few things and picked up a gouda made from cow's milk and a Cabra La Mancha (http://www.fireflyfarms.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=828) which is, obviously, made with goat's milk. the gouda is just awesome, however the latter... well, apparently this hillbilly just don't have the taste buds for goat cheese. the sample in the store seemed pretty tasty, however after unwrapping it this evening and getting it up to room temperature, I just can't find an adjective that does NOT remind me of straight A-S-S. I mean, is it pungent, sour, bitter? It's def. creamy, but you find yourself making THAT face when you're eating it, then the rind, OMG... holy flavor-town Batman. I'll put it out tomorrow before the traditional new year's day pork/saurkraut extravaganza, not warn any of our guests whatsoever and see what happens. ;)

so, after a few high-brow beers, a couple decent glasses of champagne and some questionable cheeses, I'm straight back to pounding down the Miller Lites... as stated above.

**Dan B.** · 01-01-2012, 12:09 AM

Cran-apple juice cut with water (too strong when straight for my taste)....I know....I'm a bad ass!!

**Terminated** · 01-01-2012, 04:36 AM

Here it is at 330 and I am quite tanked... but I am thankful for everything that happened in 2011. This year enabled me to do a lot of things I didn't think would ever happen, such as buying one of my dream cars and being able to explore different parts of the world. I've had some shitty years in the past, and karma has finally paid some positive dividends for me, I hope that all of you get to reap the positives that you sew, and that 2012 is a prosperous year for all of us!