Party Time

[Innkeeper]

Every year we host parties for those organizations we are responsible for. This year there were three. We provide the main course (meat) and wine. The guests bring pot luck. We try to find the best wine for the best price possible. This year we found two winners that our guests loved and would never guess the cost of. We acquired a case each of 2001 Coopers Creek, Gisborne, Unoaked Chardonnay ($8.49 Chambers St Wines), and 2001 Pacific Estates, Monterey, Single Vineyard (San Lucas), Cabernet Sauvignon ($8 Grove Street Brokers). We served a whole baked ham for the first two events, and brine roasted turkey breast for the third. The ratio of red to white this year was exactly 2 to 1. This is tighter than last year when it was 4 to 1.

We posted a TN on the Coopers Creek Chardonnay on the Oz/Kiwi thread earlier. The Pacific Estates Cabernet weighed in at 13.5% alcohol which is low for cab these days. It gave us black plums, coffee, and chocolate on the nose and upfront. Tart cherries, subdued oak and chewy tannin crossed the palate. All followed by a bell ringing finish. A lot of cabernet for the price. Oddly enough it was the turkey party that saw the highest consumption of the cab. All in all great times were had by everyone.