1937 Quinta do Noval Colheita ($660)
Ready-to-drink tawny ports have been making a comeback. Unlike a vintage port, tawnies mellow for decades in oak casks before being bottled; they are usually released in 10-, 20-, 30- and 40-year old blends. Can the rare colheita version—a tawny port that comes solely from a single vintage—do the same? To celebrate the 300th anniversary of famous port house Quinta do Noval, Managing Director Christian Seely uncorked some recent and older examples of its colheitas. This vintage wowed me with its aromas of dried figs, nuts, and sandalwood, along with layers of rich, intense, spicy flavors. It seemed ideal for sipping while discussing timeless topics and musing on the state of the world 80 years ago. (The more available 2000 vintage, at $100, is a steal.)
2014 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet ($800)
Anne-Claude Leflaive, one of Burgundy’s most highly regarded biodynamic winemakers, died last year. I thought of her as I swallowed every drop of this spectacular wine from her last vintage at a dinner at Eleven Madison Park in New York. Silky and seamless, with complex lemon and earth flavors and aromas of white flowers, grilled almonds, and ginger, the grand cru Chevalier Montrachet was the standout at the debut of seven premiers and grand crus wines from 2014. Despite the prices, great white Burgundy remains irresistibly seductive.
The article was provided by Bloomberg.