What a terrible problem to have – too many wines, shrinking drinking windows, and not enough time made to write about them or catalogue the tasting notes clogging up my phone.  

Here is a synopsis of some of the better drinking I’ve done lately. 

Pinot Noir, The Eyrie Vineyards, South Block Original Vines, McMinnville AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 12.5% abv., 2014, US$200
We visited Eyrie Vineyards in 2019 when we retired and before the US went crazy and elected… well, you know what happened. 

Anyhoo… the tasting was epic and long, and I decided (without asking about cost) to buy this wine.  I was a little gobsmacked when I went to pay for it but was too deep in at that point to stop.  So, I saved it for a rainy day, so to speak.  

When I finally located it at the back of the wine cave, I worried I’d missed the window and didn’t know if decanting would hurt or help it at that point.  Luckily, it wasn’t too late.  In fact, it was very good timing; this wine is from such a strong vintage, and of such high quality, it had several years of good life in it yet.

On the eyes it was a dusty garnet, but the nose and palate were still relatively youthful with plenty of bright Byng and sour cherry, pomegranate, green swordfern, forest floor and cedar frond. The tannins were plush and soft.

Absolutely lovely, completely west coast – I paired it with salmon and brown rice with roasted peppers.  This wine was made in 2014, but was opened in March, 2026 at 12 years old.

We also took a trip this spring to Central Europe, with a stop in Hungary.  While there, I tried so many wines I’d studied, but hadn’t had the opportunity to taste. 

When we went to the central market in Budapest, I bought a 6 Puttonyos Tokaji from a lovely young person named Yvette (at the stall shown below).  

Furmint, Tokaji Aszù, Toth Zoltan, 6 Puttonyos, Hungary, 12% abv., US$57
This beautiful wine is viscous with deep legs and an even deeper hue of gold.  The aromas and flavours show orange blossom, marmalade, ripe apricot, lemon curd and jasmine tea.  While not in cloying in the least, it is fully off dry with high acidity and a long, developed finish. 

Tokaji is one of the most amazing drinks made by humankind (it has been around since the 1600s) and this one was no exception.  I enjoyed it before the opera (as one does), and then over the next several days.  

Also in March, we had some friends over for dinner – we started with a bubble and finished with some Burgundy.  

Chardonnay, Barrat et Masson, Fleur de Craie, Extra Brut, Champagne DoC, France, Disgorged 2017, 12.5% abv., US$50

This was a very delicate champagne with a long lasting, fine mousse.  On the eyes, it was medium gold with a nose and palate of yeasty French bread, yellow apple, dry grass, yellow plum, and apricots.  Stunning.

We continued with Pinot Noir, Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugner, Château de Chambolle-Musigny Nuits Saint Georges AC, Premier Cru, Clos de la Marechale, Burgundy, France, 13% abv., 2011

Translucent garnet and opened at 15 years old, this wine had a nose and palate of fresh cherries plus green licorice fern, red twizzlers, dusty rose petal, umami with finely grained tannins.  It was a perfect pair to chicken with shallots and tomatoes in white wine, tarragon and Dijon mustard.