petite-sirah
Christmas Cheer Dinner Party and a Few Selected Wines!
photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Held our annual Christmas party with neighborhood friends joining. We provided appetizers and main dish with each couple bringing a wide range and assortment of delicious foods. Each couple also brought a bottle of wine, and I had pulled a few in advance to enjoy.
Château de Bligny Grand Reserve Brut Champagne
photo ©Michael Kelly
Château de Bligny is a historic estate in the Aube region of Champagne, France, famous as the only grower-producer château in the Champagne appellation, producing its own unique Champagnes from its vineyards. Established in the 15th century with later additions, it boasts a rich winemaking heritage, including still wines and sparkling varieties (Blanc de Blancs, Rosé) from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, known for their freshness, fruitiness, and minerality. In a recent lecture on Champagne, the speaker mentioned it is much more difficult to produce a non-vintage Champagne as opposed to a vintage one. This Brut Grand Reserve has been our go to Champagne for years now! The price is very reasonably set at around $40-48/bottle. This wine routinely makes my annual list of Best Wines Tasted in the year for the under $50/bottle category. Here is a link to previous story on the wine: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2020/04/25/chateau-de-bligny-grand-reserve-brut-champagne/
2009 Viader (Proprietary Blend)
photo ©Michael Kelly
Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc (my idea of a solid blend), it makes the apex of a Napa Valley Bordeaux. Smooth, dry and complex in tannins, and as stated in their notes “balancing acidity and an incredible array of flavors, including blackberry, black currant, cherry, chocolate, dried herb, smoky oak and spice amounting to an important and hard to define quality of sophistication.
The current vintage is the 2021 with ratings ranging from 95 to 98 points. It is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Cabernet Franc and goes for $195/bottle at the winery. Any year I open a bottle of this wine, it makes my list of Best Wines Tasted in the over $51/bottle. Here is link to a previous story written on Viader: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2018/09/24/viader-vineyards-winery-walk-in-my-steps-but-leave-your-own-footprint/
2008 O’Shaughnessy Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
photo ©Michael Kelly
Having had a bottle of this wine in November of 2025, I decided to bring another bottle out this evening. First on the eyes striking combination of inky purple and dark crimson coloring. Viscosity was medium-heavy. Once the cork was popped it took a while for the flavors to “open up” and express their pedigree after so many years of hibernation. Once opened, fresh blackberries and smooth blueberries filled the olfactory senses. On the palate, the dark fruits combined to make a robust compote of pure fruit. Full bodied possessing strong enjoyable tannins without any pointiness. The finish concluded being opulent and richly rewarding.
Parker also mentioned it will age 25+ years! Rated 98 points by Robert Parker and has been aging in the cellar for 14 years! Searching on the internet average price today appears to be $149/bottle. Today’s current vintage at the winery is their 2021 and is allocated at $160/bottle. This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasted Listing for 2025 (list comes out December for each year).
Here is link to the O’Shaughnessy story recently written: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2025/11/24/2008-oshaughnessy-estate-winery-mount-veeder-cabernet-sauvignon-a-special-wine/
Notice the corks on both the Viader and O’Shaughnessy wines! They are pristine and sealed snuggly and sealed for years, due to being stored correctly. BTW, those two wines were open seven hours before the meal, filtered twice and decanted twice before serving.
photo ©Michael Kelly
We enjoy many other wines this evening from locations beyond France and Napa Valley such as Livermore Valley, Lodi, Paso Robles and Calaveras County.
Sláinte and Merry Christmas,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://champagnechateaudebligny.com/en/homepage
https://oshaughnessywinery.com/
https://woodfamilyvineyards.com
https://www.younginglewood.com
2022 Langtry Petite Sirah from Guenoc Valley
The Winery
Photo from Langtry Facebook
Have not visited the winery located in Middletown, in Lake County just north of Napa Valley. The land was purchased in 1888 by Lillie Langtry who was a famous actress and socialite during the 19th century. The purchase was for 4,200 acres that would become Langtry Farms.
Today they produce various red wines such as Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, a Proprietary Red blend, Bourbon Barrel Petite Sirah and of course Petite Sirah. They also have two dessert wines and a Sparkling Brut Rose. Their white wines consist of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier. Most of their wines are rated from 90 to 93 points from Wine Enthusiast.
Today they practice sustainable farming (Lodi Rules Certification) and a host of environmentally friendly and rigorous practices including water management, water recycling, weed control, cover crop, composting and drip irrigation. These practices cover their 2,000 acres of vineyards.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a beautiful purple hue on the edge of the glass and deep dark coloring. On the nose, an arrangement of juicy black fruits arises up to greet the senses. On the palate, luscious blueberries infused with the blackberry provide an opulent elixir. The rich fruits are counterbalanced with an earthiness and black licorice. On the finish pronounced tannins, yet rounded and velvety finish each sip. Serpentine Meadow vineyard is the source of their Petite Sirah and is known for producing robust and complex characteristics. The wine sells for $42/bottle. The lone Blue Bent Oak is a drawing of one that sits on the property that is 300 years old showing their determination to produce sustainably farmed wine of distinction.
The overall impression was the wine offered some unique characteristics of their terroir and provided layers of enjoyment. Especially noteworthy was the initial tannins coming on strong and finish ultra smooth.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen to pair this evening with a 24-hour marinated and then seared tri tip steak. We had tried this marinate a short time back with another cut of meat and decided to give it a try this evening. The ingredients for the marinade include a purple onion, fresh lemon juice, marjoram, oregano, parsley, paprika, black pepper, Himalayan Sea salt, olive oil and minced garlic. Additional marinade sauce was prepared to drizzle on the meat when served. Accompanied by a twice baked potato with chives and cheddar cheese. The wine provided enough tannins and boldness to easily cut through the meat and with its fruit guided each seared piece of beef in the mouth. A very nice food and wine pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael